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Nazi Germany Invaded Poland
This invasion effectively started the war. -
Sitzkrieg
A short period immediately after the war began that involved no major fighting in the western front. -
France Fell to Germany
The Stitzkrieg ends with a German invasion of France, expanding the Nazi war machine. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was a long air campaign, involving Nazi Germany constantly bombing the UK and targeting civilians. British forces were able to maintain air superiority and pushed the Germans back. -
Destroyers-for- Bases Deal
The US gave the British 50 destroyers in exchange for access to 8 British bases. This showed the US was leaning away from neutrality. -
America First Committee Launched
This committee was formed to oppose American involvement in the war, and maintain neutrality. -
Congress Instituted the Draft
The selective service was created and soldiers were drafted in preparation for war. -
Four Freedoms
FDR gave a speech in which he said his beliefs of US war aims: freedom of speech, the freedom of worship, the freedom from want, and the freedom from fear. -
Lend-Lease
Allowed the US to give other countries supplies without the need for repayment. Helped with alliances and WWI debt. -
USS Kearny Attacked
The attack on this ship by Germans sparked more tension in the US, leading to war. -
Reuben James Sank
The first US ship to be destroyed before US involvement in the war, created more tension. -
Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
A Japanese sneak attack on the US base at Pear Harbor led to the US officially entering the war. -
Battle of Bataan
A Japanese offensive in the Philippines, leading to a large US surrender and the Bataan death march to prison camps. -
Bataan Death March
US surrender at the Battle of Bataan led to troops being forced to march to Japanese prison camps, many dying on the journey. -
Battle of Coral Sea
History's first air-sea battle, a US victory over a Japanese fleet. -
Manhattan Project Began
Roosevelt signed off on the Manhattan Project, a secret scientific project to create the atomic bomb. -
Battle of Midway
This naval battle was the turning point in the Pacific theater, US victory. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The USSR was able to stop the German invasion of Stalingrad, ending the nazi foothold in the USSR and turning the war in the allies' favor. -
Island Hopping Campaign Begins
The Guadalcanal campaign was the start of island hopping. US troops took control of small Japanese islands and established bases, then continued, slowly moving towards Japan. -
Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein took place near the Egyptian railway halt of El Alamein. Allies are victorious. -
Casablanca Conference
A meeting between Roosevelt and Churchill that laid out the plans for the rest of the war and to declare a policy of an unconditional surrender. -
Tehran Conference
Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met to discuss war plans and post war deals. -
D-Day
A massive allied invasion of Normandy, France allowed the allies to get a foothold in France, leading to liberation. -
MacArthur Returned to the Philippines
Gave Philippines hope and marked allied growing dominance in the area. -
FDR Elected to a 4th Term
FDR was the only president to serve more than 2 terms. In his fourth term, he became wheelchair-bound, but still contributed greatly to allied war efforts. -
Battle of the Bulge
Germany tried to push through allied lines in France and Belgium, but the allies pushed them back. -
Yalta Conference
The second meeting of Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. They agreed that Germany must come to an unconditional surrender and they discussed post-war plans. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
A battle that allowed the US to take control of Iwo Jima, a key island in the Pacific. -
Battle of Okinawa
The biggest and last battle in the Pacific that allowed for US entry into Japan. -
FDR Died / Harry Truman Became President
FDR died and vice president Truman took office. Truman took a tougher stance with the Russians and created tensions that led to the Cold War. -
VE Day
Victory in Europe, the war in Europe officially ended with Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender. -
Potsdam conference
Stalin, Churchill, and Truman met to discuss and finalize post war negotiations. -
Little Boy Dropped on Hiroshima
The world's first detonation of an atomic bomb in war occurred when "Little Boy" was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in hopes that the Japanese would surrender to the US, -
Nuremberg Trials
13 trials that brought Nazi officials before an international court, tried for crimes against humanity. Controversial, but a step towards international court. -
VJ Day
Victory in Japan, the Japanese surrendered to the US, ending WWII. -
Fat Man Dropped on Nagasaki
When the Japanese didn't surrender, the US dropped a second atom bomb on Nagasaki. -
Japanese War Crime Trials
Trials that brought Japanese officials to court to be tried for war crimes. General Tojo was given the death sentence.
