-
Invading Poland
Nazis invaded Poland, this event marked the beginning of WWII. It was a surprise attack at dawn. They also bombed the Polish capital, Warsaw. This is important because this was one of the events that led to the World War, and this made the Allies mad.
German Army Attacks Poland; Cities Bombed, Port Blockaded; Danzig Is Accepted into Reich. 1939. New York. http://missschlegelsocialstudies.weebly.com/uploads/1/6/5/8/16585060/886321.jpg -
Allies Declare War on Germany
Because Hitler and the Nazis invaded Poland, Great Britain and France declare war on Germany. Poland fell shortly afterwards, and Hitler annexed the land. This is important because this is when Hitler began to have obstacles, and the official war began.
"World War Declared Official" 1939. New York. http://worldwartwoww2.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/ww2_war_declared.jpg -
France Surrenders
During June, Germany advanced toward Paris. Germany took control over the northern part of France, and the WWI hero Germany was forced to sign armistice ending WWI 22 years before this. This is important because Hitler gained control of all northern France, and the Allies lost a lot of territory. -
German Day-Time Attacks Stop
Germany stopped attacks during the day to avoid attacks from the Royal Air Force, and began attacking more by night. This is important because civilians had to go in the bomb shelters at night, and attacks were less expected by night than by day because by day the word spreads faster and people are sometimes safer. (No specific date) -
Afrika Korps Attack British Forces
Rommel´s Afrika Korps attacked the British Forces and they had to go move towards the east to Tobruk, Libya. Afterwards the British fought to drive them out. This was important because it was a setback for the Allies, and so it was annoying that they could not gain back territory because of this unexpected attack. (Early March, no specific date) -
Invasion of Soviet Union
Germany invaded the Soviet Union with a plan called "Operation Barbarossa". The Soviets were not prepared even though they had a strong army. The Germans were able to go in 500 miles from the borders of USSR. This is important because this brought the USSR to get more involved in the war, and they broke the non-agression pact. -
Supply Cut (Japan)
President Roosevelt used a lot of strategy to decrease Japan´s power. After sending aids to China, the United States stopped shipping oil to Japan. This is important because by cutting back supplies, you make the country weaker, so Japan had to deal with the lack of supplies and economy drop. (No specific date) -
Pearl Harbor Attack- Day of Infamy
It was the morning of this day, when an unexpected attack from the Japanese occured in Hawaii (Pearl Harbor). The Americans had cracked a Japanese code and knew they were planning to attack, but the attack came as a surprise. In two hours, 19 ships sunk, 2,300 were killed, and 1,100 were injured. This is importatn because this made the US start physically fighting in the war.
Pearl Harbor. 1941. Hawaii. http://media.pennlive.com/midstate_impact/photo/sept-11-pearl-harbor-09f7f0b05c472ce7.jpg -
Final Solution
The Final Solution was decided at the Wannsee Conference. This is when the Nazis began to extreminate the Jewish population, and they began building extermination camps. Many of the Jews who had "exceptions" were also killed. This is important because many were betrayed, and many innocent people were killed and this was something that the Germans did that was horrible.(This was in 1942, no specific date) -
Bombings in Tokyo
The Allies (mainly Australia and United States) wanted to attack Japan. They dropped a few cities including Tokyo, but there was not a lot of damage. Then, the Allies realized that Japan was easy to attack. This is important because Japan was even more weak. "JAPAN REPORTS TOKYO, YOKOHAMA BOMBED BY ‘ENEMY PLANES’ IN DAYLIGHT; CLAIMS 9; BIG RAIDS OVER FRANCE; LEAHY IS RECALLED." FreeRepublic. FreeRepublic, 18 Apr. 2012. Web. 4 Oct. 2014. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2873555/posts. -
Period: to
Battle of Midway
Allies broke a code and knew Japan wanted to attack the Island of Midway, a key American airfield. Americans were hiding, and when Japan arrived they attacked Japanese fleets. The Americans were able to destroy 332 Japanese planes, four aircraft carriers, and one support ship. Afterwards, Yamamoto had his troops leave. This was important because the Japanese failed, and if they would have succeeded, the airforce bases would have been destroyed. -
Period: to
Battle of Guadalcanal
This was the beginning of MacArtur´s Island Hopping Plan. The battle took longer than expected, and many people died, leaving the Island know as the "island of Death". This is important because this is when Allies began taking Japan back to Tokyo and getting land back.
"Our Men In Drives On Guadalcanal." New York Times. The New York Times Company, 11 Nov. 1942. Web. 2 Oct. 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/1112.html. -
Operation Overlord
The British, French, Canadian and American troops invaded Normandy, an event called "operation Overlord". This was the biggest invasion by sea and land in all history, and many men died. This was important because it was when they began pushing Hitler and the Germans back into Berlin.
Great Invasion Started. 1944. The Boston Herald, Boston, Massachusetts. http://blog.genealogybank.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/boston-herald-newspaper-0606-1944-d-day.png -
Battle of the Bulge
The Germans were fighting on two fronts, so strategically, they decided to push weak American troops along a 75-mile line in Ardennes. The Allies managed to eventually push them back, and Germans had to give up this land. This is important because the Allies managed to win even if they were pushed back at first.
"The Effects of Nazi Push: Revision for Allied Strategy." Old Magazine Articles. 29 Dec. 1944. Web. 4 Oct. 2014. http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/1944_Ardennes_Counter-Offensive_pdf. -
Yalta Conference
Heads of State of the United States, United Kingdom and Soviet Union got togethet to discuss what would happen with post-war Europe. Agreements were: Nazi Prisoners would be prosecuted, USSR would obtain East Poland and Poland would obtain East Germany, Germany and Austria would be divided into four occupied zones, Slave labor of Nazi soldiers, denazification and demilitarization of Germany. This was important because they basically decided the future for European countries. -
Battle of Okinawa
The US army was getting closer to Japan. Island Okinawa was really close to the end of the Island Hopping Plan. Many Japanese soldiers died in this battle. This is important because they were about to defeat Japan and end the war. -
Third Reich Surrenders
The US General Eisenhower accepted that the Third Reich, from the German military surrendered. President Roosevelt had died shortly before this, so the new President, Truman, was the one who recieved the news. This is important because it marked the end of the war with the Germans, they only had the Japanese left to deal with.
"VE-Day-It´s All Over." Daily Mail 8 May 1945. Daily Mail. Web. 2 Oct. 2014. http://www.leninimports.com/daily_mail_may_8th_1945.html. -
Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima
After the sending the message to the Japanese advising them to surrender, the Americans waited for almost a month but they woud not surrender. On this day, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, killing from 70,000-80,000 people instantly.
Shalett, Sidney. "First Atomic Bomb Dropped on Japan; Missile Is Equal to 20,000 Tons of TNT; Truman Warns Foe of a 'Rain of Ruin'" New York Times. New York Times Company, 6 Aug. 1945. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisd -
Bombed Dropped on Nagasaki
The Japanese still refused to surrender, so three days after the first bomb was dropped, the United States dropped another one in Nagasaki, Japan, killing more than 70,000 instantly. The two bombs were important because they killed a lot of innocent civilians, but they were what ended the war.(Explanation of both)
Lawrence, W.H. "Atom Bomb Loosed on Nagasaki." New York Times. New York Times Company, 9 Aug. 1945. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0809.html. -
Japan Surrenders
Finally, the Japanese surrender, marking the end of the war. The ceremony was performed in the United States batleship "Missouri" in Tokyo Bay. This is important because it was when WWII finally ended, and nations were at peace.
