WWII Project

Annexation of Sudetenland

Sep 30, 1938

After the Munich Agreement on September 30, 1938, Nazi Germany was allowed to take the Sudetenland, a German-speaking region of Czechoslovakia. German troops occupied the area from October 1 to October 10, 1938, without a fight. This appeasement failed to stop Hitler, who later took over the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939.
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Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, sinking battleships and killing over 2,400 Americans. The attack led the United States to enter World War II. The next day, the U.S. declared war on Japan.
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Japanese Internment Camps

Feb 19, 1942

The U.S. government forced over 120,000 Japanese Americans into internment camps, fearing they might be spies. They lived in harsh conditions for years without trials or evidence of wrongdoing. This was later recognized as a serious violation of civil rights.
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Battle of Midway

Jun 4, 1942

The U.S. Navy defeated Japan in a decisive battle near Midway Atoll. American aircraft carriers destroyed four Japanese carriers, weakening Japan’s naval power. This was a turning point in the Pacific War.
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Los Alamos

Aug 13, 1942

Los Alamos, New Mexico, was the top-secret site where scientists developed the atomic bomb. The Manhattan Project, led by the U.S., created the world’s first nuclear weapons. The bombs were later used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
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Battle of Stalingrad

Aug 23, 1942

Germany invaded the Soviet city of Stalingrad, leading to one of the deadliest battles in history. After months of brutal fighting and a harsh winter, the Soviets surrounded and defeated the German army. This was a major turning point in the war against Germany.
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Island-Hopping

1943

The U.S. military used an "island-hopping" strategy to capture key islands in the Pacific while bypassing heavily defended ones. This allowed them to move closer to Japan, preparing for an invasion. The strategy helped win the war faster with fewer losses.
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Battle of Guadalcanal

Aug 7, 1943

The U.S. launched its first major offensive against Japan by attacking the island of Guadalcanal. After months of brutal jungle fighting, the U.S. forced Japan to retreat. This victory marked the beginning of the Allied push across the Pacific.
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D-Day

Jun 6, 1944

Allied forces launched the largest amphibious invasion in history, landing on the beaches of Normandy, France. Thousands of soldiers fought against German forces to secure a foothold in Western Europe. This marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany.
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Battle of the Philippines

Oct 20, 1944

The U.S. and Filipino forces fought to retake the Philippines from Japanese occupation. The campaign included the Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 23–26, 1944), the largest naval battle in history. After nearly a year of fighting, Japan finally surrendered.
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Meeting at Yalta

Feb 4, 1945

Leaders from the U.S. (Roosevelt), Britain (Churchill), and the Soviet Union (Stalin) met in Yalta, USSR. They planned the final defeat of Germany and the post-war world, including the division of Germany. Stalin also promised to join the war against Japan.
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Fall of Berlin

Apr 16, 1945

The Soviet army attacked Berlin, Germany’s capital, in the final battle of the European war. Adolf Hitler committed suicide on April 30, and German forces surrendered soon after. The battle ended Nazi rule, and Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945 (V-E Day).
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Death of Hitler

Apr 30, 1945

Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his Berlin bunker as Soviet forces closed in on the city. His death marked the collapse of Nazi Germany. Days later, Germany surrendered, officially ending the war in Europe.
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Meeting at Potsdam

Jul 17, 1945

The Allied leaders (Truman, Churchill/Attlee, and Stalin) met in Germany to discuss Japan’s surrender and post-war Europe. Truman informed Stalin about the atomic bomb. The Potsdam Declaration demanded Japan’s unconditional surrender.
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Hiroshima

Aug 6, 1945

The U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, killing around 80,000 people instantly. Thousands more died from radiation exposure. This attack pushed Japan closer to surrender.
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