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A "loosely worded" treaty to protect against the potential threat of the allied Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Leads to the Triple Entente.
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To protect against potential threat of France and Russia in the far East.
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Settles disputes and establishes understanding between France and Britain. Emphisis on Germany's naval expansion.
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Japan destroys Russia's entire naval fleet: a humiliating blow.
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Symbol of British navel might; a new class of heavyweight battle ship.
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Agreement between Russia and Britain. Emphasis on preserving peace and independance in Persia, and equal trade between nations. Formed the Triple Entente.
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One of the first conentions on international laws of war. Lenin withdraws signature on military rules of conduct in future wars.
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Ferdinand is assasinated by The Black Hand, a Serbian extremist group expected to have been assisted by Serbian military officials. This gives Austria-Hungary its reason to eliminate Serbia. With backing from Germany, Serbia is delivers an ultimatum.
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Although Serbia agrees to much of the Ultimatum, German backed Austria-Hungary declares war.
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Russia enters the War as protector of Serbia, and also in an attempt to restore its own social order. As a result of Russias backing Serbia, Germany declares war.
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In an attempt to engage France from the north, Germany invades neutral Belgium.
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Honouring an ancient agreement to protect Belgian neutrality, Britain enters the war, along with all of its colonies.
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With the intention to capture a key German wireless station, colonial forces invade Germany's colony in South-West Africa. The station is detroyed by its opporators and later surrendered.
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Allows Canadian Government new powers to carry out the war effort: seizure of property, censorship, detaunment and arrest of citizens, etc...
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Britain is defeated in its first engagement on the western front, both sides suffering heavy losses. The expeditionary force retreats and Britain begins assembling a large army.
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Japan issues an ultimatum to Germany to remove troops from Sea of Japan and East China Sea, and surrender the leased colony of Tsingtao. Upon refusal, Japan declares war.
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French and British troops attempt to outflank Germans along the river Marne. Both sides have lost 250'000 soldiers since first conflict. Germany sends troops to the eastern front. Although both sides sustain heavy losses, Germany loses its foreward momentum. The Shleiffen plan for a quick war has failed. Europe prepares for a long war that Germany ultimately will fail to sustain. Both sides dig in.
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For the first time, Indian trops fight along side the Allies on the Western Front. 1.5 million Indians and 1.3 million Canadians, Austrailians, New Zealanders, and South Africans fight with the Allies.
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When the war began, Turkey is 'practically' allied with Germany. Germany alone had protected Turkey against Russian demands in 1913, and although Germany had originally declined alliance, at the start of the war Turkey's affer is reconsidered. The pressure on Turkey was great, and in order to maintain its only standing alliance, after much reluctance, Turkey enters the war with the Central Powers.
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Japan lays seige for two months and captures the colony. British troops were present but did not play a large part. After agreements with China, the port is returned to Chinese hands.
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The first use of poison gas (xylyl bromide) happens on the Eastern Front, and later chlorine gas on the western front and others. Although the first attempt are mechanical failures, xylyl bromide is produced throughout the war. The horrific effects of chemical weapons contribute to Germanys reputation as the "mad dog" and help to draw America into the war.
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Canada's first major battle of the Fisrt World War. 6 000 Canadians are outnumbered against German troups and the first use of chlorine gas, but hold out against the Germans.
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Allied and Colonial troops (New Zealand, Ausralia, India) launch a campain to disrupt German allies in the middle east. Landing near Constantinople, they battle with Turkish troops untill their defeat at the end of the year. Near a third of the New Zealanders and 28'000 Australians are killed along with 200'000 Turks.
The attack of enemy colonies is a tactic that becomes more prolific as the war progresses: powers try to end the stalemate of trench warefare. -
Subsidised by Britain upon construction, the Lusitainia was the worlds grandest ocean liner. When the war began, dry docked in Liverpool, it was outfitted with weaponry. It was sunk near Liverpool upon a return trip from New York and carrying stores of munitions destined for Britain. Although at half capacity, 1'119 passengers were killed, 114 of them American. The American public was outraged.
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After nearly a year of neutrality, Italy joins the Allies and engages Austria-Hungary in the "Mountain War". Three years of brutal, alpine trench warfare follow. Arguably the most challenging front of WW1, it was fought in the high peaks between Italy and Austria-Hungary.
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The Serbian army, low on ammunition and ravaged by typhus, cannot hold out against the Austrian offense. 200 000 Serbs crossed the mountains to Albania. 20 000 died in the mountains. The Serbian refugees were evacuated to Corfu, with the injured and ill shipped to a nearby island, Vido ("the island of death"). This is the largest evacuation of the First World War.
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Britain was the latest of the great powers to introduce conscription. The terms were changed many times throughout the war.
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Began as a German offense to capture the extremely politically and symbolically valuable fort of Verdun from the French. Lasting nearly a year, this battle ended with no significant political or tactical advantage gain to either side, but losses of 550 000 French and 434 000 Germans. The site of the first use of phosgene gas, which turns to hydrochloric acid upon inhalation. The battle of the Somme was meant to divert German recources from Verdun.
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The last, and largest, great naval battle of the war. The German fleet expects to make another attack on the British coast with little resistance. The Royal Navy intercepts them and the insueing battle inflicts losses on both sides. British naval might is reinforced and the Greman fleet retreats, remaining in port for the rest of the war.
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Sharif Hussain bin Ali asserts himself as the true leader of the Islamic faith in an attempt to upset Sultan Mehmed V as the spiritual leader of the Ottomans. British agents disguised as arabs had a hand in encouraging parties of revolutionaries in the Ottoman Empire.
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Intended to drain German recources and lessen the weight upon Verdun. This battle ran untill 18 November along a 30 mile front, comprised mainly of British and German troups. The preliminary bombardment failed to weaken the German defenses, and many of the British munitions were duds. The british offensive was poorly planned, and record high of 58 000 Britains died in the first day. A battle synonymous with wholesale slaughter today. Tanks were first deployed here, yet proved highly unreliable.
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Outlines the planned employment of "unrestricted" submarine warfare, and alliance between Mexico and Germany should America enter the war. Germany proposed that Mexico reconquer Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, invite Japan to "immediate adherence", and be the mediary between Japan and Germany.
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Brought about by German submarine warfare which would defile many courtesies of war at the time, including sinking merchant ships in the Noth Sea, passenger liners, and foreign vessels. Undercover German sabotage of American goods destined for the Allies increased American hostility, which was galvanized by the threats proposed by Germany in the Zimmerman Telegram.
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Canadian forces successfully capture German held Vimy Ridge. An extremely wel excecuted victory, Vimy is still a symbol of Canadian independance.
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Election rules are changers in preparation for an election centered around the issue of conscription. Some women are allowed to vote for the first time, among other provisions.
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For the first time, Germans join the Austro-Hungarian forces along the Italian border. One of the most impressive excecutions in the entire war, the Italian line is taken by surprise. Germans gain 25kn in the first day, and continue to meet Italian forces at Tagliamento. The Italian defeat lead to the dismissal of the Chief of Staff, replacement of Government, and Allied reinforcements on the Italiam front for the first time.
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Canadian forces fight in terrible conditions. Winning their objective with 16 000 killed or wounded. An iconic Canadian victory.
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Germany allows Lenin passage through Germany to Russia, hoping that his plans for overthrow of the Russian provisional gvernment would ensure revolution, and Russia's withdrawl from conflict. The revolution began in Petrograd when soldiers opened fire on striking folk asking for bread. The soldiers then shot thier officers and began to take control of the city. The provisional leader, Kerenski, is forced to flee the country. The Bolschviks seize power with promise of a peoples government.
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The moral significance of the Allies' capture of Jerusalem exceeded its military significance and boosted Entene moral after a 'hard year.'
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With the Bolscheviks rise to power comes the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. An armistice bewteen Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, on one hand, and Russia on the other. The Russian people are "mad with joy" over thr revolution, promised end of the standing army and a sole governing body representing the common people.
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With the end of the war on the Eastern Front, all recources are diverted to the West, in hopes of "knocking the British and French out of the war" before more American troups arrive. The Germans gain much ground before they are halted in early April with the arrival of French reinforcements.
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Germany's last major offensive of the First World War. Germany attacked in the east and west to divert Allied forces. The eastern attack was unsuccussful and halted the day it began. Germans were more successful in the west, although their advance was halted and a counter attack pushed the Germans back to where they had began. When Germany actually lost ground by the end of this offensive, many Germans beleived the war was lost. Canadians play a descisive role in ensuring victory.
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Revolt at Wilhelmshaven after Naval Command asks for final, climactic naval battle with Britain after Germany is defeated. Civil uprising spreads across wartorn Germany. The Weimar Constitution is signed on August 11, 1919, installing a new parlimentary Social Republic in favour of the Bolchevik model.
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The armastice is signed at 11am. Over 8.5 million service personel and around twenty million civilians died in the war. This included 61 000 Canadians, and another 172 000 wounded. 3 461 of which had a limb amputated.
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Germany is blamed for the war, has its army reduced to 100 000 men, and required to pay huge compensations for damage, among other terms. Territories are surrendered, and a neutral buffer area off limits to German troops is established along the western German border. Clause regarding racial equality, proposed by the Empire of Japan, is denied because of its challenge of white superiority. The League of Nations is formed.
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Germany prints more currency to pay striking workers in Ruhr, after French and Belgian troops take the area. The Ruhr is Germany's most valusble industrial sector. In 1922, a loaf of bread costs 163 marks, by September 1923, 1 500 000, by November 1923, 200 000 000 000. Middle class citizens suffered the most in proportion to thier income, leading many to the support of the Nazi party.
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Germany formally recognizes the western borders outlined at Versailles and is allowed to enter the League of Nations.
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Outlining international law around treatment of wartime prisoners. USSR never signed on the treatment of prisoners subject to international law and these conventions were not included in Red Army training protocols.
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Thousands of Chinese soldiers and civilians are killed. China appeals to the League of Nations, and all vote against Japans occupation, Japan leaves the League. No economic measures are taken against Japan because America is not a member. Arms sales to Japan continue.
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Stockmarket crash and global economic distress results in rising Nazi support. Nazis lose support in the election, but a coalition is formed with the conservatives and president von Hindenburg appoint Hitler.
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An arsonist, allegedly supported by the NAZIs - who sneak into the building and spread accelerants - starts the fire. Hitler’s circle blames the Communists and instills hysteria, suspending near all civil liberties including the press and communication services, expression and assembly. The SA and SS round up and arrest 1000s of Communists, Liberals, and Social Democrats who are beaten and tortured.
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Gives Hitler power to enact laws without the Reichstag’s approval. This, along with the Reichstag Fire Decree which transfers civil liberties to the Reichstag, give Hitler’s government the power of a legal dictatorship.
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After 90.8% of Saarland population votes for reunification, it is restored to Germany with the approval of the League of Nations.
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Because of France-Soviet Treaty, Hitler does not feel bound to the Pact of Locarno any longer and sends troops into Rhineland.
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France and the Soviet Union sign an agreement aimed at encirling Germany to reduce the threat in Central Europe. Failing to state military convention should Germany become agressive undermined Locarno. Hitler, feeling threatened, occupied the demilitarized Rhineland, action justified by former British PM.
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Treaty between Germany and Italy with emphasis on the interests of Hitler and Mussolini. Mussolini declares that from then on, all European countries will rotate on the Rome-Berlin Axis. Japan joins the “Axis” on Nov 25 1936 with the Anti-Comintern Pact aimed against the Soviet Communist movement. This tripartite is solidified with the Pact of Steel in 1939, uniting Italy, Germany, and Japan in their individual expansionist interests.
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Aimed against threat of Soviet Communist movement. Forms Tripartite with Germany and Italy.
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This invasion begins WW2 in the Pacific. During occupation of China, Japanese slaughtered an estimated 7 mill Chinese, and enslaved 10 mill workers.
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After refusal from the League of Nations to reunite Austria with the German Reich, Hitler occupies Austria to mass support from the Austrian people. !0 000s meet the German force with jubilation in the streets. Following unification mass propoganda is implimented.
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After German minorities suffer horrendous abuse at the hands of Czechs, they demand the reunification of Sudeten regions with the Reich. Approved by the Allies, Sudetenland is retored to Germany.
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Hitler proposes to give Poland sovereignty over upper Solazia, West Prussia, and Posen in exchange for reunification with Danzig, creating a corridor between Germany and East Prussia. Later expanding the offer that Poland would control Danzig economically, while Germany controlled it socially. The offer was refused.
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After Allies agree to return Sudetenland to Germany and Hitler promises the end of German expansion, Wehrmacht moves into Sudetenland and proceeds to occupy the Bohemia and Moravia regions, and establishes a protectorate over Slovakia. Hitler declares that Czechoslovakia has ceased to exist. This is the end of appeasement measures by the Allies.
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After being put under allied control according to Versailles, Memel was annexed by Lithuania in 1920. Many Germans in the region demanded reunification with Germany as Sudetenland had done. France and England are not in support of Lithuania, and Memel is joined with Germany. Lithuania withdrawals military and administration and is allowed a free market zone and free passage for 99 years.
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Britain and France ensure the protection of Polish borders, yet they do nothing to directly assist Poland during NAZI invasion months later.
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99.75% of Austrians vote in favour of unification with the German Reich. Although there was significant military presseure, this still shows a country in support of unification.
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Germany and the Soviet Union sign a non-agression pact and agree to the division of Eastern Europe into spheres of occupation.
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Hitler demands union of Danzig and referendum to decide whether West Prussia is German or Polish. Winner would grant loser transit-way (Poland would get access to Baltic Sea, Germany to East Prussia). Poland accepts no compromise.
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Negotiations over the installation of an extraterritorial railway, connecting Germany to East Prussia through the Danzig region fail. Hitler's attempts at diplomacy are refused by Poland, who is backed by France and Britain. Hitler orders the invasion of Poland by the Wehrmacht, complete in 29 days. In light of German invasion, with support of Polish Government, Polish citizens conduct house raids, deportations, abuse, rape and murder of over 5000 ethnic Germans in Poland in disgusting fashion.
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Nearly the entire Commonwealth and some F colonies enter as well.
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The Soviet Union invades Poland from the East. When Warsaw surrenders on Sep 27, and the Polish Government flee, Poland is divided between Germany and USSR according to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
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Stalin breaks non-aggression pacts with all 6 neighboring states, issuing a reign of terror and killing 10 000s of innocent civilian. Invading Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and parts of Romania. Stalin occupies, engineers Communist coups, and annexes the Baltic States as Soviet Republics. Not a word of criticism from England or France, hoping Stalin will still join Allies against Germany.
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To secure Soviet position in the Baltic region, USSR invades without declaring war. Finland surrenders Mar 1940.
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England deploys sea mines in Norwegian waters to prevent transport of Swedish ore to Germany through Narvik. Germany invades Norway and Denmark ("Spring Awakening") the following day and after weeks of battle with French and British troops, Germany occupies both territories, securing the integral ore supply.
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France occupied in 6 weeks. Northern France and the coast are occupied, in the South a collaborationist regime with capital of Vichy. Italy declares war on Jun 20, invading France the day after it is conquered and earning the nick name “harvest helpers” from Germans.
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Britain occupies neutral Iceland to improve operations in Atlantic. Germany invades Luxemburg, occupied May 10, Netherlands surrenders May 14, Belgium surrenders may 28. Germany now invades France from the North, bypassing the Maginot Line of French fortresses along the German border.
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Over 338 226 Allied troops are evacuated from France in 8 days. Given time because the G army stopped for three days to consolidate.
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Italy occupied British Somaliland for 6 months, around 7000 were evacuated.
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A decisive day in the Battle of Britain. 300 RAF surprise German planes, forcing them into retreat. Operation Sea Lion (invasion of Britain) is postponed indefinitely. Britain began to gain ground when Hitler diverted forces from bombing military/radar bases, to bombing London as revenge for bombs dropped on Berlin.
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The Italian advance is short-lived and the Italians soon dig in and petition assistance from Germany. Axis assistance later defeats Yugoslavia in 11 days, Greece in 3 weeks, and pushes Britain back to Egypt border, overstretching German supply lines.
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Slovakia (Nov 23), Hungary (Nov 20), Romania (Nov 22), Bulgaria (Mar 1, 1941). Later (6 Apr 1941) Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Bulgaria invade Yugoslavia, which surrenders Apr 17.
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German air forces drive Allies from Crete at the loss of 44% of paratroops. Hitler will not order another Para operation.
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Axis attacks Soviet Union, capturing Baltic states. lay siege to Leningrad, capture Smolensk, Kiev, Rostov. Moscow reached by October. Near 4 mill Axis troops enter USSR, by Jan 1 mill. Sov and ½ mill. Germans are dead. Soviet offensive along with cold, disease, and starvation finally destroy 6th Army. Axis troops encounter the largest invasion force ever assembled (6 mill soldiers, 25 000 tanks, 19 000 planes). 2 mill. Soviets captured, later a hindrance to German capacity 100 000s later starve
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The Germans conquered Kiev, taking 660 000 Red soldiers prisoner.
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German offensive that conquered many Soviet cities and converged to corner 55 Red divisions. In October, near 670 000 Red soldiers were taken prisoner by the Germans. The Axis powers reach Moscow. The 6th Army is surrounded at Stalingrad by a massive Red Army advance. The German 6th army surrenders on Feb 2 1943.
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Japan attempts to neutralize the American pacific naval fleet by bombing Pearl Harbour. America declares war on Japan the following day.
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Following Pearl Harbour, loyal to his Japanese alliance, Hitler declares war on USA, confident that it is only a matter of time that US would do the same to him as US ships were already attacking G U-boats in the Atlantic, and supplied USSR with 3000 aircrafts, 4000 tanks, 100 000 vehicles and vast food and munitions supplies in 1941 alone while allegedly neutral. Roosevelt declares war on Germany and Italy hours later.
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British and US navy halts Japanese navy, destroying most of their air craft carriers. In Nov 1942, US halts Japanese advance toward Australia at Guadalcanal.
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With this victory, Allies begin to push Germany and Italy out of Africa. On Nov 8 British land US troops land French N. Africa (Operation Torch), eventually encircling Axis forces in Tunisia and forcing their surrender. This advance triggers German invasion of S. France (Nov 11). Operation Torch also lessens pressure on Stalin in the East, allowing him to begin Operation Bagration, liberating Kiev in Nov 1943
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7000 tanks, 3000 planes damaged or destroyed in 2 months, well over 1 mill dead. Largest armoured and aerial battle in history. Shifted the advantage to the Soviets on the Eastern front. Damaged supply lines, increased decryption, and endless Soviet recourses later meant end of German expansion in the East.
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USA and British troops land Sicily and occupy it by mid-August. Sicily is used as a base to invade Italy in September. Mussolini is deposed on July 25, his successor surrenders to the allies on September 8. Germany invades N. Italy, frees Mussolini, and establishes a puppet regime under him on September 12.
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Afraid that Hungary will join USSR, Germany occupies and installs a pro-German president.
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1200 warships, 4200 landing crafts, 6 Divisions USA, Canadian, and British land 5 locations on French coast. 3 mill. land Normandy in 3 months. Rome is liberated on Jun 4, Paris Aug 25, by September near all France, most of Belgium, and part of Neth. Are liberated.
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1.7 million Soviet troops face half the number of Germans and 15% of tank and air forces. Most destructive German defeat of WW2, with near an entire army group destroyed. Germany is pushed out of Russia and East Poland.
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Forced to resign after fall of Saipan. Americans start intensive bombing from gained territory in Pacific.
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11 million were killed during the Holocaust. 100 000s worked to death. In one day near Kiev 33 371 were executed by NAZI “Mobile Death Squads”.
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Sov capture Vienna, drive G and Axis out of Hungary, and force Slovakia to surrender in Apr after liberating Warsaw and Krakow in Jan, Budapest on Feb 13. In Oct, 1944 Germany had evacuated Greece, Albania, Slovakia, and Yugoslavia. On Dec 16, 1944 Hitler launched his final offensive, The Battle of the Bulge, exhausting his last recourses and trained troops in an attempt to split the Allied front and destabilize the Anglo-American alliance. Germany is in retreat by Jan 1 1945.
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Hitler and his long time mistress are married in Berlin. Hitler orders the destruction of all G infrastructures. On Apr 30 Hitler and his wife both eat poison and shoot themselves.
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End of the 3rd Reich. Hitler commits suicide and Germany surrenders 8 May. Germany expelled from land gained in 30s, and divided into Soviet East, British, French, and American West. USSR retains all captured territories. Denazification begins in industry and society by Allies. War criminals tried in Nuremburg and Bavaria, some executed.
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USA crosses the Rhine on Mar 7, the Soviet offensive encircles Berlin on Apr 6. Germany surrenders to the Allies on May 6 1945, and to USSR on May 9 1945. 6th Army in Stalingrad, African Corps in Tunisia, Allied land in Sicily, invasion of Normandy, and bombing of nearly all major G cities ended in a long line of defeats, German retreat on all fronts, and Hitler’s suicide.
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Some entire German cities are looted, 100 000s G patents appropriated, advanced machinery, weapons, and technical equipment were shipped to USA and USSR along with captured German scientists. Millions of German prisoners of war were forced into forced labour camps for years, many ethnic Germans in east had their homes appropriated for private military quarters. Germany is divided into 4 “occupation zones”: north to British, South West to French, South to Americans, East to Russians.
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Okinawa is used as the main air base for the invasion of Japan. The battle was one of the bloodiest in the Pacific, nicknamed the Typhoon of Steel.
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August 6 Little Boy falls on Hiroshima. August 9, Fat Man falls on Nagasaki. Combined, killing at estimated 200 000 people. 80 000 upon contact, 50 000 within the year at Hiroshima. Most victims were civilians.
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USSR declares war on Japan and invades Manhuria, which was captured by Japan 18 September 1931.
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WW2 is officially ended. Japanese slave labour camps with an estimated death rate of 30-40% are closed. Japan is occupied by 300 000 British and USA troops, gaining independence again in April 1952 under a democratic constitution with a clause banning rearmament.
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$12 bill. US of aid to recover economically. European industry capacity increases by 35%, agriculture raised to above pre war levels, plan for European integration to increase stability and prevent war has been successful for 60 years.
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Protection from communist expansion. ‘Iron Curtain” divides Europe. Hostilities that grow due to nuclear weapons, lead to Cold War. A rival alliance, The Warsaw Pact is signed by USSR and its allies in 1955. North Atlantic Treaty Organization holds all members to come to the aid of others in the event of an armed attack. Active in the Afganistan invasion after 9/11.
