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Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht means "Night of Crystal." Anti-Jewish and violent pogroms took place at night on the 9th of November and continued until into the morning of the 10th of November. During these pogroms, non-Jewish people destroyed and raided synagogues, home, and Jewish-owned businesses. -
Germany and the Soviet Union Sign a Non-Aggression Pact
Adolf Hitler and Joesph Stalin sign a non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union. A non-aggression pact is when two countries sign a treaty stating that they will not go to war with each other. The secret part of the pact between Germany and the Soviet Union was that they were to share Poland when WWII began. -
Germany Invades Poland
World War II began when Germany invaded Poland. The Polish military forces were not prepared for an attack and were easily conquered. France and Britain declared war on Germany two days later. -
The Soviet Union Occupies Eastern Poland
After Germany invaded Poland on the 1st and defeated the Polish military, the Soviet Union invaded Poland as well. The Soviet Union invaded Eastern Poland. In the non-aggression pact the Soviet Union and Germany signed, they agreed to split Poland along the Bug River which is why the Soviet Union invaded Eastern Poland. -
The Winter War Begins
The Winter War refers to the war between the Soviet Union and Finland. The Finnish had refused to allow the Soviets to build a naval base and other concessions, so the Soviet Union attacked the Finnish. It is called the Winter War since it occurred during the winter of 1939 and 1940. -
The Winter War Ends
At first, the Finnish put up a great fight and the Soviets made very little progress. However, the Soviets used massive artillery bombardments to breach the Mannerheim Line. The Finnish tried to secure help from France and Britain, but weren't able to, so the Finnish made peace with the Soviets on the Soviets' terms, ending the Winter War on March 12th, 1940. -
The Soviet Union Occupies the Baltic States
The Germans encouraged the Soviets to occupy the Baltic states. Stalin presented an ultimatum to the Baltic states that they had to admit an unlimited number of troops and form a government that was acceptable to the USSR. The Baltics were annexed by the Soviet Union in August of 1940. -
Germany invades the Soviet Union
Germany broke its pact with the Soviet Union and invaded the country. Stalin was outraged when the Germans invaded. This is the point in WWII where the Soviet Union became an ally of the Allied Powers. -
Stalingrad
German forces begin attacking the Russian city of Stalingrad. This battle would last for six months, ending on February 2nd, 1943. The Red Army would defeat the Nazis here making it a turning point in WWII. -
D-Day
American troops land on the coastal beach of Normandy, France. Here they will fight the Germans for control of France. In August of 1944, Paris surrenders to the Allies.
