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Germany Invades Poland
Who: Adolf Hitler, leader of Germany believed that Neville Chamberlain (Britain) and Edouard Daladier (France) would make a peace agreement with him after he invaded Poland.
What: German tanks and infantry advanced on Polish territory. Two thousand tanks and one thousand airplanes broke through Polish defenses into Warsaw.
Where: The invasion occurred on Polish territory.
Why was it significant?: Nazi Germany controlled Poland. The Soviet Union tried to invade, however it was unsuccessful. -
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Battle of Britain
Who: Herman Goering who was the head of the German Luftwaffe gave instructions for the Royal Air Force to be destroyed.
What: The Germans invaded Britain so the British Navy would not attack their barges. By gaining control of the English Channel, Germany was able to launch an air raid and invade Britain.
Where: The battle occurred in Britain. The cities of London, Plymoth, and Coventry were affected the most.
What was it significant?: It was the first time that air power had saved a nation. -
Lend-Lease Act Signed
Who: Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act and it was signed by President Franklin Roosevelt.
What: The Lend-Lease Act provided war materials for countries such as Great Britain, China, and Russia. These countries used the materials to fight against the Axis Powers which included Germany, Japan, and Italy.
Where: The Lend-Lease Act was signed in Washington D.C.
Why was it significant?: War materials were distributed to Allied Nations. This also increased production so that more jobs were created. -
Germany declares war on U.S.
Who: German representatives delivered a note from Adolf Hitler to the Chief of European Division, Ray Atherton declaring war on the United States.
What: Germany declared war on the U.S in an effort to gain world conquest. The U.S. responded when Franklin Roosevelt commanded the army to destroy any German military vessel.
Where: The letter was received in Berlin, Germany.
Why was it significant?: Tension between Germany and the United States increased. The U.S. was fully involved with the war. -
Battle of El Alamein
Who: German General Erwin Rommel attempted to attack Allied defense positions.
What: Rommel attacked the Allies near El Alamein. However, Rommel was forced into a defensive position, and the Allies gained headway during Operation Lightfoot.
Where: The battle was fought in the North African Desert.
Why was it significant?: The Germans retreated which created a turning point for the Allies. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
Who: German General, Friedrich Paulus was commanded to capture Stalingrad in the Soviet Union.
What: After being unsuccessful with capturing Moscow during Operating Barbarosa, the Germans advanced into Stalingrad. The Red Army attacked the German Army. Adolf Hitler told Friedrich Paulus to commit suicide. However, Paulus refused and surrendered instead.
Where: Stalingrad was a city in the southern portion of the USSR.
Why is this significant?: Germany's army was weakened and defeated. -
Allies land in Italy
Who: Bernard L. Montgomery who was a marshal in the British Army ordered the Allies to invade Italy.
What: Montgomery's army invaded the mainland of Italy. Being that the Allies had already conquered Sicily, the Italian Government surrendered. The agreement was that the Italians would join the Allies to eliminate the Germans in Italy.
Where: The invasion occurred along the mainlands of Italy.
Why is this significant?: Germans in Italy were slowly eliminated to the point that they surrendered. -
D-Day Invasion
Who: The Allied Powers (United States, Great Britain, and USSR) attacked the Germans with an air raid.
What: Allied planes dropped soldiers behind the German defense line. This allowed them to take control of major roadways and bridges. Germans were prevented from advancing on the shores of Normandy.
Where: The D-Day invasion occurred in Normandy, France.
Why is this significant?: D-Day was significant because the Allies were now offensive. Also, France gained more independence from Germany. -
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Battle of the Bulge
Who: Hitler who was the leader of Germany launched an attack against the Allies which included the United States, Britain, and France.
What: Hitler's plan was to use three armies to destabilize the Allies. In order to cut off resources, Hitler ordered a number of armored attacks. Most of these attacks primarily affected Americans.
Where: The battle occurred in Ardennes, Belgium along the Seigfried line
Why was it significant?: This was Germany's last major battle against the Allies. -
Yalta Conference
Who: Joseph Stalin (USSR), Winston Churchil (England), and Franklin Roosevelt (U.S) had a meeting.
What: The "Big Three" met to discuss war strategy. Roosevelt wanted Soviet military support, Churchil wanted free elections for Soviet liberated countries, and Stalin wanted to prevent future threats.
Where: The meeting took place in Yalta which is in the Mediterranean.
Why was it significant?: The conference included the decision to divide Germany into zones that would be split by the Allies. -
Franklin Roosevelt dies
Who: Franklin Roosevelt, President of the United States dies.
What: After suffering from Polio since the age of 39, Franklin Roosevelt's health was rapidly deteriorating. In April of 1945, he passed away after having complications from a cerebral hemorrhage.
Where: Franklin Roosevelt died while visiting Warm Springs, Georgia.
Why is this significant? His death marked the end of an era of superior leadership in the U.S. Never before had there been a strong president such as Franklin Roosevelt. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
Who: Adolf Hitler and his wife, Eva both killed themselves.
What: Hitler committed suicide after being told that the Russians were within days away. Since Hitler feared that communism would dominate, he killed himself. Hitler sustained a gun shot wound, while his wife died from orally ingesting poison.
Where: Hitler died in an underground bunk in Berlin, Germany.
Why was it significant?: Once Hitler died, the Nazis had a downfall of power. Without as much control, more lives were spared. -
Germany Surrenders (VE Day)
Who: A German soldier, Colonel Alfred Jodl signed an unconditional surrender to the Allies.
What: German forces in Italy surrendered. Hitler committed suicide and Berlin was captured by the Russian Army. With this, Germany knew that they would be unable to recover.
Where: Alfred Jodl signed the surrender in Reims which is a city in France.
Why was it significant?: Finally there was victory in Europe. The war was over.
