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Full-scale war began at dawn when Germany used her newly formed Blitzkrieg tactics and military strength to invade Poland to which both Britain and France had pledged protection and independence guarantees.
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In 1940, it was signed into law by Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Act established the first peace-time draft in United States history.
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The draft was published and began.
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The U.S.S.R gave gave full diplomatic recognition to the Vichy government situated in the non-occupied zone in France.
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A Japanese task force of six aircraft carriers departed northern Japan en route to a position northwest of Hawaii, intending to launch their aircraft to attack Pearl Harbor.
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The Japanese shocked the world by bombing the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
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Congress declares war on Germany.
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In South Devon on the English coast, 638 U.S. soldiers and sailors were killed when German torpedo boats surprised one of these landing exercises, Exercise Tiger.
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TheWestern Allies landed in northern France, opening the long-awaited "Second Front" against Adolf Hitler's Germany.
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The raid on Dresden produced one of the most devastating fires in history.