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Rhineland Invasion
Hitler and his troops march to invade the Rhineland. They cautiously await French retaliation, but it doesn't happen. The invasion is a success and Hitler has found a new confidence. This is the start of it all for him, as he becomes more and more tempted to keep pushing boundaries. -
Start of the War in the Atlantic / European Theater
After Germany invades Poland, Britain and France decide to declare war on Germany two days after, and the European war begins. The Allies work together to take action against the Axis, battling it out until May 8, 1945. The whole world turned around in preparation for the second world war. -
Battle of the Atlantic
Britain's main resources were sent from Canada across the Atlantic. The German navy used their U-boats to sink many of the Canadian ships holding supplies. Canadian troops later began using new technology to detect the U-boats and sink them. By the end of the war, Canada was able to grow it's navy massively and successfully make it across. This is the longest running battle of WW2, and without the resources, Britain would not have been able to fight and keep its people alive. -
Miracle at Dunkik
The British and French armies were not prepared for the intensity of this new war, and were caught off guard by German attack. This made them defenseless, and the Allies were pinned on to the shore of Dunkirk with no escape. Hitler made his first strategic mistake by waiting to end the Allies. The British used this time to send boats across the English channel and they rescued over 300,000 soldiers. This gave the Allies a second chance against the Germans, and a stronger army to build. -
Fall of France
Hitler sent German troops into France to take it over. France could no longer fight and officially surrendered, and the Northern and Western parts of it became occupied by the Germans. This meant that Hitler now controlled most of Western Europe, putting focus on his next target, Britain. -
Battle of Britain
The Germans used planes to get to Britain, but it quickly became the war in the air. Hitler's German air force, Luftwaffe, went against Britain's Royal Air Force. They were outnumbered, so they used radar to track the planes and shoot them down. A German bomber accidentally bombed London, so Britain bombed Berlin, and it led to the Blitz from there. Hitler made his second mistake by ending the battle just before they could've won. Britain lived to fight another day, giving them hope. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan was growing rapidly with the intentions of ruling Asia, and seen the US's growing militarization as a threat. This led to Japan bombing the naval base in Pearl Harbor. This made America enter the war and join the Allies, and it began its war in the Pacific. This also led to Hitler declaring war on the US, bringing it into the European war as well. -
Start of the War in the Pacific Theater
With the US in the war, the intensity rose and the Allies had to work together to defeat yet another target, Japan, while also focusing on Europe. The war extended to whole new level that many were unprepared for, and the war in the Pacific went on until September 2, 1945. -
Battle of Stalingrad
This battle is a turning point in the war. Hitler breaks his pact with the Soviet Union and attacks them to get more territory, beginning Operation Barbarossa. This quickly became a deadly fight with over 20,000,000 Soviet lives lost. The Soviets however fought hard, causing the Germans to surrender. This was another one of Hitler's mistakes because it led Russia to joining the Allies and Germany surrounded by all fronts, and also made fighting easier for the Allies in Western Europe. -
D-Day
The Allies waited long to take back France. It required many advancements to cross the English Channel and catch the Germans by surprise, something they learned from the Dieppe disaster. They staged a fake attack in order to distract German troops. 150,000 Allies were sent to Normandy and spread apart to reach all sides. After brutal fighting conditions, the Allies successfully freed France. This attack was the most technologically advanced, which created a new strength for the Allies. -
Canadian Soldiers Liberate Netherlands
Determined to defeat the Germans, Canada joined the Rhine Offensive as 175,000 Canadians, the largest Canadian force at the time, fought to free the Netherlands from German invasion. They successfully drove the Germans out and into Northern Germany, and saved many lives on the verge of starvation on the way. This allowed the Allies to attack Germany from the Western and Eastern fronts, leaving them weak. -
V-E Day
Also known as Victory in Europe Day, this is the day after Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allies. It was a huge celebration for the Allies and the citizens in their countries, as war in the Atlantic / European Theater was officially over. -
Hiroshima
As the war in the Pacific continued, the US felt the need to take a big step in ending Japan once and for all. The first atomic bomb, the Enola Gay, was dropped on Hiroshima suddenly, and the effects of the radiation killed 70,000 people instantly. This was a big turning point in the war due to the advancement in such powerful weaponry. This bombing also worked as a threat from the Allies to the Soviet Union, showing them that they should not be messed with. -
Nagasaki
The Japanese would still not give up and continued to fight hard, causing the US to drop another atomic bomb on Nagasaki only three days later. This killed another 70,000 people instantly, and by the end of 1950, approximately 400,000 people died from the effects of the bombs. These catastrophes destroyed Japan, causing their defeat by the Allies. -
V-J Day
The Victory over Japan Day was created by the Allies the day after Japan officially surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, ending the war in the Pacific, and altogether. After approximately 6 years of brutality, WW2 was finally coming to an end.
