-
The axis powers included Germany, Japan, and Italy.
-
The allied powers at the start of WWII included Britain and France and many smaller European countries.
-
On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland officially starting WWII. Two days later Britain and France declared war on Germany. Poland is taken over in two weeks and Briatin and France never came to its aid.
-
-
People in Britain start to call it a Phoney War because they saw no action.
-
-
In the months of April and May, Germany's armies split up and occupied Norway and Denmark.
-
On May 10, Germany invaded the Netherlands, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg as an access point to the invasion of France. This was part of their plan called the Schliefern plan to go around the Maginot Line.
-
On May 26, German soldiers corner British troops on the edge of france and civilians come to rescue the trapped soldiers.
-
The Battle of Britain started with the Germans bombing strategic places in England and ended with the Germans bombing helpless civilians. The Battle of Britain lasted for four months.
-
-
On June 22, Hitler made his worst mistake and invaded Russia. The Nazis made progress but in the winter their speed stopped and Russia turned them around. Russia then joined Britain and France as an Allied power.
-
On December 7, Japanese planes attacked the neutral U.S. and "awakened a sleeping giant". The US then declared war on Germany, Japan and Italy officially joining the allied powers.
-
The axis had a few advantages over the Allies during WWII. The axis were better prepared for war and in the countries they occupied they dug in and prepared for invasion.
-
-
In the June of 1942, the American forces started to "Island Hop", the strategy for skipping the unimportant Japanese held islands and attacking the important ones. The Battle of Midway was a decisive American victory and is considered the turning point for the war in the Pacific.
-
The Allied troops in Africa started to push the Germans back across the North of Africa. This event was the first time when Germans retreated from previously occupied land.
-
In November, the Russians won their first victory against the Germans. The cold winter weather in Russia stopped the German advance and this battle was the turning point in the war against Russia. The Germans never won again in Russia.
-
The allied powers had some advantages over Germany. Germany had to fight on three fronts at one time and that split their army. Also, Germany could never compete with the industrial power of America and Russia.
-
-
The Nazis are defeated in Africa. This now means that the Allies can use all of their forces on defeating the Germans in Europe.
-
Because the Allies weren't fighting the Germans in N. Africa, they could invade Italy and work their way to Germany through Italy. Two months later they take control over the whole island.
-
Italy surrenders on September 3 and they are the first axis power to surrender. They over throw Mussolini and join the Allies.
-
-
On June sixth, hundred of thousands of troops invade Normandy France. This invasion is the beginning of the push into France and Germany. D-Day signalled the beginning of the end for the Nazis because they lost so many troops and would never make it up.
-
The Battle of the Bulge was the Germans last attempt to defeat the Allies. The Germans attacked a weak part in the Allies near the Ardennes region of Belgium. They were beaten back.
-
-
When the allies crossed the Rhine they officially reached German soil for the first time. A month later the Russians reached Berlin.
-
On May 7, Germany surrenders all of its forces and the war in Europe is over. 9 days earlier, Hitler committed suicide. V-E day was celebrated the next day.
-
The US drops the worlds first atomic bomb on Japan, marking the start of nuclear technology. Japan didn't surrender.
-
The United States dropped another bomb on Japan when they refused to surrender.
-
On September second, General MacArthur officially accepted Japan's surrender. Japan first surrendered on August 14.
