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Hitler invades Poland
Germany invades Poland for seemingly no reason. Two days later, Britain and France declare war on Germany. -
Period: to
Key Events of WW2
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Germany overwhelms Belgium, Holland, and France
The Germans implement a new tactic called "Blitzkrieg," or Lightning War. -
Winston Churchill replaces Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain resigns after losing a confidence vote in the House of Commons, and Winston Churchill is called upon to replace him. -
The British defeat Germany in The Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was the first battle to be fought completely in the air, and because Germany lacked planes, they were just barely defeated. -
Germany attempts Operation Barbossa
While some of his forces were still bombing Britain, Hitler proceeded to invade Russia. But he underestimated the Russian climate, and his forces were crippled when the harsh winter hit. The Russians were victorious. -
The bombing of Pearl Harbor
The Japanese made one fatal mistake in the Second World War: they bombed a US naval base. While Hawaii wasn't technically an American state yet, the US had stationed a navy base on it called Pearl Harbor. The Japanese bombed it, and America entered the war. -
Mass murder of Jews at Auschwitz begins
Millions of Jews were gassed in concentration camps. -
Germany loses at Stalingrad
This marks Germany's first major defeat. -
Italy surrenders
Italy surrenders after the US bombed Rome. -
D-Day: Operation Overlord
The invasion of Normany was possibly one of the most crucial Allied victories of the war. -
Auschwitz liberated by Soviet troops
Soviet troops evacuate all the Jews and other prisoners from Auschwitz. -
Truman takes over as US President
President Truman is put into office as President of the United States. -
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dies
FDR dies of a heart attack 54 years exactly before John Robertson was born. -
Germany surrenders
Hitler commits suicide and so, not knowing what to do, Germany surrenders. -
Japan surrenders and the war is ended for the United States
The US drops two atomic bombs on Hiroshima/Nagasaki, Japan.