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Germany declares war on Poland and invades under Hitlers command
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France and Great Britain jump into the war not even two days later and declare war on Germany after their attack on Poland.
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Germany takes over and moves quickly and attacks and invades Denmark and Norway, Hitler is now under control.
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Germany uses quick strikes called blitzkrieg, meaning lightning war, to take over much of western Europe including the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern France. This attack goes on for more than a month.
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Italy enters the war as a member of the Axis powers. Germany and Italy signed a friendship treaty that formed the Rome-German Axis. It was after this treaty that Italian dictator Benito Mussolini used the term Axis to refer to their alliance. Shortly after this, on November 25, 1936, Japan and Germany both signed the Anti-Comintern Pact, which was a treaty against communism.
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Germany launches an air attack on Great Britain. These attacks last until the end of October and are known as the Battle of Britain.
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Germany and the Axis Powers attack Russia with a huge force of over four million troops.
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The Japanese attack the US Navy in Pearl Harbor. The next day the US enters World War II on the side of the Allies. The US is ready to strike Japan after the unforgettable betrayal of the Japanese.
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The US Navy defeats the Japanese navy at the Battle of Midway.
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Italy surrenders to the Allies, however Germany helps Mussolini to escape and set up a government in Northern Italy
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D-day and the Normandy invasion. Allied forces invade France and push back the Germans.
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The Germans launch a large attack in the Battle of the Bulge. They lose to the Allies sealing the fate of the German army.
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US Marines invade the island of Iwo Jima. After a fierce battle they capture the island. The US used a tactic called island hopping to capture these islands that where huge for positioning in the War.
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US President Franklin Roosevelt dies. Harry Truman takes over office and is a successful President.
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Adolf Hitler commits suicide as he knows Germany has lost the war. Germany surrenders the war in May.
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The United States drops the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The city is devastated. Approximately 146,000 people where killed in the bombing of Hiroshima
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Another atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. A little over 80,000 people where killed in Nagasaki.
