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Japan invades China, thus WWII is initiated in the Pacific
WWII is initiated in the Pacific -
Period: to
World War II
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Germany invades Poland, thus WWII is initiated in Europe
WWII is initiated in Europe -
Great Britain and France declare war on Germany
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Blitzkrieg against Denmark and Norway
Blitzkrieg- German term for “lightning war,” a military tactic designed to create disorganize enemy forces through the use of mobile forces and locally concentrated firepower. -
German attacks Netherlands, Belgium, France
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France surrenders
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Battle of Britain over the UK
The Battle of Britain was an air battle between the German and the British over the UK, in the largest sustained bombing campaign to that date. Germany failed so Britain won, saving the country from a ground invasion and possible occupation by German forces. Turning point in WWII. -
Hitler invades the Soviet Union
Largest military operation by Germany in WWII. Germany betrayed the Soviet Union when the German-Soviet Pact was signed less than 2 years before. The Soviet Union did not expect this event and were cut off from supplies and reinforcements. Although not rapidly like the Germans expected, the Soviet Union surrendered. -
Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union is over
After months of campaining, initiating mass murder operations for "The Final Solution", and establishing ghettos in the Soviet Union, the Germans finally left them alone. The Germans had achieved the largest and most powerful invasion force in human history. -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Philippines, and Dutch East Indies. By the spring of 1942, Japan control most of Southeast Asia.
Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. The barrage lasted two hours, but was devastating: The Japanese destroyed nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight enormous battleships, and almost 200 airplanes. More than 2,000 Americans soldiers and sailors died in the attack. 1,000 were wounded. -
The U.S. enters the war
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-13 Germany and Axis partners declare war on the U.S.
Germany and Axis partners declare war on the U.S. -
-7 Battle of Midway
Island-hopping: a military strategy used by the Allies in WWII, concentrating on Japanese islands that weren't well guarded.
This naval fleet battle between US & Japanese navies in the Pacific resulted from Japan’s desire to sink American aircraft carriers that had escaped Pearl Harbor. The US was able to preempt and counter Japan’s planned ambush of its few remaining aircraft carriers, inflicting permanent damage on the Japanese Navy. It was an important turning point in the Pacific campaign. -
to February 2, 1943 Battle of Stalingrad
Successful Soviet defense of Stalingrad (now Volgograd). It stopped the German advance into the Soviet Union and marked the turning of the tide of war in favor of the Allies. It was one of the bloodiest battles; combined military and civilian casualties are nearly 2 million. -
(Fall 1942 - May 1943) Great Britain and U.S. invade Africa
"Operation Torch" - a compromise operation that met the British objective of securing victory in North Africa while allowing American forces to fight against Nazi Germany. It also provided some degree of relief for the Eastern front by diverting Axis forces to the African theatre.Victory for the Allies in this campaign led to the Italian Campaign, which caused the downfall of fascist government in Italy and the elimination of a German ally. -
Battle of Normandy, D-day
D-day : codenamed Operation Overlord. Some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-miles of the Normandy region in France. The invasion was one of the largest. British and U.S. troops landed on the beaches of Normandy and liberated Paris from Allied forces. By December, nearly all of France, most of Belgium, and parts of the Netherlands were liberated. -
Soviets launch final offensive, encircling Berlin, Germany
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Hitler commits suicide
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Germany surrenders to the western Allies.
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Germany surrenders to the Soviets.
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U.S. drops first atom bomb on Hiroshima
The Enola Gay (American B-29 bomber) dropped the world’s first atomic bomb over Hiroshima at 8:16 AM Japanese time. About 80,000 people were killed directly from the blast, 35,000 were injured, and another 60,000 died at the end of the year from the effects of the bomb. -
U.S. drops atom bomb on Nagasaki
Pretty much same devastating situation as Hiroshima.It was the 2nd atomic bomb dropped on Japan by the United States, which resulted in Japan’s unconditional surrender, because the first bomb (Hiroshima) wasn’t enough for Japan to surrender. -
Japan unconditionally surrenders.
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Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II