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Germany Invades Poland
Germany invaded Poland on the first of September on 1939. There were multiple reasons as to why this was a turn of events in the war. One of the most obvious reasons was that this was what began the entire war. Britain and France soon went to help Poland. They did little to aid Poland and this lead to seven months of what spectators called a "phony war" as there was not a lot of military action.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-invade-poland -
Germany Invades France
Neither France or Britain had really seen much action in war. Then on May 10, 1940 Germany started an invasion of France. The Germans did not enter Paris until June 14, 1940 and right away they straight down to busniess. The first day of being in Paris and arrests and interrogations were "the order of the day." http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/fall-of-france
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-enter-paris -
The Battle of Britain
After France was occupied by Germany, Britain knew that their days were precious until Germany turned their sights on them. On July 10, 1940 it happened and Germany began the first bombing raid as they tried to take control of the skies. This was a major event because Britain held them off. Due to technology, the much smaller miltary of Britain held off the vast power that was at that point, Germany, and it gave them hope. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-battle-of-britain-begins -
The Lend-Lease Act
This act was proposed in 1940 and passed on March 11, 1941. This act allowed the United States to aid foreign countries. This meant "arms and any other defense materials". This was a huge help to countries such as Britain that depended on the United States after this act was passed. This also made the United States entering the War a lot more likely as they were giving constant help and showing their support for the Allied Powers. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/lend-lease-act -
A Date Which Will Live in Infamy
On December 7, 1941, in the early hours of the morning, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, a United States Naval Base. This was from "intensifying Japanese-American rivalry" to gain control of the Pacific Ocean. This day was declared "a date which will live in infamy" by our own president. The next day, December 8, the United States entered the War.
http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/pearl-harbor -
The United States Enters the War
The United States joined the war because of Pearl Harbor. Of course, this also meant that they joined on the side of the Allied Powers. Then on December 11, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States and in retaliation the United States returned the favor with an almost unanimous declaration of war.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-united-states-declares-war-on-japan
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-declares-war-on-the-united-states -
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was meant to be another surprise attack by the Japanese on the United States. However the US intercepted codes and were able to break them with new advances in code breaking that were around at the time. The United States won which allowed the Allied Powers to move into an offensive position in the war raging around the Pacific.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
The Battle of Stalingrad
Germany invaded the Soviet Union and soon after met Soviet Union resistance in an attempt to protect the city of Stalingrad. This monumental battle was, and still is, considered a turning point of the war. Another effect of this victory for the allies, Hitler started becoming very mistrustful of his army generals. On the other hand Stalin started gaining confidence in his military, it gave them hope.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
D-Day
Dawn on June 6, 1944 the Allies invaded Normandy. This was D-Day, the day that was the beginning of the Allied invasion. A short time later, June 11 to be exact, beaches were fully secured in the Allied hands with vast amounts of needed war supplies, at Normandy. D-Day was the beginning of the time that an Allied victory was getting more and more certain with each passing day.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day# -
The First Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima
Albert Einstein had helped to design it. President Truman decided to drop it on Hiroshima. The first Atomic Bomb was a sucess in the eyes of America at the time, and a devastating 'murder" to the Japanese. Immediatly killing 80,000 people when dropped over Hiroshima and 40,000 3 days later when dropped on Nagasaki. This is the way that the Allied powers won, by killing more than 120,000 people.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-hiroshima
