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The Holocaust
The Nazis believed that they were racially superior and that Jews were deemed Inferior. They also believed that Jews were an alien threat to the “German racial Community”. The Holocaust was the murder of over 6 million Jews also 5 million Gypsies, the disabled, communists, socialists and homosexuals. Nuremberg Laws were passed to deny Jewish people equal rights. The Jews were sent to Concentration Camps and Extermination Camps where they were put to work, starved and killed. -
Underlying Causes of WWII
The Treaty of Versailles,
Emergence of New Countries After WWl,
Rise of Fascism. -
Hitler Invades Czechoslovakia
Hitler marched into Czechoslovakia and occupied the country. -
"Non-Aggression Pact"
Hitler wanted to invade Poland. In order to prevent any Soviet interference Hitler negotiated a non-aggression pact. The two nations agreed not to attack each other and to divide Poland between themselves. -
Poland
Germany invades Poland. -
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World War II
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Poland
Britain and France declared war on Germany. -
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Battle of the Atlantic
Canadian port cities and ships were essential to supplying the war effort. Ships from Canada would carry weapons, soldiers, food, clothing and more to Britain. This was a vital lifeline to keep the Allied war effort alive. Ships going to and from Canada were under constant threat of German U-Boats. -
Poland
Canada followed suit but legally Canada did not have to go to war, they could have stayed neutral if they wanted to. -
Hitler invades Denmark and Norway
Hitler marched into Denmark and Norway and occupied the countries just like he did to Poland. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain took place from Summer to Fall of 1940. Most of the battle was largely airstrikes and dog-fights. Germany's original plan was to bomb British Airfields but after heavy British resistance, Germany changed plans to bomb cities. Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and especially London were hit by German bombing. The RAF with support from Canadians, French and Polish pilots frustrated the Luftwaffe enough to stop the attacks. -
Blitzkrieg
Hitler began Blitzkrieg, also know as "lighting war" against Holland and Belgium. Both countries were occupied. -
Italy Join The War
Italy entered the war on the side of the Axis power hoping to gain wealth. -
Japan Attacks US
By 1941, Japan had taken control of massive areas of land and entire islands. Japan’s goal was to gain out-right control of the Pacific Ocean. -
“Operation Barbarossa”
“Operation Barbarossa” was Germany’s code name for their assault on USSR (Soviet Russia). Hitler turned his back on the ‘Non-Aggression Pact’ earlier with the Soviet Union. The plan was to overwhelm opposition and catch the Soviets off-guard. -
Pearl Harbour
To gain out-right control, the Japanese knew they would have to encounter the USA. The Japanese decided to attack the largest US Naval Fleet in the Pacific stationed at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. Most of the attack was executed by the Japanese Air Force launching from Aircraft Carriers. The attack was a surprise to the Americans. Virtually the entire US Pacific Naval Fleet has been destroyed -
Americans Declare War On Japan & Germany
The day after the attack of Pearl Harbour, the Americans declared war on Japan and Germany. -
Britain & US Declare War on Japan
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Battle of Stalingrad
Stalingrad is a city named after Stalin (Russian Leader). This battle was a critical strategic point to access oil rich fields in southern Russia (to ‘fuel’ the war effort), possibly eventually leading to German invasion of the Middle East (more oil access). Access to oil fields were essential to the war effort.
Decisive Soviet Victory, many consider Stalingrad to be the most important/significant battle of WWII. -
Liberation of the Netherlands
-Once the Scheldt estuary was secured, the Canadians continued to push Northeast into the Netherlands
-The Netherlands was liberated from Nazi occupation largely by the Canadians with some help from British, Polish and American forces
Other notable Canadian Missions in Netherlands: Liberation of Arnhem, Rhineland Campaign, Liberation of Randstad
-As a result of Canadians liberating the Netherlands, the two countries enjoy a special bond which still lasts today -
D-Day
The Plan:
-Winston Churchill and US President Roosevelt agreed it was time to open up a new front in the West through the beaches of France
-The obvious choice for a landing area was the Pas de Calais so the Allies decided to attack in Normandy
Operation ‘Overlord’:
There would be five sectors that attacked:
Utah - American
Omaha - American
Gold - British
Juno - Canadian
Sword - British
D-Day was the largest amphibious attack in history and an Allied victory! -
Paris Is Liberated
Paris is liberated by the Allies!
‘Vive le Resistance’
-The Allies had great success linking up with various pockets of Resistance group, primarily in France
-The French Liberation Forces were informally lead by Charles de Gaulle
-September 1944: Virtually all of France is liberated by the Allies
-September 1944: British capture Belgian port of Antwerp
-A key victory for the Allies because they desperately needed shipping ports -
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Battle of the Bulge
Hitler planned a counterattack to clear out the Allies and regain the port city of Antwerp. With more soldiers and supplies arriving, the Allies were eventually able to resist the attack and keep the Nazis back. The Nazi loss here was a critical blow with heavy casualties and the ‘Luftwaffe’ virtually being knocked out by Allied air supremacy. By February of 1945, it was clear that the Allies were going to win as they began to advance into Germany -
Death of Roosevelt
US President Roosevelt dies. He was succeeded by President Truman. -
Mussolini Captured and Killed
Italian partisans captured Mussolini and executed him. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
Hitler commits suicide together with his long time partner Eva Braun hours after they were married. Hitler gave strict orders for his body to be burned, so that his enemies wouldn’t do what they had done to Mussolini. -
Russians Arrive - Berlin Falls
The Reichstag (the old German parliament) falls and Berlin surrenders. ”The Battle for Berlin” cost the Soviets over 70,000 dead. Many of them died because of the rush to win Berlin. -
German Forces Surrender
German forces in Italy surrender to the Allies. -
German Forces Surrender
German forces in northwest Germany, Holland and Denmark surrender. -
V-E Day!
The Germans formally surrendered on May 8th 1945, known as Victory-in-Europe, or ‘V-E’ Day. -
Winston Churchill Loses Election
Winston Churchill lost the election to Clement Atlee’s Labour Party. -
Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima
One of the available nuclear bombs, nicked “Little Boy” was loaded into a US Air Force B-29 bomber. Shortly before 9:00 am, the bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. After Hiroshima had been bombed, the Japanese government was given another ultimatum: Surrender or face another nuclear bombing. -
Atomic Bomb Dropped on Nagasaki
A second nuclear bomb, nicknamed “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki since Japan did not surrender. -
Japan Surrenders
The Japanese finally surrendered to the Allies winning the second world war. -
MacArthur Accepts Japan's Surrender
The US general, Douglas MacArthur accepts Japan's surrender and the second world war is officially over!
