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Nonaggression Pact
Hitler (Germany) and Stalin (USSR) signed the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact in an agreement to not attack each other. They planned to invade and divide Poland together along with recognizing each their territorial ambitions. This is significant to WWII because this allowed Germany to invade Poland without the Soviet's interference. -
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Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was an aerial battle fought between Germany's Luftwaffe who was conducting a bombing campaign in British against the British Royal Air Force. This is important to WWII because it was the first major aerial battle and it marked Germany's first defeat. -
Atlantic Conference
Roosevelt and Churchill meet on the coast of Newfoundland
to talk about Britain's problems and how they hoped for Germany's defeat. This is significant to WWII because they also signed the Atlantic Charter in which they made plans for WWII whilst also strengthening their alliance. -
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Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is significant to WWII because it was the turning point of the war in the Pacific which put Japan on defensive. Admiral Yamamoto's plan was to invade Midway, but his plan failed leading to Japanese fleet of carriers to all be sunk by the US. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad is significant to WWII because it was the true turning point of the war in Europe, stopping Hitler's plan of dominating Europe. Nazi troops retreated to their homeland, bringing the USSR to play on offense. -
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Operation Torch
With American troops moving eastward in Morocco and Algeria and British troops moving westward, this trapped German and Italian troops forcing them to surrender. This is significant to WWII because it prevent the Axis powers to have control of Northern Africa. -
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Italian Campaign
The Italian Campaign was an Allied operation to capture Sicily. It is important to WWII because it gave Allies complete control of the western Mediterranean, provided a path for the invasion of Italy, and ended Mussolini's rule. -
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Tehran Conference
The Tehran Conference was significant to WWII because it the first meeting of the Big Three in which they agreed on the opening of a second front in Western Europe leading to Operation Overload. -
Operation Overlord (Battle of Normandy)
Operation Overlord was the D-Day Allied invasion of France to save them from the Axis powers. The plan was to strike 5 beached in Normandy on a 50-mile stretch. This is significant to WWII because it was the largest fleet ever assembled, in which the Allies won, signalizing the start of the end of the war. -
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Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was Germany's counterattack to trick the US with English-speaking Germans and spread confusion. This is significant to WWII because it pushed Germany out of France and while it was an attempt to drive a wedge between American and British troops, it depleted Germany, abridging the time Hitler had left. -
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Yalta Conference
The Big Three (Stalin, FDR, and Churchill) meet in what was called the Yalta Conference to discuss postwar world, coming to a conclusion that Poland, Bulgaria and Romania would hold free elections. This is significant to WWII because it led the Big Three to discuss postwar decisions on how Nazi territory shall be divided. -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was one of the deadliest battles of in the island hopping campaign in which US marines faced a dug-in Japanese enemy. Despite US victory, it resulted in more than 23,000 American casualties. It is also significant to WWII because it captured a famous photo of marines symbolizing their sacrifice for the US, helping war effort. -
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Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was even more deadly than the Battle of Iwo Jima taking the lives of over 50,000 American casualties. It was the most costly of the Pacific campaign in order to capture the island of Okinawa. This is important to WWII because it was one of the major battles leading to an Allied victory. -
Surrender of Berlin/Germany
With Soviet army surrounding the Oder River outside Berlin, and American and British troops surrounding the Elbe River, 50 miles off, Germany was now on a position for its downfall. Hitler was on a physical wreck, and even some of his closest associates committed suicide. On May 7th, Germany surrenders and America celebrates on what is called V-E Day. -
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Potsdam Conference
The Big Three arranged a Conference at Potsdam to discuss postwar world. It is significant because they discussed on how to divide Germany into four zones of occupation, agreeing to free elections for Poland and discussing war reparations on Germany. -
Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945, President Harry Truman makes the decision to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima to prevent another attack from the Japanese that would have cost the lives of many Americans. This is important to WWII as it helped the decision of Japanese leaders to consider surrendering, ultimately bringing the U.S. to drop another bomb on Nagasaki. -
Nagasaki
Three days after the attack on Hiroshima, the US drops another atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. This is important to WWII because it led to the Japanese to surrender to the US as we create an ally in an attempt to rebuild the aftermath.