World War II

  • End of World War I

    World War I ended after the Treaty of Versailles was signed.
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    Rise of dictators in Italy, China, & Japan

    Totalitarianism rose during this time period. Japan also tried to expand during this time period. There is no specific day when fascist dictators started, so there is only a year listed. Fascist leaders primarily ended after World War II.
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    Great Depression

    The Great Depression started on the day that the stock market crashed - the spark. It ended due to World War II, since the war provided people with jobs.
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    Japan Begins to Expand (Pacific Theater)

    It is commonly acknowledged that Japan began its expansion with the Manchurian Incident. Japan invaded Manchuria and gained more land.
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    The Holocaust (European Theater)

    The start of the Holocaust is often associated with the day Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany, as he started constructing concentration camps once he was appointed. During this event, many Jews and other non-Aryans were killed, such as Gypsies and Polish people. These people were sent to ghettos, death camps, and concentration camps, such as Auschwitz. The end of the Holocaust is often identified as VE Day (Victory in Europe Day). The allies liberated prisoners.
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    Nuremberg Laws (European Theater)

    They limited the rights of Jews. Once Jews were liberated towards the end of World War II (and after the war), these laws were no longer in place. This event is more broad so there are no specific dates.
  • Germany Begins to Expand (European Theater)

    Germany's expansion started when it annexed Austria, as this was the first event that caused it to grow.
  • The Munich Agreement (European Theater)

    The Munich Agreement occurred to appease Germany. It allowed Germany to control Sudetenland, which is a part of Czechoslovakia, where ethnic Germans lived.
  • Germany Takes Over Czechoslovakia (European Theater)

    Due to the Munich Agreement, Germany began expanding to areas of Czechoslovakia, primarily Sudetenland.
  • Non Aggression Pact with USSR (European Theater)

    This pact was between Germany and the Soviet Union. It called for 10 years of peace between the Soviet Union and Germany. It also allowed Germany to invade Poland, it let the Soviet Union build up their army, and a secret plan to divide Eastern Europe was created.
  • Poland Is Invaded (European Theater)

    This event is also often regarded as the start of World War II.
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    World War II

    World War II was the second major World War. It started when Germany invaded Poland. It included the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allied Powers (Great Britain, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union.
  • Allies Declare War (European Theater)

    Once Poland had been invaded, Great Britain and France had to declare war due to their alliance with Poland.
  • Kristallnacht (European Theater)

    The Nazis attacked Jews and their property that was in Germany and German land.
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    France Is Invaded (European Theater)

    Germans and Nazis occupied the northern portion of France, and the French lived in the southern portion of France. This southern area was known as "Vichy France."
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    Evacuation of Dunkirk (European Theater)

    This was a heroic rescue. The British evacuated French troops across the English Channel.
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    Battle of Britain European Theater)

    During the Battle of Britain, Germany could only use its air force (Luftwaffe) to attack Great Britain. On the other hand, the British had radars. Overall, 14,000 civilians were killed. The US helped Great Britain by sending supplies. Germany was not able to succeed.
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    Russia Is Invaded (European Theater)

    This was known as Operation Barbarossa. This event broke the Nazi-Soviet Non Aggression Pact.
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    Siege of Leningrad (European Theater)

    During this event, the Germans attacked the city of Leningrad in the Soviet Union. They blockaded trade within the city, causing one million civilians to died from starvation. Many people died because this siege was long.
  • Pearl Harbor (Pacific Theater)

    The bombing of Pearl Harbor killed 2400 unsuspecting people. This event helped propel the United States to enter World War II. The attacker was Japan.
  • US Enters War

    The US declared war due to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president at this time.
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    Battle of the Coral Sea (Pacific Theater)

    In this battle, the US stopped the expansion of Japan. Due to this, the US considered it a victory, even though it was technically a tie.
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    Battle of Midway (Pacific Theater)

    During this battle, the Japanese code was broken with the help of the Navajo code talker. The US destroyed Japanese aircraft carriers. It is considered a turning point in the war in the Pacific Theater.
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    Battle of Stalingrad (European Theater)

    Stalingrad was one of the largest cities in the Soviet Union. This was basically a war of attrition. It was a very bloody battle. Hitler and Stalin both refused to give up until the German soldiers were captured. The Soviet Union won, and it was a major turning point of the war.
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    D-Day Invasion (European Theater)

    This invasion was on the Northern coast of France in the city of Normandy. This was the largest amphibious attack, with 4400 allies being killed. The Allies eventually took back France and won.
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    Battle of the Philippines (Pacific Theater)

    During this battle, the US took back the Philippines. Douglas MacArthur was the general.
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    Battle of the Bulge (European Theater)

    This battle occurred on the border of France and Germany. It is considered the bloodiest battle of World War II. The Allies ultimately won.
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    Battle of Iwo Jima (Pacific Theater)

    The island on which the battle was fought was 2 miles wide by 4 miles wide. 25,000 Americans were killed. Another 25,000 Japanese people were killed.
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    Battle of Okinawa (Pacific Theater)

    12,000 Americans were killed. About 100,000 Japanese people were killed.
  • Germany Surrenders (European Theater)

    This day is often known as VE Day, which stands for Victory in Europe Day. Germany surrendered because Hitler committed suicide.
  • Potsdam Declaration (Pacific Theater)

    This was the warning from the United States to Japan - "Surrender now or face utter or mass destruction"
  • Hiroshima Bombing

    This was the first of two atomic bombs that were dropped on Japan by the United States. 70,000 people were initially killed, and more died later because of radiation.
  • Nagasaki Bombing (Pacific Theater)

    This was the second of two atomic bombs that were dropped on Japan by the United States. 65,000 people were initially killed, and more died later because of radiation.
  • Japan Surrenders (Pacific Theater)

    Japan surrendered following the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, as both events devastated the country. The day that Japan surrendered is known as VJ Day, which stands for Victory in Japan Day.