World War 2 Timeline

Annexation of Sudetenland

Sep 30, 1938

Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany signed the Munich Pact that officially approved German expansion into the Sudetenland province in Czechoslovakia. Germany wanted to gain control of key military defenses, unite German-majority areas, and for a sense of nationalism. Video
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Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

Japan launched a surprise attack on U.S pacific naval base in Hawaii. Severely damaged the fleet and caused many american casualties. The cause of America entering WW2. Video
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The Philippines

Dec 8, 1941

Invaded by Japan and occupied until 1945. Japan invaded the day after Pearl Harbor. It was liberated by the Allied fores. US military had barely begun when Philippines was invaded. Video
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Japanese Internment Camps

Feb 19, 1942

President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 that resulted in Japanese Americans being placed in camps because citizens believed they were spying for the Japanese. The Japanese Americans were forced inland and kept in poor conditions. Video
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Battle of Midway

Jun 4, 1942

Air crafts from Japanese carriers attacked and damaged the US base on Midway. This was the turning point of the way in the Pacific because it stopped Japanese advancement east. Video
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Battle of Stalingrad

Jul 17, 1942

Turning point of European war in favor of Allies. Stopped German advance into the Soviet Union. Video
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Guadalcanal

Aug 7, 1942

First offensive victory for America in the Pacific. Naval battle consisting of a series of destructive air and sea fighting. Stopped Japan from expanding in the South Pacific. Video
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Island Hopping

Aug 7, 1942

Began with the Allied invasion of Guadalcanal. This was the practice of skipping over heavily protected islands in order to seize lightly defended locations and get closer to Japan. Video
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D-Day

Jun 6, 1944

Allied forces launch invasion in Normandy, France. Code named Operation Overlord. Landing on the beaches of Normandy, allied forces liberate France from Nazi control. Video
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Yalta Conference

Feb 4, 1945

Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin discuss Europe post-war reorganization. Also discuss the conditions for the Soviet union to enter the war in the Pacific. In return the Soviets would get influence in Manchuria after Japan surrendered. Video
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Battle of Berlin

Apr 16, 1945

Major military movement towards the end of WWll. Soviet army invades and attacks Berlin, Germany. Resulted in the death of Hitler and ultimately the surrender of the German army. Soviets and Allies meet after the race to invade Berlin. Video
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Death of Hitler

Apr 30, 1945

Adolf Hitler committed suicide after being hunted by the Soviet army. He realized the allies were storming Berlin and were going to kill him. The day before, he married his mistress and she was found dead as well. He had been hiding out in a hidden bunker. Hitler knew he would face the same, if not worse death than Mussolini. Video
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Los Alamos

Jul 16, 1945

The location in Now Mexico where the Manhattan Project was practiced and developed. The Manhattan Project consisted of the 2 nuclear weapons that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Was code named "Trinity". Video
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Meeting at Potsdam

Jul 17, 1945

Stalin, Churchill and new US President, Truman negotiated terms for the end of WWll. After Germany's surrender, the allies agreed to meet to determine post-war borders in Europe. Video
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Hiroshima

Aug 6, 1945

Atomic bomb dropped over Hiroshima, Japan. It was the first atomic bomb to be used as a weapon of war. The US wanted to force a quick surrender by Japan to reduce American casualties Video
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