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World War II Events
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Germany invades Czechoslovakia
On this day in history, German invades Czechoslovakia, taking full control over the nation after taking pieces as part of the Munich Pact. -
The Soviet-Nazi Pact fantasize
Russia and Germany signed a “Non-aggression Pact”. It was a well-planned distraction so people were not expecting Germany & Russia to invade Poland a few weeks later. -
The Invasion of Poland
The Nazi's and Russains invaded Poland and within days the country ceased to exist becasue it had been absorbed by the Naxi and Communist regimes. Over 1 million soldiers poured into Poland, they used the method of attack called the "blitzkreig" (lighning war). -
Canada Enters the War
Canada joined the Allied Forces and delcares war against Germany -
The Invasion of Norway, Denmark, Holland and Belgium
In order to isolate the iron ore resources of Sweden, and secure his northern flank, Hitler invaded Norway and Denmark on April 9.
The next blow came a month later. In the early morning darkness of May 10, the Germans unleashed their Blitzkrieg against Holland and Belgium. -
The Invasion of France
In 1939, a group of senior German Army officers devised a plan to inflict a major defeat on the French Army in northern France. The Manstein Plan, as it became known, included a attack through southern Belgium that avoided the Maginot Line. In the end the French Army was disbanded except for a force of 100,000 men to maintain domestic order; 1.5 million French soldiers captured by the Germans were to remain prisoners of war and french citizens were ordered not to fight against the Germans -
The Miracle of Dunkirk
For nine days, between May 26 and June 4 1940, hundreds of thousands of troops were rescued from the German advance in the nick of time. They were rescued from the harbour and beaches near to Dunkirk by a curious assembly of many different types of craft. Many of the little ships, such as motor yachts, fishing boats and all manner of other such craft, were privately owned. -
The Fall of France
On June 14, without any reserves to stream out to meet the enemy as in 1914, Paris surrendered and was occupied by the Germans. Then on June 18 Churchill addressed Parliament: “What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. The Battle of Britain is about to begin.” -
The Battle of Britain
During July and August the Royal Air Force (RAF) of Britain fought feircely against the Luftwaffe in the airespace over Britain. By the end of summer it was clear Hitler's plan to win control of British airspace had failed. -
Phony War (sitzkrieg)
After the initial terror of the Polish campaign, everyone expected heavy combat, but the fighting in France did not immediately materialize. Instead, the warring nations settled into a pause in fighting, what was happening was futile attempts by both sides to negotiate an end to the war that would not embarrass either side. But the “peace” would not last forever. -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the name given to Nazi Germany’s invasion of Russia on June 22nd 1941. Barbarossa the largest military attack of World War Two and was to have appalling consequences for the Russian people. -
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan launched an air raid from Japanese aircraft carriers against US Naval headquarters at Pearl Harbor. Americans were not expecting the attack and altogether 2500 Americans were killed and 1200 were injured
