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Japan Invades China, initiating WWII in the Pacific
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Germany invades Poland, beginning WWII in Europe
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Great Britain and France declare war on Germany
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Blitzkrieg began against Denmark and Norway
Blitzkrieg is German military tactic that was used to create disorganization within enemy forces by using mobile forces and concentrated firepower. Large formations on wheels were able to disrupt enemy lines and cause disorganization within enemy formations. This technique was first applied in 1939 on Poland, prior to its use in other full scale invasions. -
Germany attacks against Netherlands, Belgium, France
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France Surrendors
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Battle of Britain
During the fall and smmer of 1940, Britain and Germany were engaged in air battle over the UK, this was the largest ongoing bombing campaign during that time. This is considered to be a turning point in the war, as Britain was victorious, saving them from a German invasion. This victory was a surprise as Britain was left to fight for themselves once France quit the World War in June of 1940. -
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Hitler invades the Soviet Union
Hitler wanted to defeat the Soviet Union to crush Britian. This attack was on a large front and the German troops tore through the area quickly. In November, one part of the German army was already though Ukraine. A second was within close reach of Moscow. As the invasion droned on, winter came along, which the Germans were not ready for, leading to the Sovet's stopping the Germans for the first time. -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Phillippines, and Dutch East Indies.
Early on the morning of December 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, where an important American naval base was located. More than 3,000 American soldiers were affected by the bombing. Hundreds of American aircrafts and ships were destroyed. The once neutral America was now agered by Japan's actions. The next day, President Frankline D. Roosevelt ordered that Congress declare war on Japan. Finally, the big guns of the United States entered the war,. -
United States enters the war
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Germany and Axis partners declare war on the U.S.
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Battle of Midway
Thanks to advances in code breaking, the United States was able to learn of a planned Japanese ambush on American forces. Parts of the US Pacific Fleet were able to place themselves in a way were they could surprise the Japanese coming to attack Midway. This US victory allowed the US and the rest of the Allies to move in an offensive spot. The Allies used island hopping, a strategy which Allies would pass though Japanese defense and focus on islands that were not guarded and vital to Japan. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
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Great Britiain and the US invade Africa
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Britain and US invade Africa
This invasion of the French North Africa forced the surrender of the German and Italian troops there in May of 1943. -
Battle of Normandy Begins (D-Day)
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Battle of Normandy (Start to End)
On this day, over 100,000 American, British and Canidian landed on beaches along France's Normandy region. This was the Allie's invasion of Western Europe and is known today as the "largest amphibious attack in history". This invasion allowed the liberating of Northern France, bringing the start to the end of the World War in Europe, as it sucessfully mislead the Germans and allowed for a massive attack on the European front. -
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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The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945, the American B-bomber the Enola Gay dropped the world's first atomic bomb in Hiroshima, Japan. A total of 115,000 people suffered some sort of pain from the blast. This bomb was used to being a close to the war and help limit the loss of American soldiers. This bomb carried the power equivalent to 12,500 tons of TNT. This bomb destroyed over one third of all buildings in Hiroshima. Japan. Hiroshima was left in ruins, and its people, shaken. -
The US drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki
On this day, the second atomic bomb was dropped by the US in Japan, this time in Nagasaki. This was dropped because the bomb in Hiroshima was not enough to make Japan surrender. The bomb did not cause as much damage due to the hills around the city, even though this bomb packed the force of 22,000 tons of TNT. The B-29 bomber that dropped this bomb was commanded by Frederick Bock. t is estimated that at least 60,000 were killed in the explosion. -
Japan unconditionally surrenders
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Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II
