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Hitler Becomes German Leader
Hitler became chancellor of Germany, eventually gaining dictatorial powers. He immediately began abolishing state powers and the existence of non-Nazi political parties and organizations. -
WWII Begins
WWII began with Germany invading Poland. Great Britain and France, Poland’s allies, responded by declaring war on Germany. -
Soviet Union Invades Poland
Working with Hitler, Joseph Stalin (leader of the Soviet Union), ordered the invasion of Poland. This helped secure a share of Polish territory. -
Battle Of Britain
The Battle of Britain was a major air campaign fought mostly over southern England. The battle helped keep the Nazis focused on Britain, and pushed the willpower of the British people to find the war to the end: demonstrating the Nazis were not invincible. The British denied Germany power to invade, keeping the war over Europe. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan surprise-attacked the United States military base, Pearl Harbor, located in Honolulu, Hawaii. The United States, originally choosing to remain neutral in the war, decided to declare war on Japan after the attack, officially joining WWII. -
Japanese Incarceration
In an attempt to prevent Japanese spies, FDR signed Executive Order 9066, which stripped Japanese-Americans of their civil rights. It took them away from their homes, and into prison camps. -
The Battle Of Midway
The United States defeated the Japanese navy. Victory in this battle helped gain naval superiority in the Pacific, and led to the “island hopping” war-strategy. -
The Manhattan Project
-The code-name for a top-secret United States project producing nuclear bombs for use in WWII. The bombs created were later used to force Japan to surrender. -
The Battle Of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was an unsuccessful German attack on the city of Stalingrad. This was the furthest extent of German advance into the Soviet Union. -
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was an allied invasion of French North Africa. It was a compromised operation that satisfied the British objective to secure victory in North Africa while allowing the Americans the opportunity to begin the fight against Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy on a limited scale -
D-Day Invasions
The D-Day landings were an invasion of beaches in Northern France by Allied troops. Known as the largest amphibious invasion, the D-Day Invasion prevented Hitler from sending troops to Eastern France, eventually liberating the country of France and defeating the Germans. -
The Yalta Conference
A meeting between FDR (U.S. President), Winston Churchill (British Prime Minister), and Stalin (Soviet leader). The purpose was to plan for post-war Europe. -
VE Day
“Victory in Europe Day”: The day Germany unconditionally surrendered. It marked the end of WWII in Europe. -
The Bombing Of Hiroshima&Nagasaki
On August 6th, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city, Hiroshima. The bomb was known as “Little Boy”, and an attempt to force Japan to surrender. A second bomb was dropped three days later on the city of Nagasaki , known as “Fat Man”. -
VJ Day
”Victory in Japan Day”: The day the Japanese surrendered to Allied forces. VJ day marks the end of the war in Japan, and the official end of WWII.