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WW1 ends
Germany loses and is blamed for the war. Many countries suffer large damages and want to avoid another conflict. -
Dictators rise to power
Mussolini- creates fascism in 1919
Stalin- takes power after Lenin dies
Hitler- WW1 veteran, leader of the Nazi party -
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Great Depression
The stock market crashed, leading to widespread unemployment and homelessness. -
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Japan expands
Japan expands to many islands in the pacific. They invade Manchuria, as well as many islands in the Pacific. -
Munich Agreement
Britain and France give Germany part of Czechoslovakia to avoid war. Germany invades the rest, and the agreement is a failure. -
Germany begins expanding
Germany takes back some land and remilitarizes. -
Germany and the USSR sign a non-aggression pact
Germany and the USSR sign a non-aggression pact stating they will not invade each other at the time -
Invasion of Poland
Germany invades Poland, the war begins. -
Britain and France declare war
The war officially begins. -
Nuremberg & Kristallnacht
Limited rights of Jews, identified people by ancestry
November 9th, 1939- a coordinated attack on Jews and their property -
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Major European Battles
Battle of France- France was invaded.
Battle of Dunkirk- Britain rescues thousands of British and French soldiers.
Battle of Britain- Germany attempts to invade Britain but fails.
Battle of Stalingrad- Proves that Germany can be invaded.
Invasion of Normandy- The allies invade France at Normandy.
Battle of the Bulge- Germany tries to regain strength.
Battle of Berlin- The Soviet Union reaches Berlin first and attacks. Germany surrenders after Hitler commits suicide. -
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Germany invades France
Germany invades France and quickly takes over, establishing a puppet government. -
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Battle of Britain
Germany attacks Britain with planes. The RAF defends Britain, with civilians sheltering in bunkers during raids. Germany fails. -
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Major Pacific Battles
Midway- Japan loses a large number of pilots and battleships in this naval battle.
Okinawa- The bloody battle of attrition was long and brutal.
Iwo Jima- The Marines took over a month to secure the island. The Japanese would not surrender -
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Russian Invasion
Germany invades Russia. Russia is not prepared and fights desperately. They eventually push Germany back. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan attacks the United States at Pearl Harbor, destroying and damaging the entire leet there. -
USA joins the war
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US joins the war. -
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The Holocaust
Germany starts the mass killing of Jews and other minorities. These atrocities are discovered after Germany is invaded. -
Germany Surrenders
Germany surrenders after Hitler commits suicide. -
Postdam Decleration
The allies declare that if Japan doesn't surrender, they will face total destruction. -
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Japan is bombed
The USA bombs Japan in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. -
Japan surrenders
Japan surrenders, ending WWII.