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German Blitzkreig
Germany invaded Poland in an attempt to expand their territory even further. The Germans reached a no-conflict agreement with the USSR so that they could attack Poland without further conflict. This is known as one of the sparks of the beginning of WWII.
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Germany Invades France
Germany, in its expansion into Western Europe, invaded France unexpectedly. Germany wanted to occupy Paris to show that they can get anything they want. This served as a slap in the face to what was the prestigious French military.
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German Bombing on London
The Germans in an attempt to continue their expansion, used their new Blitzkrieg strategy in an attack on London. The Germans wanted to destroy the moral of the British, but failed. The bombing fueled further attacks on Germany by the British Air Force.
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Lend Lease
The US traded 50 battleships in exchange for use of British Naval Bases. The UK was extremely low on supplies in all aspects and was desperate for help. it helped the US expand their positions in the world and strengthened relations with the British.
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Germany Invades Soviet Union
The Germans broke the Non-Aggression Pact and attacked the Soviets. The Germans attacked at the wrong time and ended up losing miserably at Stalingrad. It was a major turning point in the Eastern Europe war.
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Operation Barbarossa
The attack on the Soviet Union by the Germans. 1.5 million German soldiers were involved. The Germans ended up losing the massive offense and it marked the beginning of Germany's new 2 front war that they had to now face.
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Pearl Harbor
A Japanese kamikaze attack on the naval base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The Japanese were angry that the US stopped selling oil to the Japanese and needed to do something about it. It triggered the US into entering WWII.
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Declaration of War
Following Pearl Harbor, the US declared war on Japan, and in the following days, Germany declared war on the US. This all happened because of the Japanese bombings on Pearl Harbor. This was the official start of WWII for the US.
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Bataan Death March
The US surrendered the Philippines to the Japanese after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. 75,000 Troops were forced to make a 65 mile hike to prison camps. Many perished along the way. The US ended up reclaiming the Philippines later in the war.
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Battle of Midway
The US deciphered Japanese code and exposed the Japanese plan to destroy the US's remaining aircraft carriers. The US ended up inflicting serious damage on the Japanese Navy. This was a major turning point in the battle of the Pacific.
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Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
German troops began deporting inhabitants of the ghetto. The people resisted and attempted to fight back. It inspired other uprisings throughout Europe.
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D-Day
American forces landed at Normandy to begin the liberation of Western Europe. They were met with heavy fire, but ended up breaking through the German lines to begin the journey into German-controlled Europe. This marked the US's first attack on the Germans on European soil.
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Battle of the Bulge
A German attempt to split the Allied Forces. The Battle ended in a draw. It was the bloodiest battle in history with hundreds of thousands of casualties.
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Liberation of Concentration Camps
The Allied forces drove the Germans back far enough in retreat to begin the clearing of concentration camps. They were shocked with what they came across. Millions of Jews were freed, and it marked an unofficial end to WWII.
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Battle of Iwo Jima
Amphibious attack to capture a naval base on the Japanese coast. The US wiped out the Japanese within a month. One of the most iconic photo of US troops in history came from this battle.
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Bombing on Japan
The US dropped 2 nuclear bombs on Japan. This complete destruction damaged Japan severely and made a statement to the rest of the world. This marked the end of WWII.
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