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Period: to
WWII
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Kristallnacht
In response to the shooting of a German official by a Jewish youth angered by his father's deportation, the Nazi's launched an attack one night on Jewish homes, synagogues and businesses. Around 100 Jews were murdered. This was one of the first major movements of the Holocaust. -
Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact is Signed
Stalin and Hitler sign a pact agreeing not to attack one another and to divide Poland between them, should Germany successfully occupy them. They also decided that the USSR could have the Baltic countries and Finland. -
Germany Invades Poland
Hitler suprise-attacked Poland, sparking WWII. -
Battle of Dunkirk
This major battle took place on the western front of France between Germany and the Allies. The Germans stopped their eventually stopped their advance on the area and what followed was one of the biggest evacuations of the war: nearly 330,000 Allied troops were rescued. -
The Fall of France
France surrenders to the Germans, with help form Italy. -
The Battle of Britain
This battle was a series of airstrikes by the German Air Force against Great Britian. After months, Hitler called off the attacks, surprised by the resilience of the British and the Royal Air Force. -
The Atlantic Charter
This was an declaration made by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill during a secret meeting of the coast of Newfoundland. It was an agreement to uphold free trade among nations and people's rights to choose their government. It served as the Allies' peace plan after the war. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan attacked the US at a Hawaiian naval base. 2400 Americans died and over 1000 more were wounded. 18 US ships were sunk or damaged. -
Battle of Coral Sea
This naval battle was fought between Japan and Allied forces in the Coral Sea, near Australia. Fighting between aircraft carriers occured for the first time during this battle. Japan lost the battle and suffered damages that would greatly affect them at the Battle of Midway. -
Battle of Midway
This was a battle between the US and Japan wherein the Americans won, dispite being badly outnumbered. This was the US's way of getting revenge for Pearl Harbor. It also turned the favor of the Pacific war from the Japanese. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Germany launched an attack on the Soviet Stalingrad, the battle lasting over 6 months. At first, Germany did well, controlling most of the city, but, as the harsh winter set in, Soviet troops trapped the German soldiers inside the city until they eventually surrendered. -
Operation Torch
This was a military effort lead by General Eisenhower against the Afrika Korps in Northern Africa. Over 107,000 Allied troops touched down and, in less than a year, defeated the German force led by General Rommel. -
D-Day
This was the first day of the Allied attack on German forces in France. The first invasion took place on the Normandy coast and, against all odds, the Allies broke through the German defense and began their campaign through France. -
Battle of the Bulge
Germany attempted to break through Allied defenses along a front in the Ardennes. The Allies eventually pushed the Germans back, delivering one of Hitler's final blows. -
V-E Day
Nazi's officially surrender in Berlin: Victory in Europe Day. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
This was the bloodiest land battle of the war. It was between the U.S. and Japan. The Americans won, but lost 12,500 troops. Japan lost 110,000. -
Hiroshima
This was the first of two atomic bombs dropped by the U.S. in Japan. It was dropped on Hiroshima, a city of 365,000 people. 7300 died in the attack. -
Nagasaki
This was the dropping of the second atomic bomb by Americans on Japan. It was dropped on Nagasaki, a city of about 200,000. Of those, about 37,500 died. -
V-J Day
Victory in Japan Day represents the official surrender of Japan, which effectively ended Word War II. -
Hangings of the Nuremberg Trials
These trials tried 22 Nazi leaders for their roles in the war and Nazi brutality. Of them, 12 were sentenced to death. They were charged and tried by an International Military Tribunal that represented 23 nations.
