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Germany invades Poland
Germany invades Poland
The invasion of Poland was the start of WWII. Germany wanted to reclaim lost land from WWI. Hitler used a strategy called blitzkrieg, or lightning war. Once Hitler had operation in place to take Poland, he started building the concentration camps. When Germany invaded, the Polish mad several mistaked in how to approach the incoming Germans, who were better equipped then them. Poland fell to German rule. -
Germany Invades France and Captures Paris
Germany invades France
WHen the Nazis invaded France, people woke up to them saying on loudspeakers that a curfew was being put in place, and peopl could not be out after 8 pm. 2 million Parisians had already left Paris by the time that the Germans had taken control of the city. While the Germans were taking control of Paris, Canadian troops were coming through the east of France, offering hope to those in the east. -
The Battle of Britain Begins
Battle of Britain Speech by Churchill
The Battle of Britain was the first all-air battle. The battle ended when German airplanes could not gain superiority over the British. The Germans had almost no knowledge of Britains weaknesses, and were in no shape to start another battle overseas. -
The United States gives Britain war supplies and old Navy warships
FDR and the Lend Lease Program
Also known as the Lend Lease, this act was th primary means for the US providing military aid to foreign countries. The act allowed the president to transfer guns and other defense tools. This act also allowed th United States to support war intreses and not be too involved in battle. -
Operation Barbarossa-Bonus
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the largest invasion in history. The Germans broke through the poorly planned Soviet Union line. Operation Barbarossa was the German decision to invade the Soviet Union and break th peace pact between the two countries. The Germans ultimatley failed in their conquests, due to the freezing weather. -
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
The bombing of Pearl Habor was the main reason that the United States declared war on Japan and Germany. The bombing killed more than 2,000 soldiers and wounded another 1,000. It destroyes nearly 20 American naval ships, and more then 300 airplanes. Nobody believed that Japan would attack US territory due to inconvience and distance. The United States declared war on Germany and Japan the day after the bombings. -
The United States declares war on Germany and Japan, and Germany declares war on the United States
US Declares war on Japan
One day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States officially declares war on Japan and Germany. When FDR signed the declaration of war at 4:10 pm, he was wearing a black armband as a sign of mourning for the lives lost in the Pearl Harbor attack. -
Bataan Death March-Bonus
The Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March was the marching of 75,000 American and Filipino troops to a concentration camp. The march was made in sweltering heat and the cruelty of the Japanese soldiers. The prisoners were made to march about 65 miles. thousands dies on the march, and thousands more from disease, mistreatment, and starvation in the camp. -
The United States won the Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was one of the most decisive naval battles in WWII. As the United States could now decipher Japanese coded messages and foresaw the planned attack on the US, they were able to put together a counter-attack. This victory for the Allies allowed them to move into a more offensive stance. -
The Soviet Union defeats Germany at Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad
The Soviet Union considers the BAttle of Stalingrad to be their greatest battle of their "Great Patriotic War." The BAttle of Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest battle in history, with nearly 2 million deaths, incliuding civilian, on both sides. The battle is considered to be one of the most important crucial battles in WWII. Both sides considered Stalingrad essential to their campaign. -
Warsaw Ghetto uprising-Bonus
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
German authorities allowed only 35,000 Jews to remain in the Warsaw Ghetto, and 20,000 more hid within the Warsaw Ghetto. 700 Jews fought against almost 2,000 Nazi-German soldiers, who were completely taken by suprise when the Jews rebelled. The upridsing lasted about 28 days, despite the unbalance between the opposing forces. The uprising is known as the most stirring resistance in Nazi occupied Europe. -
Allied Troops land in Normandy, France.
D Day
This day, also known as D-Day, was the day that the liberation of Europe began. More than 160,000 Allied troops landed in France, and fought German troops on the beaches of Normandy. Backing the troops up were 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft. A the end of the day, more than 9,000 Allied soldiers were either killed or injured. -
The Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the BulgeThe Battle of the Bulge was named for the the line of the Allied forces looking like a large bulge. It was the deadliest and most desprate battle of the war. It took place in the heavily forested Ardennes, and caught the American army completely by suprise. Hitler's goal of at least a draw was not accomplished thanks to a German shortage of fuel and the bravery of the American soldiers. However, the battle of the bulge was the costliest action ever for the American army in number of deaths. -
The Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima
The United states needed an air base near the Japanese coast, and the Battle of Iwo Jima was the outcome of this need. Iwo Jima was defended by about 23,000 Japanese troops, both army and navy. The Battle of Iwo Jima was fought in underground caves, tunnels, and other underground places. The battle earned fame by a picture of American men putting the American flag after the victory of the Battle of Iwo Jima. -
Liberation of the Concentration Camps
Liberation of the Camps
Buchenwald Concentration was liberated on April 8, 1945, Bergen-Belsen Concentration camp was liberated on April 15, Sachsenhausen Concentration was liberated on April 22. All of the Concentration Camps set up by Hitler and th Nazis would be liberated before the war ends. More then 11 million peopl were killed in concentration camps, 6 million of them Jews. 1.1 million of them were children. -
USA drops Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
Harry Truman announces the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima
The bombing of Hiroshima was the first time that the world had ever seen an atomic bomb used, and it promptly ended the war between Japan and the United States. It killed 90 percent of the city's population, immediatley killing 80,000 people and, later, tens of thousands from radiation exposure. The bomb was dropped by an American B-29 bomber. -
USA drops Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki
Bombing of Nagasaki
The bombing of Nagasaki happened three days after the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. It was nicknamed "Fat Man" in relation to the bomb that was dropped over Hiroshima. This bomb was more powerful than the one dropped on Hiroshima, but the mountains in Nagasaki reduced the bombs full impact. The bomb weighed nearly 10,000 pounds. It killed an estimated 40,000 people.
