-
The War Begins
The German army invades Poland. Later, on the 17th, the Russian Army invades Poland from the East. The Polish Army is completely defeated by September 28th. -
Period: to
World War II
-
France and Britain Declare War on Germany
In retaliation of the invasion of Poland, Britan and France declare war on Germany. -
U.S Stays Neutral
The United States maintains its neutrality in the war in Europe. -
New Defense Program
The United States government commits millions of dollars to improve the military. -
The New Navy
President Roosevelt provies $1.3 billion dollars to modernize the U.S Navy. -
Oil Embargo
To disrupt the Japanese military, the United States put an embargo on all oil and steel exports to Japan. -
Reelected!
Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected for his third term. -
Lend Lease Act
President Roosevelt signs Lend Lease Act into law allowing the United States government to provide supplies/support with payments that were delayed until after the war. This allowed the U.S to help in the war effort against the Axis, while still maintaining its neutral diplomatic stance. -
The U.S Attacked
The Empire of Japan sent an early morning aerial attack on the U.S fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. 2,403 Americans were killed, 1,178 wounded, and the attack left the U.S fleet decimated. -
U.S Enters the War
The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States declares war on Japan. -
Americans Turn the Tide in the Pacific
About six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S Navy landed a crushing blow on the Japanese Imperial Navy at the Battle of Midway. The Americans were able to sink 4 Japanese aircraft carriers (crucial for the war in the Pacific) and permanently crippled the Japanese Navy. This was a major turning point in the war as it allowed the U.S to go on the offensive and begin pushing back the Japanese. -
Battle for Stalingrad
Aug 23 1942- Feb 2, 1943: The German invasion of the Soviet Union had been greatly successful until the heroic stand at Stalingrad made by the Red Army. German military leaders thought they would conquer the Soviet Union well before winter, but the invasion took longer than expected. The brutal Russian winter paired with the thinly stretched German supply lines finally gave the Russians the edge. This victory ended up being a major turning point in the Eastern Theatre. -
Women in the Workforce
Beginning in 1940 and continuing through the end of the war, U.S women did their part for the war effort back home by working jobs in aircraft and munitions factories to replace the men that had been drafted or enlisted in the military. By 1945, 1.8 million women worked in the defense industry. 350,000 American women also served in the military throughout the war in non-combat roles. -
D Day Invasion
In the early morning hours of June 6th, 1944, thousands of American and British paratroopers were dropped behind enemy lines to secure strategic positions behind the German defenses of the Normandy beaches.156,000 Allied Troops landed along a 50 miles stretch of the French coast in the largest amphibous invasion in history beginning at roughly 6:30 am. 4,000 Allied troops lost their lives and thousands more were wounded or missing. -
Battle of the Buldge
Dec 16, 1944- Jan 25, 1945: A last ditch attempt by Hitler to drive back the Allies advances across France toward Germany. German forces attacked the Allies in the dense Ardennes Forest in an attempt to split the Allied armies in half. Despite the early success of the Germans, the poorly supplied and depleted American soldiers held off the German offensive. -
Atomic Bombs Fall Over Japan
August 6th & August 9th, 1945: In an act that sealed defeat for Japan in the war, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japanese Cities. The first bomb "Little Boy" was dropped on Hiroshima, and the the second "Fat Man" was dropped on Nagasaki. 246,000+ Japanese civilians and soldiers lost their lives as a result of the bombings. -
Battle for Berlin
April 20-May 2, 1945: The Red Army pushed the German forces out of Russia, through eastern Europe, and all the way to the German capital, Berlin. Even after the city's defenders surrendered on May 2nd, some soldiers continued to fight and moved to the west side of the city so they may surrender to the advancing American and British troops rather than the Soviets. -
V-E Day and Hitler's Death
V-E Day or Victory in Europe Day, commerates when the fighting in Europe ended in World War II. Nine days prior, foreseeing defeat, Hitler shot himself in his underground bunker in Berlin to avoid capture and sure execution by the Allies. -
V-J Day
Victory over Japan Day could be viewed just a week after the atomic bombings, but Japan did not formally surrender until September 2nd. This day marks the official end of World War II as at this point all Axis Powers had surrendered.
