World War 2 by Jessica Roberts

By robertsjr2

  • The first concentration camps established

    In March 1933, immediately after Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany.

  • Dachau Concentration Camp starts operating

  • Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp starts operating

  • Buchenwald Concentration Camp starts operating

  • First official execution in a concentration camp.

  • State-sponsored pogrom against Jews

    Over 26,000 Jewish men forced into concentration camps and over 50,000 prisoners in concentration camps

  • Women's Concentration Camp Ravensbrück starts operating

  • World War 2 BEGINS!

    Hitler invaded Poland from the west; two days later, France and Britain declared war on Germany.

  • The Soviet Union invades Poland

  • Miracle of Dunkirk

    Happened when the trapped British army evacuates to England from Dunkirk, France, surviving to fight another day

  • Italy enters the war

    Italy invades southern France on June 21.

  • Paris falls to Nazi

  • Battle of Britain

    The air war ends in defeat for Nazi Germany
    Lasted from July 10, 1940–October 31, 1940

  • Tripartite Pact

    Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact.

  • Invasion of Soviet Union

    Nazi Germany and its Axis partners (except Bulgaria) invade the Soviet Union. (June 1941 First “euthanasia” murders of weak and ill prisoners)

  • Mass gassing

    First mass gassing of Soviet POWs in a concentration camp

  • US Enters the War!

    The United States enters the war after Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

  • Hitler Declares War with US

    Hitler and Nazi Germany and its Axis partners declare war on America

  • Gas Chambers

    First gas chambers established at Auschwitz-Birkenau; also start of regular “selections” of Jews on arrival in Auschwitz Spring/summer of 1942

  • Wannsee Conference

    Wannsee conference to coordinate the “Final Solution” to get rid of Jews

  • Bombing of Cologne

    The British bomb Cologne starting a bombing campaign that brings the war home to Germany.

  • Not Just Jews

    Mass deportations of Gypsies to Auschwitz begin

  • Tank Offensive

    The Germans launch a massive tank offensive near Kursk in the Soviet Union. The Soviets blunt the attack within a week and begin an offensive initiative of their own.

  • Underground Concentration Camp

    Dora underground camp starts operating. About 224,000 prisoners in concentration camps

  • D-Day

    Allied forces invade northern France with landing at Normandy beachhead and head eastward towards Paris..known as D-Day. (Summer/Autumn, 1944 Mass deportations of Jews to concentration camps deep inside Germany-- 524,286 prisoners in concentration camps)

  • Allies Enter Southern France

    Allied forces land in southern France near Nice and advance rapidly towards the Rhine River to the northeast.

  • Final Offensive

    The Germans launch a final offensive in the west, known as the Battle of the Bulge, in an attempt to re-conquer Belgium and split the Allied forces along the German border.

  • Retreat!

    By January 1, 1945, the Germans are in retreat. (EARLY 1945 Prisoner numbers reach over 700,000)

  • Soviet troops liberate Auschwitz!

  • Soviet Offensive

    Soviet forces capture Vienna. April 16, 1945 The Soviets launch their final offensive, encircling Berlin.

  • Liberation of Dachau

  • Hitler Commits Suicide

  • Germany Surrenders!

    Germany signs an unconditional surrender at the headquarters of US General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commander of Allied forces in northwest Europe, at Reims on May 7. The surrender takes effect on May 8

  • Hiroshima

    The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

  • Nagasaki

    The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

  • World War 2 ENDS!

    The Japanese delegation formally signs the instrument of surrender on board the USS Missouri.