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Nazi Germany Invaded Poland
Germany invades Poland on land and at sea to avoid fighting a war on two fronts, thus initiating World War II in Europe. Their conquest brought more living space, territorial growth, and military advantages -
Sitzkrieg "Phoney War"
A time period after the blitzkreig attack on Poland when nothing happened on the Western Front; sitzkreig literally means "sitting war". -
France Fell to Germany
After 9 months of fighting, German forces created a brillant plan to overwhlem the French forces and take the north and western zones, giving the south-east to Italy. -
Battle of Britain
An air battle between the Germans and Great Britain for dominance over the skies. Germany’s Luftwaffe was not able to defeat the Royal Air Force and this battle will be the first all-air fought conflict. -
Destroyers-for-Bases Deal
This direct trade agreement giving 50 naval ships to the British Royal Navy in exchange for valuable land possessions. -
Ameria First Committee Launched
This group opposed aid to the Allies and feared direct involvement in the war. They attempted to block the Lend-Lease Act and tried to repeal neautrality, but the group had a change of heart after Pearl Harbor and wanted to support the war. -
Congress Instituted the Draft
The Burke-Wadsworth Act put in place the American draft, which estalished the new policy of selected service. This grew a strong and large military force, capable of standing up to wartime activity and hardship. -
Four Freedoms
As America entered the war these "four freedoms" - the freedom of speech, the freedom of worship, the freedom from want, and the freedom from fear were given by FDR to give hope for American war goals. -
Lend Lease Act
This act allowed the US to support other nations engaging in war without fullly being a part of it ourselves. We sent military aid to countries like Britain, China, and the Soviet Union, helping them in battle while we stayed isloationist. -
USS Kearny Attacked
This was an America naval warship that was attacked by German U-boats before we had officially joined the war. This event actually imrove the safety of ships for crews in emergency situations. -
Reuben James Sank
This was the first American naval warship to be sunk by German u-boats; “The Sinking of the Reuben James” is a song by Woody Guthrie about the sinking of the U.S. convoy escort. -
Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japanese air bombers viciously attacked an American naval base, killing and injuring over 3,000 and destroying many naval ships. It was and will always be known as “a date which will live in
infamy” (FDR). -
Battle of Bataan
This was the most intense time period of Japanese invasion in the Phillipines, beginning a month after the attack on Pearl Harbor. General Douglas MacArthur lead units to fight against the Japanese, but after 3 months they surrendered and many POW died in the Bataan Death March. -
Bataan Death March
After the American-Filipino loss of the Batle of Bataan, the Japenese forced all POWs from Saisaih Pt. and Mariveles to Camp O'Donnell. Thousands died along the way and those who survive were put into the Japanese camp. -
Battle of Coral Sea
This four day battle was the first fought in the air. Japan wanted control of the Coral Sea, but was defeated by the American task force commanded by Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletcher, giving the allies a victory. -
Battle of Midway
Occuring six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, this was a decisive naval victory for America that turned the war in favor of the allies. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Known as the greatest and bloodiest Russian battle, it stopped the German invasion into the Soviet Union and turned the tide of war to the allies. -
Battle of El Alamein
A three year battle in which the Allies and Axis powers chased each other around the North African Desert. This was one of several events that came to signify the beginning of the end of World War II. -
Casablanca Conference
This was a meeting between FDR and Prime Minister Churchhill discussing strategic plans to defeat the axis powers and continue their belief in unconditional surrender to the loser. -
Island Hopping Campaign Begins
After winning superiority in the Pacific from the Battle of Midway, American naval commanders took the opportunity to seize the Pacific islands on at a time; hopping from island to island. -
Tehran Conference
This was a meeting between FDR, British Prime Minister Churchhill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin in Tehran, Iran. The three leaders coordinated military strategies against Japan and Germany and discussed numerous military advances like Operation Overlord. -
D-Day
"Operation Overlord" began when over 156,000 Canadian, British, American landed on the beaches of Normandy. They managed to free most of France and set in motion events leading to the end of the war. -
MacArthur Returned to the Philippines
U.S. military advisor MacArthur, was taken from his home and comfort zone during the war. The Phillipines are lost by America to Japan and it is only when MacArthur returens to these lands that we invade and rid the philippians of the Japanese. -
FDR Elected to a 4th Term
As a highly trained commander and chief during World War II, he was elected to a fourth term. He died 3 months after he was inaugurated and this caused the 22nd Amendment to be ratified, limiting future presdients to a maximum of two terms. -
Battle of the Bulge
Known as Hitler's last offense, this was a horrific battle with the Germans in which America was caught off guard in the thick forests of the Ardennes and lost over 100,000 men. -
Yalta Conference
The second meeting of Stalin, Churchhill and FDR, discussing terms of German unconditional surrender and post war policies. Many of the promises they made were not followed up and came back to bite them during the Cold War. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
This was an elaborate air and naval raid on Iwo Jima, Japan, in hopes to gain a valuable naval base near the Japanese coast. -
Battle of Okinawa
This was last and biggest Pacific battle fought in Japan by invasion of American troops. Many innocent japanese civilizians lost their lives due to the heavy population in Okinawa, but it was a major turning point for the eventual surrender of Japan. -
FDR Died / Harry Truman Became President
It is on this day the FDR suffers a deadly cerebral hemorrhage and VP Truman had big shoes to fill stepping into the Presidency. He was becoming President during the most deadly war ever known to man and had to deal with hugh desicions with the american weaponization of the atomic bomb. -
VE Day
Victory In Europe Day celebrates Great Britain and America's defeat of Germany and the Nazi war machine. It was glorious day when German troops finally signed the surrender agreement and people across the world celebrated. -
Manhattan Project Began
This was the code name for the American developement and research of the atomic bomb. President Roosevelt never truly liked the idea of this sort of weapon, but he agreed to let the project move ahead slowly. -
Potsdam Conference
A meeting between President Truman, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchhill to negotiate terms for the end of World War II. -
Little Boy Dropped on Hiroshima
At 8:16 AM, an american B-29 bomber dropped the world's first atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Japan. Over 80,000 people are killed on impact, 35,000 injured, and another 60,000 would be dead by the bomb's fallout. -
Fat Man Dropped on Nagasaki
The second of two atomic bombings by the U.S. on large Japanese cities. It is after this attack that the Japanese surrender and World War II comes to a conclusion. -
VJ Day
Victory over Japan Day, celebrated the unconditional surrender of Japan to the allies and the official end to World War II. -
Nuremberg Trials
This was a series of 13 trials in order to bring Nazi was criminals to justice. The Nuremberg trials were a milestone toward the establishing the correct way for dealing with later instances of genocide and other crimes against humanity. -
Japanese War Crime Trials
These were court cases against Japanese war criminals who deserved justice on the side of American values. Many recieved death sentences for their horrifying crimes others were sentenced to life in prision.
