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Nazis Take the Sudetenland
What Happened & Why: Nazi Germany, Italy, France and Great Britain all agreed to give the Sudetenland (Part of Czechoslovakia) to Nazis. Many ethnic German’s lived in this region. This happened on September 30, 1937.
Outcomes: Czechoslovakia ceded back to independence after the war. Many Czech Jews were eliminated.
I chose this picture because it shows how powerful and intimidating the Nazi army was. -
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German Blitzkrieg
What Happened & Why: Blitzkreig was Hitler’s tactic of war. He based this on speed, surprise, and force. It was developed by Hans Guderian to help Hitler advance against the Americans. This proved to be very successful. Hitler wanted to advance faster than in WWII than in WWII. Outcomes: French and Britain armies were pushed back. Americans and other Allied troops had a harder time deafeating Germany. -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
What Happened & Why: Germany invaded Poland in the early morning. Bombings from the Germans followed shortly after. The Polish Naval forces we attacked by German U-boats. Hitler’s goal was to annex Poland. He said the attack was defensive, but other countries didn’t believe him.France and Britain declared war on Germany,and World War II begun. Outcomes:World War II began,Polish Jews were sent to and died in concentration camps, I chose this picture because it shows them coming in huge numbers. -
Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact
What Happened &Why: Germany and the Soviet Union signed an agreement not to attack each other. Soviet Union received land in Poland and the Baltic States. Agreement came to an end when Germany invaded the Soviet Union less than two years later.
Outcome: Hitler didn’t want to fight a 2-sided-war. He also hoped to annex Poland without force. Germany invaded Poland. Britain declared war on Germany.
I chose this picture because it shows delegates agreeing and signing the pact. -
Battle of Britain
What Happened & Why: German and British planes fought over the UK. It was the largest sustained bombing campaign (lasted from summer to fall). Outcomes: Germany’s Luftwaffe was a failure and didn’t gain any seniority. This was a major turning point in WWII for the Allies, considering we defeated the German Air Force, which was thought to be one of the most powerful in the world. I chose this picture because these are German airplanes trying to defend their country. -
Nazi Invasion of the Soviet Union
What Happened & Why: Germany invaded Russia in the WINTER. Nazi’s wanted destruction of Soviet Union (forcefully), Soviet Union was thought to be a communist threat to Germany, and wanted their land.
Outcomes: German soldiers were unprepared for winter weather. They expected the Soviets to give up quickly.
I chose this picture because it shows the force that was used by Germany. They betrayed the Soviet Union. -
Pearl Harbor
What Happened & Why: Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.The bombing only lasted 2 hours, but Japan destroyed 20 of America’s vessels, and almost 200 planes. There were 2000 American casualties, and 1000 wounded. Japan needed “more living space”.They attacked China and the US was unhappy with them. We raised tariffs on importing goods. Outcomes:US declared war on Japan, Japanese citizens put in internment camps. I chose this picture because it shows how much explosives were used, -
Wannsee Conference
What Happened & Why: German Nazi leaders came together in Berlin to discuss the “Final Solution of the Jewish Question”. They discussed mass murder of Jews. Members were SS officers, and Hitler himself. They also discussed where the Jews should be kept, who they were targeting. (This is where concentration camps came from) Outcomes: Millions of Jews,mentally retarded, homosexual, and other groups of minority people were killed.. This is where the delegates discussed the fate of Jews. -
Battle of Stalingrad
What Happened & Why: Occurred in Stalingrad in Russia. Considered one of the greatest battles in WWII because the Soviets beat Germany and stopped them from seizing Soviet land. When the Soviets won, it set the stage for the Allies to come to power. Hitler tried to seize the city of Stalingrad for Germany. Hitler really hated Stalin and wanted the city just because of the name and his hatred.Also, there was oil nearby.Outcomes: Turning point for Allies. This is a Soviet soldier hiding. -
Allied Invasion of Africa
What Happened & Why: Code named “Torch”. The United States invaded Northern Africa (which was in French rule) with intentions to eventually gain control in Europe. Outcomes: Hitler was so upset the Allies were successful with their invasion he ordered the control of southern France. This is rthe route and battle sites in operation Torch. -
Operation Gomorrah
What Happened & Why: Britain bombed Hamburg, Germany. This one raid on Germany dropped more bombs and killed more people than the five most intense bombings on London combined.On their way to the raid, they dropped aluminum foil.German radars picked up the foil and mistook them to be dozens of planes diverting to various parts of Germany.The US also joined in and bombed northern Germany during the day.Outcomes: 1,600 civilian deaths, massive damage. This is a German building after the bombing -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
What Happened & Why:American, British and Canadian troops invaded 5 beaches in France.The battle lasted from June 1944 to August 1944.All of Western Europe was liberated from Nazi control after the Allies won the battle.Normandy was one of the largest invasions by water in history.It’s often called “the beginning of the end for World War II”.Outcome: Western Europe was liberated from Nazi control. Lots of caualties on both sides.This picture is soldiers leaving the boat. -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
What Happened & Why:Allied troops freed prisoners in concentration camps all over Europe.American troops first liberated a camp that was abandoned by Nazis.Americans also liberated a prisoner camp with 60000 Jews that had been moved from Auschwitz – Birkenau.The prisoners had been left to die.Outcomes:All camps were freed, prisoners.British troops set up hospitals and tried to save those who were ill.They gave them food, water, and clothes.Hitler killed himself. This picture is pirsoner cheering -
VE Day
What Happened & Why: “Victory in Europe Day”.Marked the official end of WWII.After 6 years of racism and hardships it was finally over.Many people celebrated and threw parties, but some people mourned for the Jews who were killed, the soldiers that died fighting, and the destruction of cities throughout Europe.In comparison to WWI, the end of WWII was obviously coming.No more dicrimination! This is people celebrating in the streets on VE Day! -
Battle of the Bulge
What Happened & Why:This was a desperate attempt from the Germans to get ahead in the war.About a quarter million German troops marched across the country to fight the Allies.Germans used the element of surprise with the blitzkrieg tactic Allies weren’t prepared, they left lightly guarded.It was America’s deadliest battle.Outcomes:As a last attempt, the Germans were defeated.They didn’t have enough fuel and the Americans were not giving up. This picture shows winter warfare.
