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Blitzkrieg is a military tactic using surprise, speed and force using tanks, aircrafts, mobile artillery and infantry. Poland was overwhelmed by these tactics that were developed by the Germans. Then the Soviet Union attacked from the other side. France and England watched in horror at the power and speed of the German blitzkrieg. These brutal forces made Poland surrender, and it was divided between Germany and Soviet Union. The battle was over before France or England could help.
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Pearl Harbour was a U.S. naval base in Hawaii. The Japanese made a surprise attack, sending hundreds of fighter planes to destroy naval vessels and some Americans were killed. The Japanese did this attack as a preventative measure to keep the United States from interfering with their military plans.
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The Wannsee Conference was a secret meeting held by 15 leading Nazis, along with government officials. They discussed what the final solution would be for getting rid of the Jews. They decided to exterminate Jews in concentration camps. Many of these camps were built in eastern Poland. This decision forced Jewish people into horrible camps, where they were tortured, enslaved, experimented on, and murdered. The impact of this decision made would be devastating.
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After the successful attack on Pearl Harbour, Japan decided to keep going after the U.S. Pacific fleet. Also Japan started expanding their empire after the attack, and the U.S. began to worry about the territory they were gaining. The U.S. was able to decipher Japanese codes for an attack on Midway Island in the Pacific ocean. This was supposed to be a surprise attack by the Japanese onto the Allied base. The U.S. sent 3 aircrafts to sink the invasion fleet. This led to Japan retreating.
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The dictator of Germany, Adolf Hitler wanted to destroy the city of Stalingrad that had the name of his greatest adversary, Joseph Stalin. German forces tried to take the city but the Red Army trapped them inside, which cut off their supplies. After suffering from starvation and disease, the Germans surrendered. The Red Army killed over 200 000 and captured 91 000, including 24 generals. It was a major victory for the Allies and the first major loss for the Germans.
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While German forces invaded Italy, Italy’s dictator Mussolini was removed and shot by his own people because the citizens of the country wanted the war to be over. Italians ask for armistice, but the battle had to continue in Italy because it is now occupied by Germans. The Italians surrender to the Allies and agreed to help drive out German forces. Italy's citizens wanted the Allied powers to defeat Germany, and get out of Nazi control.
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The Normandy Invasion was a British, American and Canadian offensive. They made a second front in France to push the Germans back, which would force Hitler to split the army. Putting half in the east and the other in the west. The Allied forces successfully removed the Germans from northwestern France. This was the beginning of the end of the war.
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In an attempt at victory, Germany launched their last major offensive. Winter conditions heavily impacted German forces. The Germans having improper clothing and resources, aided in the Allied victory. As the Germans drove into the Ardennes, the Allied powers line looked like a large bulge, hence the name of the battle. The U.S. and Britain were able to stop the Germans and push them back. It was Hitler's last gamble of the war and it failed.
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The liberation of concentration camps freed Jewish people. Before WWII nobody even knew about the atrocities going on in these camps. It was not until Allied soldiers came across them and discovered these huge camps. The largest camp was in Auschwitz and it was overrun by Russians and Jewish people were freed. The liberation of concentration camps freed Jewish people from the oppression they faced from the Nazis and Adolf Hitler.
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The battle of Iwo Jima was a military campaign between the Imperial Army of Japan and the U.S. Marines. The Japanese were weakened and the U.S. saw this as an opportunity to attack. The U.S. invades the island and it's a bloody battle. The Americans won after both sides had heavy death tolls. Although the United States military came in large numbers, they suffered many casualties.
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Allied forces were able to drive soldiers and civilians to the southern part of the island. The Japanese would not surrender because of the code of Bushido. The code states that it is shameful to surrender, and they believed that if they sacrificed themselves for their nation they would go straight to the afterlife. They all started jumping off cliffs and throwing their children off because they were not allowed to surrender. Many lives were taken because of the code.
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Victory in Europe day is the end of Hitler Germany's conflict. German surrenders. People celebrate the defeat of the Nazis. This day is celebrated as the end of World War Two along with VJ Day (victory in Japan day).
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After the surrender of Germany, the Big Three (United States, Britain, and France) had to decide what to do with Germany and prepare themselves to defeat Japan. They decided to split Germany into 4 regions to be occupied by the Allies (France, Britain, Soviet Union, and the U.S.). Berlin which is located in Soviet Union was to also be split into 4. Free elections were to be held in all land liberated to create a more stable future for Europe.
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In an attempt to defeat Japan and save lives the Japanese were sacrificing due to the code of Bushido, the U.S. drops the first atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. The bomb's explosive power was equal to 15 000 tonnes of TNT. Then a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Roughly over 200 000 Japanese were killed and many died later from exposure to radiation, as well as many human defects were common. Japan surrendered, not knowing if more bombs were coming. The new nuclear weapon was a success.
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Victory in Japan day marks the end of Pacific conflict with Japan. Japanese accept defeat after atomic bombs were dropped on two of their major cities, causing many deaths. Japan surrenders and the war is officially over. Many celebrated the end of World War Two. Now that the fighting is over the world can begin to rebuild. This date is celebrated as the end of the war as well as VE Day (victory in Europe day).
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https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/access-city-information-or-records/city-of-toronto-archives/whats-online/web-exhibits/v-e-day-and-v-j-day-the-end-of-world-war-ii-in-toronto-1945/ https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway#:~:text=Japan's%20Ambitions%20in%20the%20Pacific&text=Hoping%20to%20replicate%20the%20success,Allied%20base%20at%20Midway%20Island.&text=The%20Battle%20of%20Midway
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https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway#:~:text=Japan's%20Ambitions%20in%20the%20Pacific&text=Hoping%20to%20replicate%20the%20success,Allied%20base%20at%20Midway%20Island.&text=The%20Battle%20of%20Midway https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/liberation-of-the-concentration-camps https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day
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Japanese Enters the War, the Holocaust and Crimes Against Humanity Overall Allied Strategy Against Japan WWII-Prelude and Opening of Offensives https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/access-city-information-or-records/city-of-toronto-archives/whats-online/web-exhibits/v-e-day-and-v-j-day-the-end-of-world-war-ii-in-toronto-1945/ https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor
