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World War II begins - World War II ends
Germany invaded Poland, Mussolini attacked North Africa and Japan invaded China. Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945 -
Hitler starts real war in Europe
Hitler invaded Denmark and Norway. This ended the "phony war". Denmark fell 4 hours later and Norway surrendered 2 months later -
HItler meets western troops
Hitler swept through Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg.Traveling through Ardennes forest, passing the Maginot Line, Germans met with troops in Belgium and reached France's northern coast -
Invasion in The Balkans
On April 6, 1941 Hitler invaded Yugoslavia and Greece. Yugoslavia fell to the Germans in 11 days. Greece surrendered 17 days. To celebrate their victory the germans raised swastikas on the Acropolis. -
Blitzkrieg
The lightning war began. This military tactic was used by the Germans to try and demolish the Allied forces troops. -
U.S Strikes Back on Germany
German U-Boat fired at a U.S destroyer. FDR ordered that they strike back at German submarines on sight. The United States and Germany were in an undeclared naval battle. -
Going After Moscow
The Nazis attempted to take Moscow. Luckily for Soviet General Georgi Zhukov had 100 fresh Siberian divisions and the harsh Soviet winter. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan attack the U,S naval base Pearl Harbor located in Hawaii. This attack took 2,400 American lives. Nearly 1,000 were wounded. -
Beginning of the Battle of Stalingrad
Nightly bombings by the Luftwaffe. Stalin ordered that the city was to be defended. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
Stalingrad was bombed nightly and Stalin ordered the Soviets to defend the city. Germany soon controlled Stalingrad. The Soviet Union surrounded the city and cut off all German supplies. In Febrauary of 1943 the Germans surrendered. -
Supplies Cut Off
Germany controlled 90% of Stalingrad. On November 19, 1942 the Soviet army surrounded the city and cut off all supplies to the German troops. -
Germans surrender at Stalingrad
90,000 Germans survived the Battle of Stalingrad to surrender to the Soviets. The Soviet Union lost over a million people. Germany lost 240,000 people. -
Invasion of Sicily
180,000 Allied forces invaded Sicily. The Allies captured Sicily from the Italian and German troops. -
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Invasion of Italy
Allies invaded Sicily first. Due to that invasion King Victor Emmanuel III fired Mussolini. The next year the Allies entered Rome and the next month Germany fell in Italy. -
Mussolini Jailed
King Victor Emmanuel III fired Mussolini. The dictator was arrested by the King. German troops took Mussolini to their territory in Northern Italy. -
Rome Is Invaded
Allies move from Sicily and invade Rome, Italy. -
D-Day
Allies invaded Normandy, France. The Allies ended up pushing back German forces. -
Liberation of France
Organized Free French Military forces battled Nazis till the liberation of France -
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Yalta Conference
Conference held in Yalta by Winston Churchill, FDR and Josef Stalin to discuss postwar peace. It was decided only an unconditional surrender would be accepted from Germany. -
Mussolini Found and Killed
The Italian Resistance abushed German troops retreating from Northern Italy. Mussolini was found disgused as a German soldier. -
Mussolini Dies
On April 28, 1945 Benito Mussolini was found disguised as a German soldier trying to retreat from Northern Italy with the Gemans. On April 29, 1945 Mussolini was shot and killed. -
Marriage and Death
Hitler married the love of his life Eva Braun. They both killed themselves soon after to avoid capture from the Allies. In his final address Hitler blamed World War II on the Jews and his generals for starting the war. -
Germans Fall In Italy
As Allies advanced into Italy they breached the Gothic Line this led to the surrender of German and RSI troops. Shortly after this Germany surrendered and ended World War II in Europe. -
Unconditional Surrender
General Eisenhower accepted the uncoditional surrender from the Third Reich and the German military. This was accepted after Hitler killed himself. -
Potsdam Declaration
The United States, the United Kingdom, and China issued the Potsdam Declaration. Japan was only willing to agree if they could keep their emperor. They refused the declaration. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
10 days after the Potsdam Declaration was declared the United States dropped an atomic bomb named "Little Boy" at 8:15 am. This bomb was created using uranium-235 and had never been tested. Atleast 70,000 people instantly died. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
"Fat Man" was dropped at 11:02 am. Three days before the attsck on Nagasaki, Hiroshima was bombed. This bomb was created using plutonium-239 which had been tested. About 70,000 people died by the end of the year, -
U.S.A occupies Japan
Between 1945-1952 General Douglas MacArthur occupied the Japanese Government. He helped Japan create a new constitution and a democratic government. MacArthur also helped organize the rebuilding of Japan. -
Victory in Japan Day
Shortly after the U.S dropped atomic bombs on Hroshima and Nagasaki the Soviets invaded Manchuria. Japanese forces were pushed out and they surendered. World War II was finally over. -
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Nuremberg Trials
Allies put the Nazis on trial for war crimes and crimes during the Holocaust. These trials sentenced 12 Nazis to death. Allies didn't believe they deserved a proper burial so their bodies were burned at Dachau