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German Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg is the German word for "Lightning War". It's a military tactic meant to shock enemy forces and fight with such speed that they couldn't fight back. The Nazis overwhelmed theirs enemies during battle with tanks and airplanes. -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
The first event of WWI occurred when Adolf Hitler sent German troops into Poland. The Polish Army was not ready for German forces; therefore, Germany gained more territory. Great Britain would respond by declaring war and bombing German land. -
The Fall of Paris
The Nazis imposed a curfew on Paris on 8 p.m. as Germans entered the country. Millions of citizens fled the country as Germany took over the capital. Canadian Troops were sent to aid the French citizens. -
Pearl Harbor
The Japanese turned against the Americans when they invaded and bombed the Hawaiian harbor. Many American soldiers and boats eliminated. After the incident, The U.S. declared war. -
Battle of Midway
Six months after Pearl Harbor. The U.S. was able to counter and defeat Japanese ships in the Pacific Ocean. The victory allowed the U.S. and its allies to attack more islands. -
D-Day
American and Canadian Troops landed on the heavily fortified region of Normandy, under control of the Nazis. Many soldiers died, but the beach was successfully secure. By August, Paris was liberated. -
The Battle of the Bulge
Hitler attempted to split the allied armies in the northwest with a Blitzkrieg. The attack eliminated several American divisions. A lack of fuel for the machines of Germany was the only reason there was a draw for this battle. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
American soldiers invaded the island of Iwo Jima, under Japanese control. The Americans wanted this island so they could have land in order to attack Japan without flying back to the Marianas. This battle also was the source of the famous "Raising the Flag" picture. -
Battle of Okinawa
The final major battle of WWII was one of the bloodiest. Over 180,000 Americans troops landed on the island of Okinawa. Japan severely suffered by losing over 110,000 soldiers and 150,000 citizens. Winning this fight put the allies within striking distance of Japan. -
VE Day
VE Day is the celebration of victory of the allies in Europe. The Nazis were forced to surrender to the allied forces. Today, the holiday is still celebrated by Great Britain, U.S., and France. -
The Atomic Bombs
The war was not over, however. Japan refused to surrender to the Americans. After several tests, an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later, another bombed dropped on Nagasaki. Realizing they couldn't fight against America's power, Japan surrendered. -
VJ Day
VJ Day is a celebration for the U.S. for defeating Japan and ending WWII. VJ Day is also on September 2nd because that's when the formal surrender took place. The signing took place on the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
