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Appeasment
On this day was when Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, appeased Hitler in Munich. Chamberlain realized Germany could not be trusted so he just decided to just give in to his enemy's demands. The enemy, Hitler, wanted Chamberlain to sign over the country Sudetenland of Czechoslavakia. Hitler continued on to invade Poland which angered the British. The British then decided to declare war on Germany. -
Nonagression Pact
On this day in 1939, the Nonagression Pact was signed. The leaders of both the Soviet Union and Germany signed it, Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin. The pact stated that they would keep the peace between there countries and Hitler wouldn't invade Poland. This however did not last and Hitler eventuall invaded Poland, starting World War II. -
Germany invades Poland
Germany first invaded Poland on this day coming from the West. The Germans pushed forth hard while Polish troops did their best on the borders. They ended up leaving the borders to go fight on more important fronts. Germany finally took over Poland on October 6, 1939. -
U.S. is neutral
This was the official date that the United States of America declared it would be neutral in this World War. But, we come to realize that this does not stay true for the country. Eventually get involved in the war after a period of isolationism, then they begin a Lease-Lend Act, then Pearl Harbor occurs; the final straw in which Congress declares war. -
Lend-Lease Act
The President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt tries to convince congress that they don't have to be involved in the war, they can stay neutral but still help out the Allies. He proposed an idea called the Lend-Lease Act. It stated that America would let France and Britain borrow money, weapons, etc. to help out in the war while American troops would not be fighting. -
Britain begins rationing
Rationing is the idea that you must give up certain supplies to send it to the troops in need. We experienced how this effected prisoners of the war while reading Empire of the Sun. Jim is constantly dealing with the fact that his rations of food are decreasing as time goes on because they are sending everything to the troops first then the prisoners. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was one of the first battles to be fought mainly in the air. Luftwaffe, Germany's air force, fought with the Royal Air Force, the UK's/Britain's air force. It used many different aerial tactics including terror bombing. Britain put up a good battle and Hitler finally decided to have his troops retreat. It is seen as a huge turning point in the war because it was one of the first times Hitler was defeated. -
U.S. Factory Growth
The United States was in high demand for weaponry and goods for the fellow Allie soldiers. Due to the high demand of factory made goods, many woman began to find work in factories. They had never been heavily involved because the men usually took up the jobs. It actually boosted the country's economy because many of the unemployed people were now employed. Women were no longer looked at as "weak" they could keep the pace of men in the factories. -
Pearl Harbor
The Americans had finally uncracked the Japanese code and were able to be aware suprise attacks they were planning, including the one on Pearl Harbor. They knew of a large attack but not the exact location or time of the attack. The mastermind behind the plan was the Japanese naval strategist Isoroku Yamamoto. Hawaii awoke to the Japanese bombings which had sunk many battleships which had wiped out nearly the whole Pacific fleet. It was a victory for the Axis Powers. made the US join the war -
America declares war on Japan
A day after the Pearl Harbor attacks President Franklin D. Roosevelt writes a speech to present to congress. He asks congress to declare war on Japan because of the bombing and attacking they did the day before. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because they disagreed with the fact that they were helping out the Allies. Congress accepted the wish and America joined WW2. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a Pacific battle fought on the island of Midway found "midway" between America and Japan, the countries fighting.Japan's goal was to capture all the islands in the Pacific Ocean because they wanted massive naval superiority. America had an advantage because they had been succesful in the Coral Sea Battle. Japan sank 3 aircraft carriers but suffered a loss the the Allie victory. -
Stalingrad
This was a battle fought between Allies and Axis Powers, Germany against the Soviet Union to take control of the city Stalingrad. It took place on the Eastern Front and was a very bloody battle. It was a very big event because it showed that Germany could be stalled and could be defeated. It was declared an Allie victory and ended on February 2, 1943. -
Battle of the Bulge
Allied forces begin to move toward Germany while the Soviet Union advance to Germany's eastern side. Hitler was facing a war on 2fronts so he counterattacked in the east. The German tanks broke thrw the weak Americans and pushed the Allies back. Although caught off guard, they fought and pushed back the Germans, winning. The Nazis could do very little other than retreat. -
Casablanca Conference
Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill meet to discuss the terms Germany would have to meet in order to end the war. They decided that Germany would have to agree to an unconditional surrender; no exceptions. -
D-Day Invasion
On this day over 195, 700 Allied troops invade Normady at 6:30 A.M. It was a land, air, and naval battle. The Allies cam across the channel in boats while others parachuted in for ground battle. They pushed back the Germans with the suprise attack with heavy fire and many casualities occurred. It was a significant battle because by the following year, the Axis Powers in Europe surrendered. -
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was a conference held between the "Big Three". The Big Three consists of FRank D Roosevelt of the U.S., Winston Churchill of France, and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union. Here is where they discussed what would happen to postwar Europe. They decided to split Germany in four parts, while denazifying, and demilitarifying the country as well. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima is an island not far from the coast of Japan. Despite the small size of the island, it was very important because it had 2 airfields located on it under the control of the Japanese. The United States wanted the island for that reason; they would gain 2 airfields. On this day was when the battle started, it lasted one month and ended in March of the same year. It was a victory for the Americans. -
Hitler commits suicide
Due to the impending doom f Germany, Hitler decided to kill himself. After marrying his long time partner they both poisoned and shot themselves. The one and only leader f the Nazis, realizing he had nothing else left he could do, took the cowardly way out. He figured suicide would be less painful and torterous than what the Allied leaders would have done. -
Germany's Surrender
General Eisenhower, the general who organized the D-Day invasion, accepted Germany surrender and continued to later become President of the United States. After Hitler's suicide, Germany had no other choice than to surrender. The U.S. President Harry Truman received this news with joy. -
V-E Day
The day that the Allied Powers accepted Germany's unconditional surrender in known as Victory in Europe Day. Hitler commited suicide during the Battle of Britain and a week later Germany and the Nazi's surrendered. -
Potsdam Conference
This conference was held towards the end of the war and the United States, Great Britain, and China attended. Here they discussed plans for Japan. They created a declaration which stated they were demanding Japan's unconditional surrender. Japan turned down this declaration. This event would eventually lead to the United States Atomic bomb droppings to follow two months after the conference. -
Bomb on Hiroshima
On this day, a bomber flew over the Japanese city Hiroshima and dropped a bomb nicknamed "Little Boy". It was created usuing Uranium but the Americans never tested it before dropping it, therefore not knowing exactly what the consequences would be. It was an estimated death toll of 70,000 and left the city completely wiped out. -
Bomb on Nagasaki
Three days after the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, another one was dropped on Nagasaki. Once again, a bomber flew over to drop the bomb nicknamed "Fat Man." It was created using Plutonium-239. It killed 70,000 people and left the city in Japan wiped completely off the map. -
V-J Day
Victory in Japan Day celebrates the day that Japan surrender to the Allies. This was the final piece of the puzzle that completed the 2nd World War. The Japanese Emperor accepted the Potsdamn Conference which he announced on this day, surrendering in the war. -
Japanese Surrender
After the two atomic bombs had been dropped in Japan, the Soviet Union invaded Manchuria and pushed the Japanese out. At this point they had no other choice other than to surrender. They officially surrendered on this day which is know as Victory in Japan Day (V-JDay). This marks the end of World War II.
