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Concentration Camps Open
Dachau was the 1st concentration camp that was set up for political prisoners on March 22, 1933. Many concentration camps were set up around Germany. One of the more famous camps was Auschwitz. Concentration camps were originally made to imprison and kill German Communists, Socialists, and Social democrats which were all considered "enemies of the state." Later on more and more Jews were brought to the camps. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/nazi-camps -
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht happened on November 9 and 10, 1938 all around Germany. It was also called the "Night of Broken Glass" based on the shattered glass of synagogues, homes, and Jewish-owned businesses were destroyed when all the waves of violence swept over the Jews. Around 30,000 Jewish men were caught and sent to concentration camps. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/kristallnacht -
Germany Invades Poland
The Invasion of Poland lasted from September 1, 1939 to October 6, 1939. The invasion was a trigger for World Word II. Germany justified the invasion by saying Poland persecuted ethnic Germans living in Poland and falsely claimed Poland was going behind Germany with their allies to dismember Germany. Poland was defeated and split by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union according to their secret pact. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/invasion-of-poland-fall-1939 -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain lasted from July 10, 1940 to October 31, 1940 in the UK. This was the first battle solely fought in the air. It was fought between Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Luftwaffe. Hitler planned for the battle to be fought on land and sea, but he knew he'd need to take out the RAF first. Hitler severely underestimated Britain because they rejected the chance to surrender and ended up winning the battle. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-britain-1 -
The Blitz
The Blitz went on from September 7, 1940 through May 11, 1941 in London. Another name for the blitz was "blitzkrieg" which also meant "lightning war." It was also a type of offensive warfare that was designed to strike a swift, focused blow using armored tanks or air support. This was important because Germany used this strategy to take out Poland, Norway, Belgium, Holland, and France. It was very effective at the beginning of World War 2. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
The Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen were formed in January 1941 in Tuskegee , Alabama. They were the first group of lack military aviators in the US Army Corps (AAC). They trained in Alabama and flew more than 15,000 sorties in Europe and North Africa during World War II. Sorties was basically another word for "military mission." https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/tuskegee-airmen -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was a US naval base near Honolulu. It was a surprise attack from Japan where they flew hundreds of fighter planes and managed to destroy nearly 20 American naval vessels, including 8 battleships, and over 300 planes. Almost more than 2,400 Americans died and on top of that 1,000 people were injured. This is so important based on how major the attack was based on the fact that FDR declared war on Japan the day after the attack. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
FDR Signs Executive Order 9066
FDR signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942 in the United States. This order stated that all "enemy allies" or the Japanese citizens were to be residential moved from parts of the West. More specifically military areas. This forced 120,000 Japanese people to live in internment camps. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fdr-signs-executive-order-9066 -
WAAC is Created
The WAAC stands for Women's Army Auxiliary Corps which was formed on May 15, 1942 in the United States. It allowed women to serve in non-combat positions in the military besides the exception of nurses. With this, more than 150,000 had the opportunity to serve. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Womens-Army-Corps -
Battle of Midway
This was a clash between the US Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy at Midway Atoll. This happened 6 months after Pearl Harbor and it last three days from June 3rd-6th, 1942. This was a huge win for the US because they were able to decipher Japanese naval code which then allowed the US to know Japan's every move. The US could then launch larger surprise attacks to defeat Japan. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
D-Day
D-Day was a battle that began when some 156,000 American, British, And Canadian forces landed on 5 beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France's Normandy region. The allies had been planning this for a long time. What makes it important is that it was one of the largest amphibious military attacks in history. Part of the planning was creating a deception so Germany would think they were attacking elsewhere. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge lasted six weeks from December16, 1944 to January 25, 1945 in Belgium. This was considered "the greatest American battle of the war." This war was important because Hitler last major attack was meant to be on the Western front to split the allies and stop their drive to Germany. The German Troops failed to split the allies which then lead to their defeat. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Auschwitz is Liberated
January 27, 1945 was the day that the Soviet troops entered Auschwitz. This freed the survivors and it exposed the horrible truths about what happened at this camp. Auschwitz was one of the worst and most horrible concentration camps were at least a million people were killed and tortured. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-liberate-auschwitz -
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was a meeting on February 4 1945 to February 11, 1945 in Crimea. The meeting was between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin which were all World War II allies. They were considered "The Big Three." The meeting was met to decide the fate of the defeated Germans and the rest of Europe. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/yalta-conference -
Truman Becomes President
Truman became president after Roosevelt was killed in the US. He was left to lead the US through the end of World War 2 and the start of the Cold War. He wasn't fully prepared to be president, but he quickly learned with the help of other people. Truman becoming president is important because he arranged the unconditional surrender of Germany and he also organized atomic bomb attacks on Japan because they wouldn't surrender. https://www.britannica.com/video/172729/overview-Harry-S-Truman -
Hitler Dies
On April 27, 1945 Hitler dies after being held up in his bunker in Berlin. He ends up committing suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule and then shooting himself in the head. Soon after Germany surrenders after falling apart under pressure without a leader. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-commits-suicide -
Germany Surrenders
On May 7, Germany unconditionally surrenders to the Allies at Reims in northeastern France. They signed the paper for their surrender, but the fighting didn't stop till the day after in the East. The fighting was finally over for everyone. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-surrenders-unconditionally-to-the-allies-at-reims -
V-E Day
VE Day stands for 'Victory in Europe' Day. This was the day that Germany laid down their arms in surrender. America and Great Britain could celebrate by putting out flags and banners. It was important just based on the event in itself. The fight was basically over and the US could settle down. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Bombing of Hiroshima
The bombing of Hiroshima happened on August 6, 1945. An American B-29 bomber dropped the first ever atomic bomb over the city of Hiroshima which killed 80,000 due to the explosion and the radiation killed a lot more people. Many people faced trauma after the fact of the bombing like leukemia, cancer, and other horrible side effects. https://www.icanw.org/hiroshima_and_nagasaki_bombings -
Bombing of Nagasaki
The bombing of Nagasaki happened on August 9, 1945 which was three days later after they bombed Hiroshima. The bomb dropped in Nagasaki killed about 40,000 people. This was the final blow before Japan's emperor surrendered in the war. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/tuskegee-airmen -
Japan Surrenders
Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945 in Tokyo Bay. Japanese navy and air force were destroyed. The Allied naval blockade of Japan and the two major bombings of the Japanese cities had left the country and its economy devastated. By the end of June, the Americans captured Okinawa. Before things got even worse for Japan the allies issued the Potsdam Declaration so Japan could surrender. If they didn't surrender it would only get worse. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-surrenders -
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were meant to bring Nazi war criminals to justice. There were 13 trials carried out between 1945-1949 in Nuremberg. Many Nazis who were highly ranked, lawyers, doctors, and more were brought up to trial. Adolf Hitler was meant to go on trial until he committed suicide. This was important because the people could feel at peace knowing these Nazis who did horrible things were being punished for their actions.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/nuremberg-trials
