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Action T4 Starts
Action T4 started in Germany in May 1939. The program consisted of gassing Germans with mental or physical disabilities. The program murdered over 200,000 Germans in just two years. Later on, others will die of gassing. -
Roosevelt is Warned
On this day, Albert Einstein writes a letter to President Roosevelt. In it he warns the president that Germany may be working to develop nuclear weapons. The letter shows the concerns Einstein has. Leo Szilard, Eugene Wigner, and Edward Teller convinced Einstein to write the letter. -
Poland is Invaded
1.8 million Germans invaded Poland in 1939. Poland was outnumbered, and Warsaw was surrounded within two weeks. On September 3rd, two of the Allies, Britain and France, declared war. They did not attack soon enough to help Poland.
Image Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:March_down_a_street_in_Sanok_past_a_swastika_1936.jpg -
Holland and Belgium Invaded
Germany invaded Holland and Belgium in 1940. They used the Blitzkrieg, which resulted in quick defeats. Bombs were also used, and the Dutch surrendered first. The Belgians surrendered soon after, and the king was accused of working with Germans. At this point, Denmark and Norway were already under German control. -
France Surrenders
Paris was first attacked on June 3rd, and surrendered six weeks later. The French were expecting an invasion from Germany through Belgium in the east, and were caught by surprise. The French fight hard beside Belgium and Britain, but lose too many men to continue fighting. By June 25, fighting in France is over. -
Britain Attacked
Germany first attacks Brittian in 1940. Many people die from the bombings. The most damaging raid takes place on December 29th and 30th of 1940. Hitler gives up in June 1941 and attacks the Soviet Union. -
Possible Atomic Bomb
Brittain started breaking German codes in May of 1941. Through this they learned that Germany could possibly create an atomic bomb. The Brittish send the United States a report on the possibilites. The report is received by the nuclear weapon committee. -
Auschwitz Gassings Start
Auschwitz is one of Germany's six prison camps. It eventually becomes known as the deadliest. The first gassing of prisoners takes place in September of 1941. Auschwitz is located in Poland.
Photo Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Entrance_Auschwitz_I.jpg -
New Program in U.S.
A nuclear bomb program is created in the US in 1941. The program is designed to create an atomic bomb. Canadians and British citizens help. The program costs over 2 million dollars, and is very large. Photo Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nuclear_test_1962.jpg -
Pearl Harbor Attack
The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor just before eight in the morning. The US had eight ships total in the harbor, and lost five immediately. The rest were injured. Japan used aircrafts to bomb the harbor.
Photo Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Submarine_base_Pearl_Harbor_g182880.jpg -
US Enters War
The US declares war on Japan on December 8th. Americans had previously attempted to stay out of the war. The bombing of Pearl Harbor made Americans angry. Therefore, war was declared on Japan.
Photo Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_United_States.svg -
Phillipines Fall
The Phillipines are attacked by Japan the day after Pearl Harbor is attacked. Controlling the Phillipines meant controlling east Asia. The troops pulled back due to lower numbers. The surrender came in March of 1942. -
Final Solution
The "Final Solution" was set up to kill European Jews. Nazi officials met at a conference to discuss the best way to get rid of the remaining Jews. The meeting took place outside Berlin. Select SS members also attended. -
No Nuclear Weapons in Germany
Hilter called off nuclear weapons in Germany in 1942. He considered the project to be "Jewish science". Many of the Jewish physicists were already exiled by this point. However, the Allies were unaware of Hitler's change in plans.
Photo Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_X.svg -
D-Day
This was the largest assault ever, located in France. Dwight D. Eisenhower led over 200,000 of the Allies to fight the Germans. People were shot as they stepped onto the beach, and the Allies worked to gain the advantage. Eventually France's capital fell, ending the battle.
Photo Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_wounded_soldier_being_helped_aboard_the_cruiser_HMS_FROBISHER_off_the_Normandy_coast,_6_June_1944._A24104.jpg -
Roosevelt Dies
Franklin Roosevelt dies before the end of the war. Harry Truman is the next president. The atomic bomb project is still going on. Truman, however, is not aware of the project. -
Invasion Plan Cleared
Truman gives the "Olympic" permission to use the bomb to invade Japan. There will be two invasions, "Olympic" being the first. The plan will start in November of 1945. President Truman expresses concern for the number of deaths that could be caused. -
Japan is Warned
Japan is encouraged to surrender on July 26, 1945 in order to avoid major damages to Japan. The Potsdam Declaration is the document containing the warning. As president, Roosevelt said that Japan could only surrender unconditionally; Truman keeps this policy. This is Japan's last warining before the bomb is dropped.
Photo Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Second_World_War_1939_-1945-_the_War_in_the_Far_East_1941-_1945_MH2629.jpg -
Bombing of Hiroshima
The first A-bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. 140,000 died from the event. The US bombed this city. The bombing was an attempt to get Japan to surrender.
Photo Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AtomicEffects-Hiroshima.jpg -
Nagisaki Bombed
Nagisaki was the second Japanese city to be hit by an A-bomb. This bomb was also dropped by the United States. 40,000 to 75,000 people were killed. Not even a month later, Japan surrendered.
Photo Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Atomic_cloud_over_Hiroshima.jpg
