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This pact was between Germany and the Soviet Union. This non aggression pact was for 10 years and included the split of Poland where Germany was able to invade Poland unopposed. This didn’t last for long though because Germany broke the pact in 1941 when Nazis invaded the USSR and made enemies of the Soviets.
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Some also call it “lightning” warfare. It is a term that describes a fast, focused blow to an enemy. These attacks led to quick victories, limiting the loss of soldiers, and limiting the amount of artillery.
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This invasion of the USSR by Germany was the first loss for Hitler in the war. The Germans weren’t prepared for the harsh Russian winters and it was a major cause for their defeat. The defeat of the Germans eventually led to their second invasion in the Battle of Stalingrad. (https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa)
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The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor because it posed the only real threat to the Japanese. The attack wasn’t very successful though, since the American aircraft carriers weren’t there at the time. This led to the US declaring war on Japan and entering the world war.(https://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/attack-on-pearl-harbor.php) -
Nazi officials met in Wannsee to discuss the “Final Solution.” It was discussed that they would round up all Jews throughout Europe and transport them into labor gangs. This led to the start of the Holocaust. (https://www.britannica.com/event/Wannsee-Conference) -
This war took place between Japan and the US. The US changed the tides of this war when they started intercepting and decoding the Japanese codes and plans. After this US victory, Japan remained defending the rest of the war. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/battle_midway_01.shtml)
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Known for being one of the largest, bloodiest, and longest wars. This war turned the tides of the war towards the Allied forces. This win pushed the Axis powers back and boosted USSR confidence. (https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad)
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The Allies invaded Italy on July 10, 1943. It was a relatively easy win for the Allies. This also contributed to the fall of Mussolini’s facsist government. This win led to the surrender of German forces inItaly and eventually the surrender of all of Germany. (https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-invade-italian-mainland)
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This invasion of Normandy, France contained around 20,000 Allied soldiers. Their goal was to gain land where the Nazis occupied so they could further their attack on Adolf Hitler and his party. Their success in this battle led them to complete the liberation of Western Europe. (https://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/d-day-the-allied-invasion-of-france.php)
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This was the last big offensive push for the Germans as they tried to push back the Allies. The Germans lost tens of thousands of soldiers and lost a lot of supplies. The Allies only lost a little over half of what the Germans lost. (https://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/battle-of-the-bulge.php)
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The first concentration camp to be liberated was Majdanek in 1944. The Germans tried to hide these camps by trying to destroy them. Many prisoners died after eating their first meals after being freed. (https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/liberation-of-the-concentration-camps) -
This battle was for the island of Iwo Jima which was thought to be one of the best places to set up for the invasion of Japan. It is said to be some of the bloodiest battles of WWII. After the war, the value of the island was questioned. (https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima)
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The day the German soldiers stopped fighting with the Allied troops. As a result of their surrender, over 13,000 British prisoners of war were released. There still was some fighting between the Germans and Soviets for one more day, but this was the last day of major fighting in Europe. (https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe) -
The first atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945 on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. It killed around 100,000 people in total. Three days later another atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. Another 40,000 people were killed from this bomb. The Japanese Emperor announced his country's surrender in WWII after this. (https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki)
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After the atomic bombing of Japan, the Japanese saw no was for victory. The emperor announced their surrender and accepted the Allies’ terms on August 14, 1945. This surrender caused celebration all over the US. (https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/v-j-day)