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Battle of France
The German invasion of France through Belgium and Holland completely catches the French Army off guard. The ill-prepared British and Belgium army are totally defeated by the German Armored Divisions. The British Army evacuates from Dunkirk leaving the French to fend for them. The Bulk of the French Army is deployed on the German border and is unable to move to counter the German Army coming through the Belgium border. France loses 350,000 Men ki -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain comprised four phases:
1. During July Hitler sent his Luftwaffe bombers to attack British ports. His aim was also to assess the speed and quality of response by the RAF.
2. During August the attacks on shipping continued but bombing raids were concentrated on RAF airfields.
3. The Blitz - From September 7th the city of London was heavily bombed. Hitler hoped to destroy the morale of the British people.
4. Night Bombing - With the failure of daylight bombing raids Hitler -
Hitler attacks Russia - Operation Barbarossa
Hitler sent 3 million soldiers and 3,500 tanks into Russia. The Russians were taken by surprise as they had signed a treaty with Germany in 1939. Stalin immediately signed a mutual assistance treaty with Britain and launched an Eastern front battle that would claim 20 million casualties. The USA, which had been supplying arms to Britain under a 'Lend-Lease' agreement, offered similar aid to USSR. -
Pearl Harbor
Although the aerial attack was very successful, the submarines failed to finish off any wounded ship inside the harbour.
The attack's success surprised the Japanese as much as the Americans.
The last part of the decoded Japanese message stated that U.S. relations were to be severed.
The Japanese attack force was under the command of Admiral Nagumo.
Japansese force consisted of six carriers with 423 planes.
At 6 a.m. the first Japanese attack wave of 83 -
Britain and US declare war on Japan
Britain and the United States declared war on Japan. -
Battle of Midway
The Greatest Air Craft Carrier Battle in History. Japanese attempt to threaten Hawaii by invading the island of Midway ends in total disaster. They lose 4 Air Craft Carriers and USA loses 1. Japan lost 3,500 Sailors and USA loses 500. This was Japan?s final offensive in the Pacific War and after this it?s Navy will only be used in Defensive operations. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Russians won their first victory against Germany at the Battle of Stalingrad. -
Battle of Kursk
Germany launches its 3rd Summer Offensive against the Russians and its last. The largest Tank Battle ever fought in History. German aim to capture 66 Soviet Divisions fails as the Battle becomes a battle of attrition. Germany accepts a tactical draw and withdraws. Germany lost 100,000 killed/wounded/captured and Soviet Union lost 250,000 killed and 600,000 wounded and the destruction of 50% of their tanks -
Italy surrenders
Mussolini had been thrown out of office and the new government of Italy surrendered to the British and the USA. They then agreed to join the allies. The Germans took control of the Italian army, freed Mussolini from imprisonment and set him up as head of a puppet government in Northern Italy. This blocked any further allied advance through Italy. -
The Normandy invasion
D-Day is the name given to the landing of 160,000 Allied troops in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944.
was originally scheduled for June 5, but the weather did not cooperate.
The most difficult landing of D-Day was at Omaha beach. Navigation problems resulted in many men drowning before they reached land. Omaha Beach also had the largest amount of German troops, and the fighting was fierce. -
Paris liberated
The French capital of Paris was liberated from the Germans to first capture a port.
