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Period: to
German Blitzkrieg
-Nazi forces, in smaller mobile units, swiftly invaded Poland and Belgium as well as North Africa.
-Their attacks were successful resulting in full control of these countries.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Pearl Harbor
-Japanese air forces attacked a US naval base in Hawaii
-due to worsening conditions and alliances, Japan decided to launch this surprise attack
-The United States entered the war in the pacific https://www.britannica.com/event/Pearl-Harbor-attack -
Period: to
Battle of Stalingrad
-German forces attempted to invade Russia and were almost successful. Russians and Nazis battled through the harsh Russian winter for control of Stalingrad
-Germany wanted to cover as much territory as they possibly could
-Germany lost because the winter was too harsh and were not prepared for the long battle https://www.britannica.com/list/timeline-of-the-battle-of-stalingrad -
Wannsee Conference
-Nazi leaders met in conference to discuss the solution to removing Jewish existence in Europe.
-The Nazi ideology focused on creating an Aryan state so eliminating Jewish people was a priority for Nazi's.
-as a result of the conference, Jews, minorities, the disabled, and other many unfortunate people were killed using many inhumane methods. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wannsee-conference -
Period: to
Battle of Midway
-Controlled by Japan, American and Japanese forces battled over a strategic island in the pacific.
-The US needed control of the island in order to make it across the pacific and to end the threat of invasion.
-Resulted in American victory. https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Midway -
Period: to
Battle of The Bulge
-Hitler launched is last push to save Germany from defeat. Nazi forces surrounded American troops but were met with a strong counter attack
-Hitler saw imminent defeat if he did not stop allied forces from advancing
-American forces were successful, despite brutal fighting conditions, in reestablishing the front https://www.army.mil/botb/ -
D-Day
-Allied forces launched a massive invasion of France to push Nazi forces back into Germany
-Nazi Germany invaded multiple countries, terror-bombed the crap out of England and stomped on human rights, leaving the allies with no choice but to push back
-Successful allied invasion of France pushed German forces back https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day. -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
-Allied forces discovered all the concentration camps that the Nazi's were using to kill off Jews and launched campaigns to liberate those who were still living.
-The world knew of the discrimination of the Jewish people by the Nazi party, however, they did not know of the camps that killed millions until the end of the war
-many were freed but many more were lost. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/liberation-of-nazi-camps -
Period: to
Iwo Jima
-American forces battled with japan over the strategic landmark and island of Iwo Jima. US Marines and Japanese soldiers ferosiously battled each other in hopes of victory
-America needed control over the island in order to push the Japanese back across the pacific
-Resulted in American victory https://www.britannica.com/topic/Battle-of-Iwo-Jima -
operation thunderclap
-Operation Thunderclap was an English mission towards aerial bombing cities all across eastern Germany.
-British leaders believed this would disrupt German supply routes causing supplies to be temporarily cut off.
-this bombing raid was successful http://ww2today.com/13-february-1945-operation-thunderclap-raf-start-firestorm-in-dresden -
VE Day
-After the fall of Berlin to allied forces and the supposed death of their totalitarian leader, Nazi troops surrendered unconditionally
-Nazi's no longer had control over anything and Europe became relatively peaceful -
Potsdam Declaration
-The United states, China, and Great Britain formed a declaration demanding the unconditional surrender of Japanese troops
-The war was proving hard to win using rather conventional methods so the United states had to result to something greater
-Japan refused the ultimatum, got bombed, and they quit a month later https://www.britannica.com/topic/Potsdam-Declaration -
Dropping of Atomic Bombs
-US bombers dropped two nuclear bombs on japan killing hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians
-Japan refused to surrender after being told that they would face complete destruction
-Japan surrendered -
VJ Day
-The Japanese surrendered nearly a month after the the United States use of atomic bombs
-the Japanese realized they were going to lose
-the war in the Pacific ended
