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German Blitzkrieg
The German term "Blitzkrieg", means "lighting war". This was a military tactic used by Germany to quickly take over territories through surprise attacks and rapid invasion. Germany used this tactic to invade Poland with the Soviet Union in 1939. As a result of this, Germany was able to rapidly expand and gain more power.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg) -
Germany's invasion of Poland
Germany and the Soviet Union invaded Poland in 1939, Germany invading from the west, Soviet Union to the East. Germany wanted to take over Poland and agreed to divide the land with the Soviet Union if they helped. This plan quickly conquered and divided Poland, a series of surprise attacks used by the Germans led to a rapid invasion. Germany went against the Munich Pact and so Great Britain and France declared war against them in September, 1939.
(source: WW2 part 1 Notes) -
Invasion Of Paris
In 1940, Germany powers defeated the French army and began to invade the city of Paris, France. British prime minister Winston Churchill was trying to convince the French not to lose their cool, that America would help them. The only reason why Germany invaded Paris in the first place was to try and occupy more power. Soon enough, America began supplying material aid and Canadian troops rolled in to help the city.
(https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-enter-paris) -
Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, A U.S. naval base stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was attacked by hundreds of Japanese fighter planes. Japan forces attacked Pearl Harbor to try and destroy important American fleets to try and prevent the U.S. from joining the war and stopping them from their conquest. As a result of this attack, America declared war on Japan.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor) -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was a violent revolt made by residence of the Jewish ghetto against Nazi powers in Poland. The revolt was staged to try and prevent deportations into extermination camps led by the Nazis. As a result of this uprising, other revolts were inspired in camps and ghettos and deportations were suspended for a couple of months, but many Jews were executed or sent to labor camps as punishment.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/warsaw-ghetto-uprising) -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
Winston Chruchill, Frankiln D. Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower planned a land invasion of France to push the Germans out. French resistance helped slow down German response by blowing up railroads and bridges, as well as spying on German troop movement to report back to the allied powers. As a result of this combined effort, allied powers were able to ambush and push Germany out of Paris.
(Source: WW2 part 3 Notes) -
Battle of the Bulge
As an attempt to split the allied armies, Adolph Hitler ordered German armies to push into Ardennes to Antwerp using the battle Strategy "Blitzkrieg". This created a "bulge" from Germany powers pushing into the American defensive line. As a response, the Americans were pushed to retreat but soon recovered and pushed the Germans back. This battle had a major negative effect on America's troops, despite winning the battle.(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge) -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
In 1945, close to the end WW2, America is fighting Japan in the battle of Okinawa. The U.S. troops are having a hard time trying to get Japan to surrender. As a last option, President Truman decides to drop the atomic bomb in order to save American lives from a land invasion. The first bomb is dropped on the Japanese city, Hiroshima, on August 6th. The bomb killed around 135,000. The second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, killing about 50,000.
(Source WW2 Part 3 Notes) -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima was a military operation between the U.S. Marines and the Imperial Army of Japan. America planned to attack Iwo Jima because it was one of the inner line of defenses that Japan had left and they didn't have a strong enough air force to protect it. The battle lasted longer than the Americans assumed, due to Japan's new defensive tactic. Despite this, the U.S marines were able to invade, conquer and win.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima) -
Battle of Okinawa
The battle of Okinawa was the last major battle of WW2. Okinawa was U.S troops last target before hitting Japan. As the Americans moved inward with no resistance, Japanese forces were locking in and planning their attack. Japan were able to ambush U.S troops with surprise attacks. Despite the brutal fighting, America was able to turn it around by dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Japan gave in and the U.S won the war.(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa) -
V-E Day
The battle of the Bulge was Hitler's last attempt to defeat the allies in Europe. Germany's defeat was a result of a lack of fuel for German troops. On May 7th, 1945, Germany surrendered and Hitler committed suicide to avoid being captured. The day become known as Victory in Europe, shortened as V-E day.
(Source: WW2 Part 3 Notes) -
V-J Day
August 14, V-J Day (Victory in Japan), is the official day where it was announced that Japan had surrendered, thus ending World War 2. Japan surrendered shortly after the dropping of two atomic bombs from the U.S. on Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. President Harry S. Truman announced the news of Japan's surrender in a press conference at the white house. The end of the war was celebrated and known as V-J Day ever since.(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day)
