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President Paul von Hindenburg Dies
On this day, President Hindenburg passed away and his position was eliminated by Hitler. The title President was thrown out due to Hitler's respect for Hindenburg. This is important because the death of the President is what lead to Hitler becoming a totalitarian dictator after combining the duties of head of government and leader of the Nazi party and declaring himself Furher. If Hitler were not Furher, he would not have been able to form the Axis Powers that started the war. -
Munich Pact
After Hitler took both Austria and the southern part of Czechoslovakia, Britain and France decided to have a meeting with Hitler. At this meeting, they decided that they would allow Hitler to keep what he had taken without consequences if he promised not to take anything else. Hitler agreed. This is important because it was the start to the war and Hitler breaking it by taking Czechoslovakia a few months later showed that he was planning on conquering more. -
Great Britain and France declare war on Germany
Great Britain and France declared war on Germany after seeing how they could not be trusted (Munich Pact) as well as how they were moving quickly and taking ground as fast as they could. Britain and France realized this and declared war because if they did not fight back, they would most likely soon be conquered. This is important because it is the official start to the war. This war starting also made other countries worried, and FDR was given $1.3 billion that year in preparation for war. -
France Surrenders to HItler
France deserted Paris and allowed Hitler to take it in order to prevent the city from being destroyed as well as keeping any citizens from being killed unnecessarily. This was important because it showed that Hitler was making progress and that he was able to gain larger countries. It also influenced FDR's decision to choose interventionism from that point on. He gave Britain 50 American destroyers in exchange for the ability to establish military bases in British territories. -
Greer Incident
Germany fired upon an American Destroyer that was escorting a British supply ship. These destroyers were escorting British supply ships after Germany started sinking them. This was important because it was the beginning of dragging America into the war and it also caused FDR to order the Navy to shoot all axis vessels on sight. This was seen by some as an unofficial naval war between the countries, and at least two more US boats were torpedoed in the next month in addition to the Greer. -
Pearl Harbor
Japanese forces attacked the Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii using bombers and submarines. There were over 3,400 casualties and 2,300 deaths. This was important because it was the last straw that got the U.S. involved in the war with the U.S. declaring war the next day. It helped bring Americans together in the fight. People now willingly went into the Army in hopes of revenge. Hundreds of thousands of men lined up to join the fight opposed to beforehand when people had to be drafted. -
D-Day
Also known as Operation Overlord, and Storming the beaches of Normandy, Allied troops sailed up to the shore and took over the beaches from Germany. The most well known beach was Omaha, and they were all given code names. This was important because it was stopping Hitler's progress and it led the U.S. to seize an important port in Cherbourg soon after. There they were able to land 850,000 men and 150,000 vehicles in order to continue marching across France. -
Hitler commits suicide
After his armies were surrounded in the Battle of Berlin, Hitler killed himself in a bunker along with his wife Eva Braun. This was important because it showed that the German forces were weakened and that Hitler had given up, a force can not survive without a leader, and neither could the Nazi party. After house to house attacks with 6,300 tanks, 8,500 aircraft, and 20 armies by the Soviets, the Allies had taken down an empire. This showed the rest of the world that the U.S could end the war. -
V-E Day
After a long battle in Europe, General Wilding and Germany surrendered unconditionally following the Battle of Berlin. The Soviets had stormed through the city and slowly closed further in on the troops and civilians. This was important because it allowed the U.S to focus on the battle going on in Japan rather than fighting on two fronts at once. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers that were fighting in Europe were transferred to Japan to strengthen the forces that would eventually end the fight. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
The Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb called Little Boy on the it of Hiroshima. It instantly killed 100,000 people and another 100,000 within the year. This was an important event because this bombing along with the Nagasaki bombing three days later was what caused the emperor to force the military to surrender. The loss of life (140,000 instantly between the two) and the damage caused by both firestorms and the shock waves of the bomb showed what the U.S. could do if Japan didn't surrender now