Major Points of World War 2

Germany invades Poland

Sep 1, 1939

Following non-aggression treaty with Soviet Union, German troops invade Poland. England and France declare war on Germany. Soviets invade Poland from East.

Germany's blitzkrieg takes western Europe

Period: Mar 1, 1940 to Jun 1, 1940

Denmark, Norway, Nethlerlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France crushed by German offensive

U.S. enacts draft bill

Sep 8, 1940

Registration of all men between 21 and 35. Limit of 900,000 men in time of peace

Destroyer for Bases deal

Sep 10, 1940

U.S. transfers 50 old destroyers to Britain in exchange for use of eight British Atlantic bases

Battle of Britain

Oct 30, 1940

German bombers ruin British cities in attempt to obtain British surrender before U.S. entry. Britain's breaking of German code ("Ultra") helps overcome air attacks.

Lend-Lease plan

Nov 21, 1940

U.S. would "lend" military equipment to cash-strapped Britain. in return for land.

Germany invades Russia

Jun 21, 1941

Germany begins two-front war with invasion of Russia. Germans halt 15 miles from Moscow in December 1941

Atlantic Charter

Aug 21, 1941

FDR and Churchill agree to war aims, self-determination, and condemnation of Nazism.

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

361 Japanese warplanes attack American airfields and shipyards, disabling 19 ships, destroying 200 planes, and killing over 2300 men. Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Malaya, Philippines soon fall to Japan.

FDR asks for war on Japan

Dec 8, 1941

Congress approves entry into war. Germany and Italy declare war on U.S.

Battle of Coral Sea

May 21, 1942

Carrier-based U.S. planes halt Japanese advance on Australia

Midway

Jun 21, 1942

Threat on Hawaii ended as four Japanese aircraft carriers are sunk.

Allies attack Germans in North Africa

Nov 21, 1942

Huge Allied landing forces Germany to retreat to Tunisia, where they are surrounded by British and American forces.

Guadalcanal

Feb 21, 1943

Americans take first island in start of island-hopping strategy

Germans surrender at Tunisia

May 13, 1943

Over 250,000 German and Italian troops are captured and Allies prepare to invade Sicily and Italy.

Allies invade Sicily

Jul 21, 1943

In largest amphibious invasion in history, over 250,000 American and British troops land. Germans and Italians escape to mainland of Italy.

Italy surrenders

Sep 21, 1943

Although Italian troops quit fighting Allies, Germans continue in fierce fighting. Rome finally surrenders on June 4, 1944.

D-Day Invasion

Jun 6, 1944

Allies use 4600 ships to invade German-held France. Suffering heavy casualites, the Allies were able to retake Paris in August.

Battle of Leyte Gulf

Oct 24, 1944

60 Japanese ships in largest naval battle in history

Battle of the Bulge

Dec 2, 1944

German counteroffensive almost succeeds in retaking Belgium but is crushed with Allied reinforcements.

Tokyo Bombing Raids

Mar 8, 1945

American bombers destroy 250,000 buildings and kill 83,000 in massive fire-bombing

Okinawa

Period: Apr 20, 1945 to Jun 24, 1945

Fighting from caves and bunkers, Japanese inflict 80,000 losses on Americans. Over 30 American ships are sunk by Japanese suicide missions.

V-E Day

May 7, 1945

German government issues unconditional surrender to Allied forces.

Hiroshima

Aug 6, 1945

180,000 killed, wounded, or missing after atomic bomb is dropped. Two days later Soviet Union enters war against Japan.

Nagasaki

Aug 9, 1945

Second bomb is dropped after Japanese delay surrender. 80,000 killed or missing

V-J Day

Sep 2, 1945

Japan surrenders with one term: the emperor must retain his throne.

Death Toll

Dec 21, 1945

http://warchronicle.com/numbers/WWII/deaths.htm
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