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Germany invades Poland
Germany invades Poland in order to expand it's empire and to "protect the German people in poland". This is met with huge rage from both France and Britain. Hitler, Adolf. "The Avalon Project : Proclamation by Adolf Hitler - September 1,1939." The Avalon Project : Proclamation by Adolf Hitler - September 1,1939. 1 Sept. 1939. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/wwii/gp1.asp. -
WWII Begins
Britain declares war on Germany for invading Poland. France would a few days later also declare war on Britain. WWII officially begins. Chamberlain, Neville. "The Avalon Project : Address by Neville Chamberlain - September 3, 1939." The Avalon Project : Address by Neville Chamberlain - September 3, 1939. 3 Sept. 1939. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/wwii/gb2.asp. -
Poland gives in to Germany
Poland sucumbs to German forces. Starting a long period of occupation where polish and german jews are sent to ghettos and later with other unfavorably viewed races to concentration camps made and stationed mainly in Poland. -
France surrenders
Not barely a year after declaring war. France surrenders and signs a armsitice with the advancing German forces. Soon Germany puts a puppet government on france. Put French resistance groups still fight on. "The Avalon Project : Franco-German Armistice : June 25, 1940." The Avalon Project : Franco-German Armistice : June 25, 1940. 25 June 1940. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/wwii/frgearm.asp. -
Jews are put in ghettos
Jews get transported out of their home and put in ghettos. The excuse is to make more space for german families. -
Operation Barbarossa
The Germans invade the Soviet Union in hopes of quickly defeating the soviets. Unfortunate for them the invasion would last years and the cold climate would be a disadvantage. Over time the soviets would push the Germans out of the Soviet Union and all the way to Germany. "Directive No. 21 Operation Barbarossa." GHDI - Document. 18 Dec. 1940. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_document.cfm?document_id=1547. -
Scorched Earth
Stalin enacts a Scorched Earth policy with it's objective being that the Russians have to destroy anything that may be useful to germans. These included food, tranportation, communications, industrial equipment and other stuff. This was made in a effort to diminish enemy resources as the Germans kept advancing more and more during heir invasion of the Soviet Union. -
Pearl Harbor
Japanese aircraft attack the US naval base in Pearl Harbor. Over 2,400 were killed. The next day FDR called the attack and the day "a date that will live in Infamy". The US joins the war immediatly after. Roosevelt, Frankin. ""A Date Which Will Live in Infamy" The First Typed Draft of Franklin D. Roosevelt's War Address." National Archives. 7 Dec. 1941. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/day-of-infamy/images/infamy-address-1.gif -
Final Solution
The Nazis enact their sick plan of trying to wipe out the jewish population of Europe. They make gas chambers to make the killing of the jews quick and easy. But they would also shoot them in rows. Bodies were often put in pile to be tranported somewhere or to be incinerated. This was happening because under Hitler's policy and rule jews were seen as vermin by the Germans. Hoss, Rudolf. "Final Solution." Spartacus Educational. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. http://spartacus-educational.com/GERfinal.htm -
Doolittle Raid
The US starts to bomb Tokyo. This was made as a morale boost to the troops to show that the US got payback for what happened in Pearl Harbor -
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Battle of Midway
The battle of Midway happens. It was one of the most crucial and important naval battle in the war. Where the US managed to defeat an attacking fleet of the Japanese Navy. 3000 Japanese were killed while only 300 US soldiers died. First Japanese naval defeat in over 60 years. -
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Guadalcanal
First major US victory against Imperial Japan. Led by General MacArthur and his island hopping plan the US managed to beat Japan. -
D-Day
The allies storm the beaches Normandy in order to take back France from Germany. Many lives were lost trying to claim the beach but at the end of the day the allies managed to capture it. This was the first step for the allies in taking back France from the Germans. The allied forces were under command of General Dwight D: Eisenhower Eisenhower, Dwight. "Message from Dwight D. EIsenhower to George C. Marshall about Invasion of Normandy." National Archives. 6 June 1944. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http: -
Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge happens where the Allies fought in Belgium in a attempt to free it from German occupation. It was the largest battle fought by the US in WWII. Over 175,000 people were killed -
Yalta Conference
The leaders of Britain, US and the Soviet Union meet to discuss how europe will be organized post-war. It led to various discussion and debate over who would have territory post-war "The Avalon Project : Yalta (Crimea) Conference." The Avalon Project : Yalta (Crimea) Conference. 1 Jan. 1945. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/wwii/yalta.asp. -
Battle of Okinawa
The battle of Okinawa begins. It was fought in the Ryuku islands. The battle lasted 82 days and over 110,000 Japanese soldiers died. The purpose of gaining control of Okinawa was so the Allies could have control over a base for air operations. -
Germany Surrenders
After years of fighting and hitler gone as he had shot himself in his bunker Germany finally surrenedered. Which brought happiness and joy all over Europe as they celebrated this day asVE day (Victory over Europe day). "The Avalon Project : Act of Military Surrender Signed at Berlin on the 8th Day of May, 1945." The Avalon Project : Act of Military Surrender Signed at Berlin on the 8th Day of May, 1945. 8 May 1945. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/wwii/gs11.asp. -
Hiroshima gets Nuked
Hiroshima gets bombed with a nuclear bomb by the US in a attempt to make Japan surrender. The name of the missile named "Little boy" kills over 166,000 people. Japanese officials are shocked by the destruction and devastions brought by the bomb. "Tojo Meetings with the Cabinet and the Emperor Aug 7-8." National Security Archive. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB162/55a.pdf -
Nagasaki gets Nuked.
3 days after little boy was dropped in Hiroshima. The US drops "Fat man" on Nagasaki causing 80,000 casualities. -
V-Day
Japan surrenders to the allies after seeing the devasting power of the nuclear bombs. Many japanese officials kill themselves to avoid being tried for war crimes The war finally ends.
"The Avalon Project : Formal Surrender." The Avalon Project : Formal Surrender. 1 Sept. 1945. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/wwii/j1.asp.
