WWII Timeline

  • Convoy system

    a group of ships sailing together for protection, was designed to help protect cargo in passenger ships. Created in reponse to germany's unrestricted submarine warfare in june 1917.
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    Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Germany

    The period of time in which Hitler became a dictator in Germany.
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    Benito mussolini's fascist gov in Italy

    Mussolini's time of ruling in Italy as a fascist dictator.
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    Storm Troopers

    a group of militia intended to protect Hitler and his supporters from non-supporters
  • Mein Kampf

    a book written by Hitler, which outlined his anti-semitic beliefs and plans for Germany and helped him gain fame and recognition. Translates to "my struggle".
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    Stalin's totalitarian gov. in the Soviet Union

    the period of STalin's rule as a totalitarian dictator
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    Hitler's military build-up in Germany

    Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, the German Army was unable to grow to more than 100,000 men. Hitler dealt with this issue by growing the Sturm Abteilung (SA) instead.
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    Japan's invasion of Manchuria

    Seeking resources, Japan invaded Manchuria, which the US responded to by publicly stating that their government disagreed with Japan's actions.
  • Third reich

    another name for nazi germany, translated to "third realm".
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    Italy invades ethiopia

    Mussolini takes advantage of a border dispute between italy and ethiopia to invade. ethiopia appeals to the LON, but their methods are ineffective.
  • Hitler's invasion of the rhinelands

    Hitler breaks the treaty of Versailles agreement and the locarno pact by sending military personnel into the rhinelands.
  • Rome-Berlin Axis

    an informal agreement joining Italy and Germany together. it was formalised by the new Pact of Steel in 1939.
  • Anschluss

    Anschluss refers to the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938.
  • Munich agreement

    France and Britain give hitler Sudetenland in exchange for the promise that he wouldn’t conquer anyone else.
  • Francisco Franko

    a dictator of Spain. with the help of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, his Nationalist forces overthrew the democratically elected Second Republic
  • Nonaggression pact

    august 23 1939. Nazi Germany and the soviet union sign a nonaggression pact that prevents violence to each other for the next ten years.
  • blitzkrieg

    A new German war tactic where they launch surprise attacks and crush the opposition quickly with overwhelming power.
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    phony war

    the period of time in World War Two from September 1939 to April 1940 when, after the blitzkrieg attack on Poland in September 1939 and declaration of war, almost nothing happened.
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    Manhattan project

    A project intended to create the worlds first nuclear weapon for the US. and was intended to be used against nazi Germany.
  • Britain and France declare war on Germany

    In response to hitler's invasion of poland, brit and france go to war with germany in 1939.
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    Battle of the Atlantic

    the longest continuous military campaign in World War II, running from 1939 with Britain's declaration of war to the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.
  • Marshall Philip Pertain

    a french general well-known for his meticulous and careful methods. Sentenced to life-imprisonment near the end of ww2.
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    Hitler invades Denmark and Norway

    Despite denmark being neutral in the war, Hitler succeeded in invading Denmark and Norway in a short time.
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    Hitler invades the Netherlands

    Although Netherland was neutral, it was in germany's strategic interests to conquer them and belgium in order to pave a path to france. They surrendered shortly and germany occupied them for five years
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    Battle of France

    Germany invades France and fights them for six weeks overtaking the Allied forces before Italy joined in the war and invaded over the Alps.
  • Battle of Britain

    Britain successfully defends against germany's air attacks after the fall of France.
  • Lend lease program

    A program made for the US to lend war supplies to any country whose defense was vital to the US
  • Office of price administration

    Fought inflation by freezing prices. Rationed goods deemed necessary to the war efforts.
  • Pearl Harbor attack

    a devastating surprise attack on a US naval base from the Japanese army leading to america's entry into the war.
  • War productions board

    Converted peacetime industries to war time suppliers and decided priorities of products and services.
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    Internment of japanese-americans

    Following the pearl harbor attack, hostilities against japanese americans increased leading to their forced relocation into concentration camp for 3 years.
  • Women’s auxiliary army Corp

    An army unit comprised of women intended for any non combative supporting roles in ww2
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    Battle of Stalingrad

    Hitler and the soviets fight for control of Stalingrad. After taking most of the city Stalin surrounded hitlers men with tanks and eventually won with a loss of over a million men.
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    Operation torch

    An invasion of axis controlled North Africa by the allied powers.
  • Korematsu v United States

    Fred Korematsu questions the constitutionality of the relocation and persecution of japanese-americans in a case with the supreme court. They deemed the relocation a military necessity and therefore constitutional.
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    Bloody Anzio

    A battle between Allied and the German forces leading to Italy’s liberation.
  • D Day

    After diverting hitlers attention with a false report allied forces attack with sea and land forces to free France Belgium and Luxembourg from Germany.
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    Battle of the Bulge

    After Americans capture their first German town, hitler responds with a desperate attempt to take it back by sending troops inside of the circle of American troops, ending in a battle that drained much of Germany’s soldiers and resources. Turning point of the war
  • Harry S Truman

    The president who entered office directly after the end of ww2. Chose to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Created Truman doctrine which gave finiancial support to countries resisting communism and the Marshall plan which gave money to countries affected by the war.
  • Death of Hitler

    Hitler commits suicide by gunshot in an underground bunker with his wife
  • Unconditional Surrender

    A surrender with no guarantees given to the surrendering party.
  • V E Day

    End of ww2. Allies win