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Period: to
WWII
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German Blitzkrieg (1939-1940)
Blitzkrieg, a German word for "lightening war", is a military tactic designed to disorganize enemy forces using a mobile force (tanks) and locally concentrated fire power. They would surround their enemies, cut off their supply and communications and would force them to fight. It resulted in many victories on the German side.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Fall of Paris
The German invaded and occupied France. They did this because they wanted revenge on the French for how they treated them. It lasted 4 years then France was finally liberated.
http://www.historyinanhour.com/2012/06/22/the-fall-of-france-summary/ -
Operation Barbarossa
Germany invaded the Soviet Union. It was the largest military operation in history. Hitler believed they could easily beat them after their victory against France and reports of the Soviet armed forces being weak. The Soviet Union was unprepared. It resulted in many casualties but Germany failed to cause a big effect on them.
http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/barbarossa -
Pearl Harbor
The Japanese lauched a suprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii using torpedo bombers, bombers, and midget submarines. They did this because they wanted resourses the US had, so they thought they would cripple them to have enough time to get in and get what they needed. This all resulted in the US entering into WW2. http://www.historynet.com/pearl-harbor -
Wannsee Conference
Nazi officials came together to talk about the "final solution" for the "Jewish Question". Germany wanted someone to blame for their depresstion and being so unsuccessful. So they blamed the Jews. They wanted to come up with a plan to get back at the Jews and make them suffer. This resulted in mass killings of people in "gas vans" and keeping them in concentration camps.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wannsee-conference -
Battle of Midway
The United States defeated Japan in one of the most decisive naval battles of WW2. It happened because the US was able to counter Japans planned ambush of their remaining aircraft carriers. It resulted in permanent damage on Japan's navy and allowed the United States to move to a offensive position.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
D-Day
On this day, the Battle of Normandy began. It was an invasion of France's Normandy region by American, British and Canadian forces. It was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history. It was meant to mislead the Germans about the intended target invasion. In result to this, all of northern France had been liberated. And the following spring the Allies defeated Germany.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Nazi Army bombs the Soviet city of Stalingrad, launching one of the bloodiest battles in history. Resulted in a combined military and civilian casualties of nearly 2 million and a Soviet victory.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
Battle of Iwo Jima
American soldiers srtrike the Japanese Home Islands at Iwo Jima. They needed a base near the Japanese coast. It resulted in an American victory.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Liberation of concentration camps
American and British army units began finding camps and liberating them. They did this because the prisoners were suffering from starvation and dying from disease and the Germans just killing them off. This resulted in many prisoners being freed, but many died.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/liberation_camps_01.shtml -
VE Day
Also know as Victory in Europe Day, when Great Britain and the United states celebrated their defeat againist the Nazi war machine. The Germans laid down their guns and surrendered after losing more than 8000 soldiers. It resulted in the end of the war.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Potsdam Declaration
Last of the WWII meetings held by the “Big Three” heads of state, They discussed German economy, punishment for war criminals, land boundaries and reparations.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/potsdam-conference -
Dropping of the atomic bombs
American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first deployed atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion wiped out 90% of the city and immediately killed 80,000 people and tens of thousands more later died of radiation exposure.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
VJ Day
Also known as Victory over Japan Day. It was the day Japan surrendered to the Allies. It effectively ended WW2.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day -
Battle of the Bulge
A major German offensive is launched against the Allies in the Ardennes Mountains region on the Western Front. Hitler wanted to split the Allied armies through a suprise blitzkrieg attack. It was the costliest action ever fought by the U.S. Army. They suffered over 100,000 casualties.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge
