Into The Journey and Impacts of WWII

Germans Invade Poland

Sep 1, 1939

Nazi Germany invades Poland and this act leads to the start of World War II. The Polish army was defeated by the force of 1.5 million troops who were backed up by aircraft and mobile armor on the ground. Adolf Hitler claimed the invasion as a defense but Britan and France did not believe him. Coulondre, Robert. "Telephone Communication from Robert Coulondr." Lillian Goldman Law Library: Yale Law School. Yale Law School, 12 Mar. 2015. Web. 3 Sept. 1939. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/wwii/fr2.asp.

Operation Barbossa

Jun 22, 1941

Germany invades Russia, it was the largest military attack of World War II which caused huge consequences for the Russian people. Hitler send the soldiers during a really cold winter and Germany was not able to conquer the Soviet Union. Their failure signaled a crucial turning point in the war. Trepper, Leopold. "The Great Game." Operation Barbossa. 12 Mar. 2015. Web. 1 Jan. 1977. http://spartacus-educational.com/RUSbarbarossa.htm.

Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

Surprise military attack conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In 2 hours the bombing killed more than 2,300 Americans, more than 1,100 were wounded and 19 ships were sunken. President Roosevelt declared war on Japan. At this point not only is the US being attacked, but British colonies as well. USA is not in isolation anymore. http://www.infamydecember1941.org/images/ph-prop3-lg.jpg (primary source picture)

Doolittle's Raid

Apr 18, 1942

The April 1942 air attack on Japan, launched from the aircraft carrier Hornet and led by Colonel James H. Doolittle. It was the most daring operation yet undertaken by the US in the Pacific War. Though conceived as a diversion that would also boost American and allied morale, the raid generated strategic benefits that far outweighed its limited goals. Doolittle, James H. "James H. Doolittle Individual Report on Tokyo Raid." 12 Mar. 2015. Web. 5 June 1942. <http://www.doolittleraide

Battle of Midway

Jun 4, 1942

The Battle of Midway took place June 4-7, 1942, which destroyed Japan’s naval strength when the Americans destroyed four of its aircraft carriers. Japan’s navy was never able to recover from its mauling at the battle and it was on the defensive after this battle. "The Battle of Midway Including The Aleutian Phase." Midway 1942. 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.

Battle of Guadalcanal

Aug 17, 1942

Very bloody military campaign fought between August 7 1942 and February 9 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal. The US Marines landed on August 7th, which was unopposed and took the Americans six months to defeat the Japanese. The US had to hit Japan hard because they knew that Japan was not going to surrender. Croce, Nancy. "Guadalcanal Journal: To Hell and Back." One Marine’s Story of the Battle Of Guadalcanal. N.p., 7 Aug. 1942. Web. 6 Oct. 2014. http://guadalcanaljournal.com.

Battle of the Bulge

Dec 16, 1944

A major German offensive is launched against the Allies in the Ardennes Mountains region on the Western Front. The battle was a last ditch attempt by Hitler to split the Allies in two in their drive towards Germany and destroy their ability to supply themselves. Jagodinski, Joseph. "Primary Resources: Soldiers' Battlefield Accounts." PBS. 6 Oct. 2014. Web. 1 Dec. 1944.

Yalta Conference

Feb 4, 1945

British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, Soviet Premier, Joseph Stalin and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt have a meeting. They agreed during the conference that they needed to demand Germany's surrender and began plans for the world post-war. Stalin also agreed to enter Asian war against Japan. William, Leahy. "Yalta Primary Sources." Spartacus Educational. 1 Jan. 1950. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. http://spartacus-educational.com/2WWyalta.htm.

The bombing of Hiroshima in Japan

Aug 6, 1945

An American B-29 bomber dropped the world's first deployed atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion destroyed 5 square miles, and immediately killed 70,000 people. As well as many thousands more who would later die of radiation exposure. Burr, William. <i>The National Security Archive</i>. The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II A Collection of Primary Sources, 5 Aug. 2005. Web. 11 Mar. 2015. http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB162/index.htm.

The bombing of Nagasaki in Japan

Aug 9, 1945

This was the second bomb Japan recieved from the US. They dropped a plutonium bomb on Nagasaki and 40,000 people were instantly perished. The US wanted to do this so that Japan would surrender because Japan didn't want to give up because of their pride and honor to their country. Burr, William. <i>The National Security Archive</i>. The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II A Collection of Primary Sources, 5 Aug. 2005. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.

Japan Surrender After The Bombings

Sep 2, 1945

Japan finally surrenders after the two massive disasters in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The surrender of the Empire of Japan was announced by Japan on August 15 and formally signed on September 2, 1945. This brought the hostilities of World War II to an end. "First Instrument of Surrender." Yale Law School. 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 26 July 1945. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/wwii/j4.asp.