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WWII Begins
Germany invades Poland using the blizkrieg. Poland was easily defeated. This caused the British to declare war on Germany on September 3. Image -
Breaking of Enigma Codes
The first German enigma code was broken. It was broken by the British. It would lead to the British regularly breaking German's enigma codes. -
France Surrenders
Air raids on Paris began on June 3,1940. Refugeses and the government fled Paris on June 11. The French signed an armistice at Compeigne on June 22. Image -
Battle of Britain Begins
German air force dropped bombs on London and other major cities in Great Britain from September 1940 to June 1941. Over 30,000 people in London died. Many historical sites were damaged or destroyed. Image -
Firebomb London
The Germans firebomb London. It was the most destructive raid on England during the war. -
Britain Reports Atomic Bomb Possible
Britain had been researching the use of nuclear weapons. They discovered that the atomic bomb was possible. They sent a report to America's nuclear weapon committee to tell them that it was possible. -
First Gassing in Auschwitz
Auschwitz was one of the deadliest concentration camps made be Germany. In September 1941, it had its first gassing of the prisoners. This would lead to the deaths of countless prisoners. Image -
U.S Begins Nuclear Bomb Program
The US begins a crash program, codenamed the Manhattan Project, to develop the atomic bomb. It was the largest research and development project to that date. It would cost more than $2 billion and employ over 100,000. -
Britain Expands Nuclear Research
Britain was making a lot of progress in the nuclear research. They created the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to supervise their nuclear research. They code-named Tube Alloys. -
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
The Japanese air force and navy attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor while America was not in the war. 2,350 Americans were killed and the US Pacific Fleet lost many ships. This made the US enter the war against Japan. Image -
Germany and Italy Declare War on the US
The US had just declared war on Japan on December 8. On December 11, Germany and Italy declared war on the US. This would give the US the chance to aid Britain in the war. Image -
Germany Abandons its Nuclear Weapons Program
Germany leaves its project to make nuclear weapons. The Allies are in the dark about it. Hitler stops their program because he refers to physics as "the Jewish science" because there were many German Jewish physicists who were mostly exiled. -
Battle of Midway
Because of effective code breaking, Admiral Chester Nimitz commanded a force to Midway Island. Yorktown was lost and 5,000 Japanese were killed. The Japanese threat to the Eastern Pacific was over which makes if the most important Pacific battle. Image -
Unconditional Surrender
Unconditional surrender is a surrender without conditions. No guaruntees are given by the surrendering party. President Roosevelt announced publicly that America will only accept an unconditional surrender from Japan and Germany. -
British use "Window"
The British use "window" for the first time. Window is small strips of reflective metal. It jammed German radar from the air over Hamburg. -
D-Day
It was the largest assault in military history. Allied troops landed at Normany in Northern France. British, American, and Canadian forces landed at Gold, Juno, Sword, Utah, and Omaha. Most were killed the second they stepped out of their landing crafts. The troops finally pushed inland and the push to Paris was underway. Image -
Allies Agree to Bombs Against Japan
Roosevelt and Churchill agree to use the atomic bomb against Japan. They will use it once the weapon is available. They do not tell the Soviet Union about this project. -
Franklin Roosevelt Dies
Franklin Roosevelt dies. Harry Truman becomes president. He does not know about the atomic bomb project. -
Germany Surrenddrs
Germany surrenders unconditionally to the Allies. There is still Japan to worry about. Japan resolves to continue to fight until the "bitter end." Image -
U.S. Drops Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
The Allies gave Japan a warning to surrender unconditionally or their homeland would be destroyed. Japlan rejected the warning so Truman ordered the final bomb approval. On August 6, 1945, the atomic bomb on Hiroshima killed 140,000 people. Image
