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Germany invades Poland
Germany bombards Poland both from air and on ground. Hitler activated the ‘Blitzkrieg’ strategy where Poland was heavily bombed and then rushed by Germany’s troops on ground. The air strikes would eliminate railroads, communications lines and Poland’s munition dumps. The main reason as to why Hitler invaded was to gain ‘Lebensraum’ (Living Space). Due to the possibility that the USSR could’ve aided Poland, Hitler singed a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union a month earlier. -
Britain & France declare war on Germany – September 3, 1939
After the Invasion of Poland, Britain and France declares war on Germany. This marks the beginning of World War 2. Hitler was surprised how he had ‘provoked’ Britain and France by invading Poland. Neville Chamberlain, the prime minister at that time, stated that ‘unless Germany withdrew from Poland, a state of war would exist between the two countries. -
Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Britain – May 10, 1940
Winston Churchill became Britain’s prime minister after Neville Chamberlain failed to take control Germans conquest of Europe. Churchill was known for his military leadership and was quickly elected as the new Prime Minister. In his first year of administration, Churchill declared to the world and his nation that the Britain’s will never surrender. -
Evacuation of Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo) – May 26, 1940 – June 4, 1940
The evacuation of Dunkirk, also known as Operation Dynamo, is one Great Britain’s military miracles. The story of how British Vice-Admiral Bertram Ramsey saved approximately 338,000 soldiers from what they thought was going to be there inevitable death. Using every available ship, boat and vessel, they were sent to the shores of Dunkirk to rescue the Allied Troops. It was a miracle, Churchill called it, that how many lives were save before the German troops arrived En Masse. -
Italy enters war on side of the Axis Powers – June 10, 1940
On the 10th of June, 1940, Italy’s leader/dictator, Benito Mussolini, aids the Axis Powers by helping them attack against the Allies. -
France sign Armistice with Germany – June 22, 1940
On this day, Germany signed an armistice with France. The armistice allowed Germany to have an established ‘German occupation zone’ in Northern and Western France. This gave Germany control over the English Channel and the Atlantic ports. Hitler had many reasons for why he signed the armistice. If he controlled the English Channel and Atlantic Ports, Hitler would have the French navy out of the war. -
Battle of Britain – July 10th, 1940 to October 31, 1940
With Britain standing alone in the war after France signed an armistice with Germany, the Battle of Britain began above the United Kingdom. The Royal Air Force defeated with Luftwaffe as they weren’t able to gain ‘air superiority’ over the RAF. Ultimately, Winston Churchill chose to fight Germany instead of negotiating with Hitler (as some politicians raised that thought). -
Tripartite Pact Signed – September 27th, 1940
24 days after Britain and France declared war on Germany, the Axis powers formally sign the Tripartite Pact in Berlin. The pact stated that if any of the signatories were to be attacked, the other nations of the Axis powers would provide mutual assistance. However, the pact ‘aimed’ at the United States, as the Axis power wanted America to think twice about joining the Allies. -
Operation Sea Lion – Planned for late 1940
Operation Sea Lion (named by Hitler), was a planned invasion of Great Britain in the late 1940’s. Operation Sea Lion however, was not deployed due to the Luftwaffe losing to the RAF in the Battle of Britain. Hitler wanted Britain out of the equation as he wanted to turn his attention to Russia. As Great Britain did not want to come to terms with Germany or surrender, the invasion was delayed and then cancelled. -
Operation Barbarossa - June 22, 1941
Known to be the largest military operation in history, Operation Barbarossa was the invasion into the Soviet Union by Germany. The invasion used more than 3 million Axis troops and 3500 tanks. The invasion had begun from Hitler wanting Lebensraum (living space). Germany had caused many casualties, but were unable to land a crumbling blow to make the Soviet Union dysfunctional. The Soviet Union counterattacked the German front line and drove them back. -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor – December 7, 1941
On the morning of December 7th, 1941, hundreds of Japanese fighters surprise-attacked the naval airbase near Pearl harbor. More than 2000 American soldiers and Sailors died in the attack and 1000 were wounded. 24 hours after the assault, President Roosevelt asked the congress to declare war on Japan. Congress approved and three days later, the remaining nations of the Axis powers declared war on the U.S. America joins the second world war. -
Britain and US declare war on Japan – December 8, 1941
After the US declared war on Japan, New York mayor Fiorella LaGuardia ordered the rounding up of Japanese nationals and were transported to Ellis Island where they were held in custody. As Britain being allied with America, Roosevelt decided he send his troops to North Africa where Germans troops divided. With power of General Montgomery (Britain) troops, together America and Britain won the battle of North Africa. They then moved to Germany. -
Japan takes Singapore – February 15, 1942
Battle of Singapore took the lives hundreds of civilians. The Japanese attacked the country by air, with only the RAF standing in their way. The British forces were forced to abandon and evacuate from their positions near Singapore. With Singapore surrendering to Japan, Britain lost its ‘foothold’ in the East. -
Battle of Midway – June 4, 1942 – June 7, 1942
Six months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japan lost one of the most decisive Naval battles in the history of WW2. Thanks to this, America was able to its troops and its allies into an attacking position. This happened as America was able to counterattacks Japans ambush. -
First of Battle of El Alamein – July 1, 1942 – July 22, 1942
The first battle of El Alamein took place in Egypt in the Western Deserts. The battle was between the Axis powers (Germany and Italy) of the Panzer Army Africa Division and the Allies. The Axis troops were commanded by Erwin Rommel. Rommel was able to by push the Britain away by using air and tank attacks. Britain responded with the help of American, Indian and New Zealand troops to push Rommel into a defensive position. -
Battle of Stalingrad – July 17, 1942 – February 2, 1943
The Battle of Stalingrad is considered one of the bloodiest battles in WW2. Military casualties combined with civilian casualties adds up to around 2 million deaths. The Soviet Union was able to stop German Troops from invading the city of Stalingrad, which then favoured the Allies in winning the war as Hitler had lost another battle. The was achieved by General Paulus surrounding an entire German army and crushing them. -
Second Battle of El Alamein – October 23, 1942 – November 4, 1942.
Although the Allies were able to hold their ground, Churchill was growing impatient as there was no outcome of the war, it was a stalemate. Frustrated, Churchill handed over command to General Montgomery. Rommel attempted to attack yet Montgomery’s 8th division held their ground. Waiting for backup troops, Montgomery bided his time where Rommel knew a large-scale attacked was inevitable. Soon, Rommel became ill and departed for Germany. With the Axis powers losing their commander, the allies won -
Battle of Bulge – December 19, 1944 – January 25, 1945
Hitler wanted to spilt the Allied Armies in North West Europe by using a surprise blitzkrieg thrust. However, the American troops fought hard but were defeated. Their main purpose was to give time for the incoming backup troops. The US and Britain troops then counterattacked from North and South, crumbling the Axis Army. -
Mussolini captured and executed – April 28th, 1945
With the war favouring The Allies, Mussolini found himself fleeing with his mistress towards Switzerland from Milan, where he learned that there were rumours of a Nazi surrender. Mussolini tried to disguise himself as Luftwaffe pilot but failed. His mistress and him were then executed by machine guns. -
Hitler commits suicide – April 30th, 1945
Adolf Hitler swallows a cyanide capsule and shoots himself in the head in his bunker. -
German Forces Surrender – May 7, 1945
Germany signed an unconditional surrender at an Allied headquarters in France. -
V.E Day – May 8th, 1945
VE day is celebrated in Europe to mark the Allies defeating Germany and Germany surrendering to the Allies -
Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima – August 6, 1945
America didn’t want to risk casualties by invading Japan. Due to this factor, an atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. Instantly, nearly 80’000 people died. In the following weeks, tens of thousands of people died from wounds and radiation. 3 days later, a second bomb as dropped on the city of Nagasaki, killing more than 40’000 people. Japan surrenders. -
United Nations is born – October 24, 1945
he United Nations is born, looking to avoid nation from conflicting and world peace. -
Bibliography
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-invade-poland
History Alive 10 (For the Australian Curriculum)
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/churchill-becomes-prime-minister
https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/Operation-Dynamo-Evacuation-at-Dunkirk
www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-tripartite-pact-is-signed-by-germany-italy-and-japan
www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/tobruk
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/07/may-7-1945-nazi-germany-surrenders-in-world-war-ii/?_r=0