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Blitzkrieg
Germany started World War II by invading Poland on September 1, 1939. Britain and France responded by declaring war on Germany, Within a month, Poland was defeated by German and Soviet forced. -
Germany bombed London and the Battle of Britain
The summer of 1940, German and British air forces clashed in the skies over the United Kingdom. The Battle of Britain ended when Germany failed to gain air superiority. The Germans had major problems. German had poor intelligence and wasted most of July waiting for British to surrender and only attacked in August. German approach massive attacks on London. Hitler permanently postponed a landing on British Isles and suspended the Battle of Britain. -
The Miracle of Dunkirk
The evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk ends as the German forces capture the beach port. The evacuation last 9 days and had an unexpected success. It saved 338,000 allied troops from capture by the Nazis. -
Japan bombing of Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941 hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. The Japanese destroy nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight enormous battleships and more than 300 airplanes. More than 2,00 Americans died in the attack and another 1,00 were wounded. The day after this the President asked Congress to declare war on Japan. Three days later and Japanese allies Germany and Italy also declared war on USA. USA joined WWII. -
The United States victory in Battle of Midway
6 months after the Pearl Harbor attack the United States defeated Japan in on of the most decisive naval battles of WWII. Thanks to major advances code breaking was able to preempt and counter Japan's plans. This victory allowed the United States and its allies to move into an offensive position. Historians see Midway as the turning point in the Pacific theater of the war. The Midway war ranks as a decisive battle -
The internment of Japanese Americans during WWII
Two months after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 ordering all Japanese-Americans to evacuate the West Coast. This resulted in the relocation of 120,000 people to one of 10 internment camps located across the country. Many people were forced to sell their property at a severe loss before departure. Mach 1946 when the last camp closed. -
The Battle of Bataan and the Bataan Death March
The after the surrender of the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese. The Filipino and American troops captured on the Bataan Peninsula begin a forced march to a prison camp near Cabanatuan. This infamous trek known as the "Bataan Death March". The prisoners were forced to march 85 miles in six days. At the end of the march which was punctuated with atrocities committed by the Japanese guards many Americans and Filipinos died. -
The Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was the successful Soviet defense of the city of Stalingrad. Russians consider it to be the greatest battle of their Great Patriotic War. It stopped the German advance into the Soviet Union and marked the turning of the tide of the war in favor of the Allies. This battle was one of the most bloodiest in history. Hitler distrustful than ever of his generals. Stalin gained confidence in his military. -
D-Day invasion to begin the liberation of Western Europe
June 6th, 1944, the day the Allied powers crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France. This beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. Within 3 months the northern part of France would be freed and the invasion force would be preparing to enter Germany this is where they meet up with the Soviet forces moving East. The Allies took out many key bridges and forced the Germans to take long detours. The Allies were able to land supplies in France. -
The Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development that produced the first nuclear weapons. FDR did not inform his fourth-
term vice president, Truman, that it existed. There was fears that Germany was close to developing the weapon thus the Russians could possibly have atomic weapons within four years. The first bomb was exploded over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and the second was dropped on Nagasaki on August 8th. The Japanese quickly surrendered.
