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Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was signed to make sure there was never another world war. Germany recieved 4 main 'punishments' in t his treaty. They were made to accept the blame for world war 1, give up taken land, limit their army to just 1000 men and pay billions of dollars in reparations. MY TEXTBOOK AND PRIOR KNOWLEDGE -
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WORLD WAR II KEY EVENTS
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German Anschluss (Union) with Austria
Adolf Hitler announced an Anschluss (union) with Austria in order to create a 'greater Germany'. This was a long awaited event by both the Austrian Social Democrats as well as Hitler and his Pro- Nazi right winged party. The Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg agreed to the presence of Nazi's withoin Austria, appointing an Nazi minister of police and a amnesty for all Nazi prisoners. This agreement was signed at Berchtesgaden
RESOURCE: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-anno -
Treaty of Munich
The Treaty of Munich was the settlement reached by Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy that permitted German sovereignty of the Sudetenland in western Czechoslovakia. On September 29, Hitler, Chamberlain, Daladier, and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini met in Munich, where Mussolini introduced a written plan that was accepted by all as the Munich Agreement. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/imt/munich1.asp -
Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg means "lightning war". It was an innovative military technique first used by the Germans in World War Two and was a tactic based on speed and surprise. Blitzkrieg relied on a military force be based around light tank units supported by planes and infantry (foot soldiers). The tactic was based on Alfred von Schlieffen’s ‘Schlieffen Plan’ – this was a doctrine formed during WWI that focused on quick miliatry victory. It was later deve http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkr -
Dunkirk
The advancing German Army trapped the British and French armies on the beaches around Dunkirk. 330,000 men were trapped here and they were a sitting target for the Germans. Admiral Ramsey, based in Dover, formulated Operation Dynamo to get off of the beaches as many men as was possible. The British troops, led by Lord John Gort, were professional soldiers from the British Expeditionary Force; trained men that we could not afford to lose. http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/dunkirk/ -
Battle of Britain
Hitler decreed the Battle of Britain with the command "The German Air Force is to overcome the British Air Force with all means at its disposal, and as soon as possible." After the success of Blitzkrieg, the evacuation of Dunkirk and the surrender of France, Britain was by herself. The Battle of Britain remains one of the most famous battles of World War Two. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_britain.htm -
Tripartite Act
The Tripartitite Pact was a treaty signed in Berlin, Germany on September 27th, 1940. It was signed by Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany, and Fascist Italy, forming the Axis Powers of World War II. These powers were opposed by the Allied Powers, including the United States, China and Great Britiain. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-tripartite-pact-is-signed-by-germany-italy-and-japan -
Operation Barbossa
Operation Barbarossa was the name given to Nazi Germany’s invasion of Russia. It was the largest military operation in history, involving more than 3 million Axis troops and 3,500 tanks. It was the logical culmination of Hitler’s belief that the German ‘master race’ should seek ‘lebensraum’ (living space) in the east, at the expense of the ‘subhuman’ native Slav people, who were to be exterminated or reduced to serf status. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/operation_barbarossa.htm -
Pearl Harbour
Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. The barrage lasted just two hours, but it was devastating: The Japanese managed to destroy nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight enormous battleships, and almost 200 airplanes. More than 2,000 Americans soldiers and sailors died in the attack, and another 1,000 were wounded. America officially joined WW11 -
Battle of Midway
This battle represents the strategic high water mark of Japan's Pacific Ocean war. Prior to this action, Japan possessed general naval superiority over the United States and could usually choose where and when to attack. After Midway, the two opposing fleets were essentially equals, and the United States soon took the offensive. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/midway/midway.htm -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad is considered by many historians to have been the turning point in World War Two in Europe. The battle at Stalingrad bled the German army dry in Russia and after this defeat, the Germany Army was in full retreat. One of the ironies of the war, is that the German Sixth Army need not have got entangled in Stanlingrad. Army Groups A and B were well on their way to the Caucasus in south-west Russia, when Hitler ordered an attack on Stalingrad. http://www.history.com/topics -
Battle of El Alamein
The Battle of El Alamein, fought in the deserts of North Africa, is seen as one of the decisive victories of World War Two. The Battle of El Alamein was primarily fought between two of the outstanding commanders of World War Two, Montgomery, who succeeded the dismissed Auchinleck, and Rommel. The Allied victory at El Alamein lead to the retreat of the Afrika Korps and the German surrender in North Africa in May 1943. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-el-alamein -
D-Day
D-Day or codenamed Operation Overlord began when 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on France's Normandy region's beaches, This battle lasted almost a year and resulted in northern France being liberated, and by the following spring the Allies had defeated the Germans. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of The Bulge lasted between 16 Dec. 1944 and 25 Jan. 1945. The attack is strictly known as the Ardennes Offensive but because the initial attack by the Germans created a bulge in the Allied front line. The Battle of the Bulge was the largest battle fought by the Americans in World War Two. 600,000 American troops were involved in the battle. The Americans lost 81,000 men while the Germans lost 100,000 killed, wounded and captured. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_the_bu -
Mussolini's Death
Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci were stopped by communist partisans and were sent to excecution for his heinous crimes commited during world war 11. The people of Italy overthrew Mussolini and happily awaited his excecution. Along with him, his mistress was also excecuted. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benito_Mussolini#Death -
Hitler Commits Suicide
Hitler commited suicude by both shooting himself in the head and consuming a cyanide pill. Hitler retired to his bunk shelter 5 feet under his chancellory once he realised that there was no positive way for him to come out of this war. Hitlers body was later cremated, http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-commits-suicide-in-his-underground-bunker -
Victory in Europe Day (V.E Day)
V.E Day ot Victory in Europe Day, was the day that EUrope officially announced the end of World War Two. On the 7th of May 1945, German General Jodl signed an aggreement to his surrender in World War Two. Street parties were organised across the land; neighbours pooled food, some of which was still rationed. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ve_day.htm -
Hiroshima Bombing
A B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay, took off from Tinian, a North Pacific island in the Marianas, 1,500 miles south of Japan. Hiroshima's population has been estimated at 350,000; approximately 70,000 died immediately from the explosion and another 70,000 died from radiation within five years. It was the first bomb to be dropped on Japan by the U.S. http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/hiroshima.htm -
Bombing of Nagasaki
A plutonium implosion-type bomb (Fat Man)was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. This was the second bomb the United States dropped on Japan and ultimately resulted in Japan's surrender. The bomb was originally to be dropped on August 11, but bad weather forced the U.S to push the date forward two days. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-nagasaki -
Japanese Surrender
The Japanese navy and air force were destroyed. The Allied naval blockade of Japan and intensive bombing of Japanese cities had left the country and its economy devastated. At the end of June, the Americans captured Okinawa, a Japanese island from which the Allies could launch an invasion of the main Japanese home islands. U.S. General Douglas MacArthur was put in charge of the invasion, which was code-named "Operation Olympic" and set for November 1945. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_o
