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U-Boats Sink Merchant Vessels
Over 1,000 German U-Boats are launched into the Atlantic to isolate Britain. If Britain couldn't receive supplies, they would be forced to surrender to Germany. -
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WWII Events
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Vichy France Begins
Vichy France is the name given to the government that formed in France after it surrendered to Germany. The official name was the French State. -
Battle for Britain
The Battle of Britain occurred when the German air force attacked Britain with the intention of gaining power over the British air force. Additional Information -
Japan Joins Axis
When Japan joined the Axis Powers, the Tripartite Pact was formed. This pact established the Axis Powers of WWII as Germany, Italy, and Japan. -
Hitler Breaks Non-Agression Agreement and Invades the Soviet Union
The Axis Powers send 4.5 million troops into the Soviet Union--the largest military offensive in history. -
FDR Approves "Shoot on Sight"
FDR states that the concern of America is only defense and if Germany continues to attack America, America is to fight back in defense. -
Japanese Ambassadors Arrive in Washington, D.C.
Japanese Ambassadors Nomura and Kurusu negotiated with U.S. Secretary of State Hull in order to prevent a war between Japan and America. -
Pearl Harbor Attacked
The Japanese military attacked the U.S. naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii with the intention of preventing the U.S. from getting involved in the war Japan planned to wage on Southeast Asia. The attack was unnanounced and unexpected and caused America to join WWII. Additional Information -
Germany and Italy Declare War on the U.S.
After America declared war on Japan due to Pearl Harbor, the Axis Powers declared war on America. This got America fully involved in WWII. -
MacArthur Promises to Return
Former army general Douglas MacArthur promises to return to the army in order to fight off the invasion of the Phillipines by Japan. He became a commander of the army for the U.S. in WWII. -
Bataan Death March
Roughly 75,000 American and Filipino prisnors of war were taken from the Bataan peninsula in the Phillipines by the Japanese. These prisnors were transfered to prison camps and were treated inhumanely. -
Battle of Coral Sea
A battle between the Japanese navy and the American and Australian navy and air force. It was a major battle and was held in the Pacific ocean. Additional Information -
Battle of Midway
The U.S. navy did an irrepairable amount of damage to the Japanese navy, who was attacking Midway Atoll, Hawaii. This was the most significant naval battle in the Pacific during WWII. Additional Information -
End of the Battle of Stalingrad
This battle resulted in the first major loss for the German army and the first major victory for the Soviet Union. It was one of the bloodiest battles in history with nearly 2 million deaths. Additional Information -
Guadalcanal
America and Pacific allies fought Japan for control of the island of Guadacanal. It was the first major offensive in the Pacific war for the allies. This battle was fought on all terrains (land, air, and sea). -
General Eisenhower and His Forces Land in North Africa
American and British forces invaded the French portion of North Africa in order to open a 2 front war against Germany. This would relieve the pressure of German forces on the Soviet Union. -
Sicily Falls
The allied forces took over Sicily from the Axis Powers, creating a path for the allied forces to invade Italy. -
Rome Falls
Allied forces take over Rome, and it becomes the first Axis capital to be lost. -
D-Day
Over 175,000 allied troops landed on 50 miles of coastline of Normandy, France. Allied forces gained a foothold in Europe. -
MacArthur Returns
Commander MacArthur was given permission to invade the Phillipines after spending 2 years fighting in the Southwest Pacific. -
Kamikaze Attacks Begin
The Japanese suicide attacks began. Pilots of the Japanese air force would crash their planes filled with explosives into the ships of the allied forces. -
Battle of the Bulge
The last major offensive by the German army was an attempt to seperate the allied forces in their trek towards Germany. Hitler thought the allies were too weak and a major defeat would finish them. -
U.S. Flag Raised on Mt. Suribachi
After America defeated the Japanese in the Battle of Iwo Jima, an American platoon was ordered to climb to the peak of Mt. Suribachi and plant an American flag--the first foreign flag to fly in Japan. -
Okinawa Taken
In the bloodiest battle of the Pacific, allied troops captured Okinawa. This was a major part in the allied war strategy. -
Truman Becomes President
FDR died shortly after beginning his fourth term, and Truman replaced him. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
Once Hitler realized the Axis Powers were losing the war he killed himself. After poisoning himself with cyanide, Hitler shot himself in the temple. -
V-E Day
After Germany surrendered to the allies and the Third Reich collapsed, the allies formally accepted victory in Europe. -
Hiroshima
America dropped the first atomic on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, killing roughly 80,000 people. The bomb was dropped by the plane the Enola Gay. -
Nagasaki
The second atomic bomb dropped by America killed roughly 40,000 people in Nagasaki, Japan. -
V-J Day
After Japan surrendered, victory over Japan was declared and WWII was essentially over. -
Formal Surrender of Japan
After accepting the terms of the allies, Japan formally surrendered. The allies had officially defeated the Axis Powers and won WWII.
