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Nazi invasion of Poland
Hitler sought a nonaggression pact with Poland, in order to neutralize the possibility of a French-Polish alliance against Germany.
After the invasion, the Polish army was defeated within weekss. Warsaw surrendered on September 27, after heavy shelling and bombing. -
Period: to
World War II
The Second World War, known mostly for Adolf Hitler and his un-sanctioned massacre of over 1 million Jewish peoples-the Holocaust-resulting in another World War. -
U.S. annouces embargo
August 1: U.S. announces on oil embargo against aggressor states.
The American oil embargo caused a crisis in Japan. Reliant on the US for 80% of its oil, the Japanese were forced to decide between withdrawaling from China, negotiating an end to the conflict, or going to war to obtain the needed resources elsewhere. In an attempt to solve the situation, President Franklin Roosevelt was asked for a meeting to discuss the issues. Roosevelt replied that Japan needed to leave China beforehand. -
Yellow Stars
Germany released a policy that all Jews must wear yellow stars on clothing. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan planes bomb the American naval base of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Over 3,500 American were killed or wounded in the two hour long seige. 350 aircrafts were damaged or destroyed, and all 8 U.S. Pacific Fleet battleships were sunk or badly damaged, including the U.S.S. Arizona-the believed invincible battleship.
December 8: President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave his speech of the Day of Infamy and Congress declares war on Japan. -
Auschwitz
The mass murder of Jewish people by gas chamber.
In Auschwitz, seven buildings were used as gas chambers and two other sites were used also. The deadly gas, Zyklon B, was poured into the chamber through openings in the roof. Each chamber could hold up to 400 people. The gassings were initially done at night, but later were also done in the daytime. Bodies were buried in mass graves nearby. -
Battle Of Midway
June 4-7
Fought near Central Pacific Island of Midway: the most decisive battle of War in the Pacific. Placed the U.S. and allies in control against Japan. American fleet commander Admiral Chester W. Nimitz led a successful counter-ambush eliminating Japanese fleet commander Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto's plan to seize Midway. -
Operation Husky
Allied decision to invade Sicily is made at Casablanca. Ground forces assembled to constituted the 15th Army Group under command of General Alexander. The invasion force totaled at about 160,000, Operation Husky was successfully concluded when American troops take Messina.
Axis loss: 167,000 killed/wounded/captured
Allies loss: 31,158 -
D-Day
D-Day. Operation Overlord-the Allied invasion of German, occupied Westerm Europe. Begins on beaches of Normandy France. Gerneral Eisenhower decided to begin the attack June 6, despite unfavorable weather forecasts. 0200 that morning: Airborne divisions were droppen behind the beaches to secure routes for seaborne forces. 0630: Assault waves of footsoldiers begin landing after air and naval bombardment. By nightfall, 3 British, 1 Canadian, 3 American infantry divisions, and 3 airborne divisions -
First Atomic Bomb hits Japan
