-
Start of World War II
German troops disguised as Polish soldiers staged an attack on a radio station in their own country. The town of Gleiwitz was located on the Polish border, and the German government wanted an excuse to invade Poland. Soon, German forces were invading Poland, leading to a war that would soon spread across the world. -
Germany Invades Poland
-
Axis Powers Join Together
The Soviet Union joined the Allied Powers—Britain and France. The United States lent military equipment to the British but stayed out of the war. (DONT KNOW EXACT DATE) -
Pearl Harbor Attack
Japanese planes launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On December 8, the United States declared war on Japan. Germany and Italy then declared war on the United States. -
U.S Declares War on Japan
-
D-Day
the invasion of Nazi-occupied France. By July 2 about 1 million Allied troops had landed on the beaches of Normandy in northern France. -
Franklin D Rooosevelt Dies
Harry Truman replaces him -
Germany Surrenders
The Allies battled their way toward Germany, which surrendered -
U.S Bombs Japan
a U.S. plane dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, destroying the city. Three days later the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki. -
Japan Surrenders
-
Truman Doctrine
This policy stated that the United States would help any country fighting against communism. That same year the United States also began the Marshall Plan, offering some $12.5 billion to aid Europe's economic recovery. U.S. leaders hoped that countries with strong economies would not turn to communism. The Soviet Union and its allies in Eastern Europe refused American aid. -
Soviets blockade West Berlin
the Soviets blockaded West Berlin, which was located within Soviet-controlled East Germany. They hoped that Western leaders would give up the city.
