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Germany and the Soviet Union invade Poland
German forces bombarded Poland by air and by land. This tacit became known as the "blitzkrieg" strategy. This tactic involved attacking with an overwhelming number of artillery, tanks and troops. The German invasion on Poland marked the beginning of World War II. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-invades-poland -
Germany invades France
British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, worked to convince French forces to not sue for peace, but that the Allied powers would soon offer help to the Parisians. French Premier, Paul Reynaud, reached out to the President of the United States, seeking aid in supplies. The United States agreed to provide help, not without opposition to some Americans, but ultimately froze American assets with the Axis powers. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-enter-paris -
Germany bombs London
The Germany forces targeted London and many more of Britain's major cities. Hitler sought to subdue Britain's opposition to Germany during the war. Instead, the bombing of London, enraged many of the residents of Britain, causing them to oppose the Germans even more. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/events/germany_bombs_london -
Lend Lease Act
The principle means of the United States providing aid to their allied nations during World War II. This act allowed the President to provide arms or any other defensive materials in opposition to German forces. However, this act would make the United States take a step closer to the war they were ultimately trying to avoid. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/lend-lease-act -
Operation Barbarossa
Adolf Hitler sent his armies towards the east in hopes of capturing the Soviet Union. The Nazi party believed that capturing the Soviet Union would be an easy win for them, however the Germans greatly underestimated their opponent. This battle became one of the most crucial turning points during World War II, because of the failure on the Germans side, it forced them to fight in a two-war front against superior resources. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
Hundreds of Japanese planes attacked an American naval base off the coast of Hawaii. The Japanese purposefully targeted the naval base due to the United States closing off Japan's access to needed materials, such as oil. This lead to the United States declaring war on Japan and led to the United States to officially be entered into the war. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
The United States declares war
After the bombings at Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt, went to the House of Representatives and gave his famous, 10 minute long, "So help us God" speech, in order to go to war with Japan. Within 1 hour of voting, the President was granted his request and declared war on Japan. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-united-states-declares-war-on-japan -
Bataan Death March
After the United States surrender of the Bataan Peninsula, the Filipino and American troops were forced to march 65-miles to prison camps. The troops were forced to walk through some of the worst conditions that included: harsh weather, and poor treatment by Japanese soldiers. Thousands of troops perished in the cruel walk. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Battle of Midway
Six months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States defeated Japan in what was one of the most influential naval battles of World War II. The major advancements in breaking code, was what helped the United States ambush the Japanese, and destroyed all of the remaining aircraft carriers. This victory in the Pacific allowed the United States to turn all of it's focus towards the problems in Europe. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Nazi Army bombed the Soviet Union's main city, Stalingrad. Both Hitler and Stalin realized the importance of the city, as it was a vital industrial and transportation center and was named after the infamous dictator, Joseph Stalin. This battle stopped the German's advance in the Soviet Union, and marked one of the biggest turning points in favor of the allies. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
Many Jews in ghettos all through Europe, attempted to organize against the Germans and arm themselves with homemade and smuggled weapons. The underground movement formed in about 100 of the Jewish groups throughout Europe. One of the most famous attempts were those made by the Z.O.B., that called for the Jewish people to resist being put in train cars. https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007745 -
D-Day
After a 2 month battle off the shores of Normandy, the Allied forces liberated Western Europe from Nazi control. The Allied forces lead Germany to believe they would be attacking from areas such as Norway and had armies stationed in Britain, however, all were false. The Allied forces used fake radio transmissions to spread the deception. The landings in Normandy are considered the beginning of the end of World War II. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Battle of Bulge
Adolf Hitler attempted to separate the Allied forces by taking them by surprise with a blitzkrieg strike. However caught off guard, the Allied armies fought off the German forces by forming a defensive line, which led to the neutralization of the Nazis. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge# -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
As the Allied powers moved across Europe, through Germany, they encountered many concentration camps. Eventually in January of 1945, the Soviet Union liberated the largest killing center, Auschwitz. With there only being several thousand prisoners alive, the Soviets were horrified with the remaining personal belongings left behind by the hundreds of thousands of Jews murdered by the Nazis. https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005131 -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The United States Marines were in desperate need of a base off the Japanese coast, causing them to port off the coast of an island called Iwo Jima. They fought from caves, tunnels, dugouts, and many more dugout installations. After a month of fighting, a memorable photo was taken of the troops standing up the American flag in victory. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Atomic Warfare against Japan
An American B-29 bomber, flew over the Japanese city of Hiroshima and deployed the world's first ever, atomic bomb. The explosion immediately killed 90 percent of the population in the city, leaving the rest to die from radiation poisoning. Three days later, another atomic bomb was deployed, only this time over a different Japanese city called Nagasaki. The emperor of Japan soon announced their surrender. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki
