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German Parliament Passes Enabling Act
The Enabling act allowed the Reich government to issue laws without the permission of the parliament. This is where nazification of the Germany community all started. Hitler scared Parliament into a two - thirds vote to pass this act. This law was passed on March 24, 1933. With this Enabling act in store, this basically allowed Hitler to make any law and say anything he wanted giving him dictatorship. This is important because it basically gave Hitler power. -
The Gestapo is Born
The Gestapo was officially established on April 27, 1933. It was created by Hermann Goring combined the state and political police into probably the largest and most powerful state in Germany of Prussia. The Gestapo was an important part of Nazi repression and the Holocaust. It was like a police force because it did not answer any judicial or legal oversight. The Gestapo relied heavy on denunciation and cooperation from society. -
Nuremberg Laws Announced
There were two important and distinctive laws passed on September 15, 1935. Germany’s Parliament which now consisted of people that were all Nazi’s passed these laws. The two laws the Reich Citizenship Law and the Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor. These laws are what initialized racial theories and legal framework for the persecution of Jews. This is important because it let the Nazi's do whatever they wanted to and they took huge advantage of the Jews and tortured them. -
Rome Berlin Axis Announced
The coalition formed in 1936 between Italy and Germany. An agreement formulated by Italy’s foreign minister Galeazzo Ciano. This opposed all allied powers. These were the nations that fought in World War II against the Allies. The Axis powers agreed on their opposition to the Allies, but did not completely coordinate their activity. This is important because this was an agreement to go against all allies. -
Japan Invades China
This happened on July 7, 1937, when Japan Invaded China which started the second Sino-Japenese War. Many people say that the start of this war was because of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident between Japan and China although Japan really invaded China. This was fought between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. China’s allies in this war were the Soviet Union and the United States. This is important because This was the start to the Second Sino-Japenese war. -
Germany's Anschluss with Austria
Anschluss refers to the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany on March 12, 1938. The idea of this began the unification of Germany. This was the idea of grouping all Germans into one Nation-State. This took all German-speaking people from Austria and other places and created an Empire. -
Munich Agreement Signed
-Signed between Neville Chamberlain, the French prime minister, Edouard Dallier, and Adolf Hitler.
- Avert war between the major powers of Britain, France, Italy & Germany but it gave away Sudeten of Czechoslovakia to Germans. It was part of Hitler's plan to keep expanding.
-This was important because people didn’t think there would be any more wars between Britain, France & Germany. People were more relaxed which opened up opportunity for Hitler to attack. Hitler breaks pact & takes land. -
Kristallnacht
-When Nazi's destroyed Jewish schools, homes, & synagogues.
-This was important because Nazi’s practices weren’t usually violent until this and then everything changed
-They killed about 100 Jews too. The aftermath of Kristallnacht resulted in 30,000 Jews being arrested and sent to concentration camps
-Jews had to wear these badges to identify themselves. It’s goal was to isolate and dehumanize their culture.
-People who wouldn’t wear the badge got severe punishment or they were killed. -
Yellow Stars Required to be Worn by Polish Jews over 10
After Kristallnacht, Jews had to wear these badges to identify themselves. It’s goal was to isolate and dehumanize their culture. People who wouldn’t wear the badge got severe punishment or they were killed. The badge was just symbolic in the sense that they were categorized and recognized as different. -
Non-Aggression Pact Signed Between Germany and USSR
-This pact was signed between Germany and the USSR
-It said that both countries wouldn't take military action for 10 years
-The pact was signed in Moscow
-Signing the pact made everyone feel relieved war wasn’t going to breakout between the two biggest forces. It kept the USSR from attacking them when they attack Poland. Hitler said that he would give Stalin half of Poland if he doesn’t attack him when taking over Poland, and he didn’t want to fight a two front war which stalled the USSR. -
Germany Invades Poland
-The Germans invaded Poland with Adolf Hitler as their leader.
-1.5 million Germans invaded Poland on the 1,750 mile border and bombed air fields and used their U-Boats to attack Polands navy
-This is important because it was the initiation of WWII. -
France and Great Britain Declare War on Germany
-Britain and France were the two countries that declared war on Germany. Britain and France had suffered too many casualties that they knew war was needed. 28 Americans died but America stayed neutral.
-The part that initiated the battle was on the water when Germany U-boats were sinking French and British ships. Also another part that sparked the official declaration of war was when Germany invaded Poland’s border
-It was important because it marked the start of WW2. -
Poland Surrenders to Germany
On September 17, 1939, Poland was invaded by the Soviet Union. Over 2,000 tanks and 1,000 planes all attacked Poland. All of the Polish defenses were broke and there were heaving shelling and bombing leaving Poland in distraught. The last of the Polish units then surrendered on October 6, 1939. Since France and Britain said they would stand by the border of Poland they declared war on Germany. -
Germany Attacks and Defeats France
On September 3, 1939, France decided to declare war on Germany because they attacked their ally Poland. This stands as one of the most remarkable military campaigns in history because Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France were defeated in just six weeks. In late June 1940, France signed an armistice. The government of the Town Vicky decided that they would be neutral in the war between Germany and Great Britain but was required by the rules of the armistice to cooperate with Germany. -
Battle of Britain Begins
On July 10th, 1940 the Germans began the first of a long episode of bombing raids against Great Britain. This is known as the Battle of Britain and would last three and a half months. After the war between France and Germany went down Britain knew what was coming. On July 10, 120 German bombers struck a British shipping Convoy. in South Wales, 70 more bombers attacked dockyard installations. This is important because the Germans jumped out scary and tried to shut down Great Britain's hope. -
Tripartite Pact Signed
The Tripartite Pact agreement included Germany Italy and Japan and was concluded on September 27th, 1940 which was one year after the start of World War II. This created an offensive alliance between the countries and the main goal was to deter the United States from entering this conflict. countries later at added to this Pact were Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Croatia. -
Battle of Britain Ends
At the end of October in 1940 Hitler called off his planned invasion of Britain and that is when the Battle of Britain ended. Both sides of this war suffered from a huge loss of life and aircraft. Britain weakened the German aircraft and won air superiority. This was the first major defeat that Hitler had faced in this war. This also enabled Americans to bring in a base of operations in England which would invade Normandy on D-Day in 1944. -
Operation Barbarossa Begins/Ends
-Adolf Hitler sent Germany soldiers to invade the Soviet Union. This invasion covered from the North Cape to the Black Sea, about a 2,000-mile span.
-This was important because the Germans underestimated their opponent and the German Nazi’s were forced to fight a two-front war against two alliance countries that had more resources.
-The Germans broke the non-aggression pact which was a major part of Operation Barbarossa. Since this was a surprise attack, Stalin and the USSR wasn’t ready. -
Battle of Moscow
The battle continued on but the initial and important part was between this time frame. Moscow was the capital of the Soviet Union and Hitler knew if he could capture this it would be a huge feat and it would add to his power. The Germans underestimated the Soviet Union and they were able to fend them off. There were about a million casualties and this was a turning point in the war because it was the first time the Germans were forced to retreat. -
Pearl Harbor Attacked by Japanese
-Pearl Harbor was an attack on a U.S. naval base in Honolulu Hawaii by the Japanese. The Japanse sent planes in and bombed the base causing devastating damage. The Japanese destroyed 20 naval ships, 8 battleships, and 300 airplanes. 2,400+ U.S. Americans died in this surprise attack, we weren’t ready for it.
-Pearl Harbor is important to WW2 because it is the reason U.S. declares war on Japan and is why we are involved in WW2. Japan was allied w/ Germany and Italy so they declared war on us. -
U.S. Declares War on Japan
After the Japanese’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, it left the U.S. mad. We were out for revenge immediately and didn’t want to look weak. On December 8, 1941, a day after the attack, the U.S. declared war on Japan. Since Japan was allied with Germany and Italy they declared war on us and it got us into WW2. -
Wannsee Conference / Final Solution
The Final Solution was a discussion between highly ranked German Officials and the Nazi party about the European Jews. It was a plan to place about 11 million European Jews in the final solution. The final solution was putting the Jews to work to build roads, there were going to be deaths because of natural selection. The people doing labor were separated by gender and able bodies -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a fight between the US Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy. On June 3rd through 6, 1942 the US Navy won in an air-sea battle. The US Navy successfully defended its major base at Midway Island. They also destroyed Japan's hope of neutralizing United States as a naval power this effectively changed the outcome of World War II in the Pacific. This is important because with a victory for the US this forced Japan to give up on its plan to expand its reach in the Pacific. . -
Battle of Stalingrad
he Battle of Stalingrad lasted from July 17th, 1942 to February 2nd, 1943. The Soviets were successful in defending the city of Stalingrad in Russia during World War II. This battle stopped the German Advance into the Soviet Union and this marked the point where the allies were favored. This is important because this proved that Stalingrad was a hero of the Soviet Union and it showed that anyone can stand their ground. -
US Begins "Island Hopping" Campaign
-The island hopping technique was vital to the U.S. when it came to fighting Japan. If the U.S. could obtain and control some of the major islands near the coast of Japan it would help them tremendously in their push for attacking the mainland. Some islands had airfields. The islands were perfect spots for their planes, boats, and troops because they were all so close to Japan they didn't have to exhaust their troops and resources just to travel there they could just get right into fighting. -
Italy Enters WW2
On October 13, 1943, Italy joined WW2. The tripact that was signed between Italy, Germany, and Japan led them into this war. The first attack Italy made was on the alps. Following the alps, they tried to take over Greece but were defeated. Germany took over many strongholds in Italy as well. This is important because Italy brought in two other strong forces with them and Italy was a big force in WW2. -
D-Day
D-day occurred on June 6, 1944. It is the largest invasion in US history it took months and months of planning. This happened when 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed in five beaches on the coast of France’s Normandy region. This invasion was one of the largest military assaults in history. The Normandy landings are known as the beginning and end of the war in Europe. This is important because it resulted in the battle of Normandy and left many people dead. -
Allied Troops Free Paris
On August 25, 1944, the Allied troops freed Paris. Germany took over Paris on June 14, 1940. Germany surrendered to the Allies and Paris after 4 years of fighting. The Allies and Paris were a much stronger and bigger force. This is important because this is one of the turning points in history. -
US Troops Land on Philippines
This was a battle between the Pacific Theater of Operations of WW2 and the Allied forces of the US against Japan. This resulted in a Filipino and US victory. The Allies had taken control of all strategically important locations of Luzon by 1945 in March, although pockets of Japanese resistance held out in the mountains until the unconditional surrender of Japan. While not the highest in US deaths, it is the highest death toll the U.S. forces ever fought during WW2. -
U.S. Captures Iowa Jima
-The battle took place about 750 miles off the Japanese coast. Iwo Jima had three airfields that could be used to attack the mainland of Japan
-About 20,800 Japanese died and about 7,000 U.S. marines had died
-U.S. had won the battle despite the Japanese final efforts in the last push called Banzai attack. Even though the U.S. had suffered many casualties we were able to hold on and win the battle.
-This is significant to WWII because it was the first battle Japan had lost on their own land. -
U.S. Captures Okinawa
-This was one of the final battles of WWII. This was when the U.S. dropped 180,000 troops onto the island of Okinawa for one final push into Japan
-There was a lot of damage done: 36 sunk ships, 368 damages ships, 4,900 men killed, 4,800 men wounded, and 763 lost or crashed aircrafts.
-This battle was important to WWII because it was the last island needed before the U.S.’s push into the mainland.
-This put them one step closer to victory, putting the significance into winning this battle. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
Germany was annihilated after Stalingrad and it was clear they were losing their edge and hope was dwindling. The allies started to push Germany into Berlin. Hitler was removed from being in power so there could be a peace without other countries worrying about Hitler breaking trust again. Hitler then went to his bunker under the headquarters with a guy named Braun. Hitler and Braun poisoned themselves and their dogs, and Hitler also shot himself with his pistol. -
VE Day
A day worth celebrating for both Britain and America that recognizes their wins in WWII. It was on May 8, 1945 when German troops finally waved the white flag and stopped their fighting. It was not celebrated until the 9th because there were still 600 Soviet casualties before the finally surrendered on the 9th. VE day stands for Victory day in Europe. -
Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
-Hiroshima wiped out 90% of the city & killed 80,000 people immediately
-The B-29 bomber carried the 4 and a half ton uranium-235
-Three days after Hiroshima, Nagasaki was bombed too.
-This bomb was called “Fast Man.” The bomb was a 5 ton plutonium bomb. The bomb was dropped between mountains which limited the blast to 2.6 square miles but it was still destructive. These bombings were important to WWII because they essentially ended the war because they made Japan surrender and the U.S. had won -
Japan Formally Surrenders to U.S.
On August 15, 1945 Japans’ Emperor surrendered over radio call. This spread fast and there were celebrations that broke out all throughout the U.S. On September 2, 1945 on the U.S. battleship Missouri, the formal agreement to surrender was signed and that had put WWII to and end the U.S. came out on top
