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Nazi Germany Invaded Poland
After only one week of signing a peace treaty between Germany and the Soviet Union, Germany decided to invade Poland, in an attempt to gain "living space" for the German people. This act would then mark the beginning of World War II. -
Sitzkrieg
This word would often be used by the Germans to express their views on WWII being a "sitting war." They would go on to only use this term during the first 8 months of WWII, wherein nothing seemed to happen. The only minor event that happened during this time was the military land operation on the Western front, which, even then, would go on to not make a significant dent in the war. -
France Fell to Germany
During a six week period, Germany was able to defeat Allied forces and take control over the entire country of France, Belgium, the Netherlands, etc. This would go on to bring several land operations to the Western Front, however, Germany would begin to "Fall Rot" towards the beginning of June, 1940. -
Battle of Britain
This battle would go on to be the first fight to be fought entirely by air forces. To this day, this event has been the largest bombing campaign in history, and it was also the first time Hitler's forces were defeated. -
Destroyers-for-Bases Deal
This was an agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom that granted the UK 50 mothballed destroyers from the United States. This was in exchange for British land rights to the United States. -
America First Committee Launched
As WWII began to cause more controversy, the United States began receiving more and more political pressure to be involved in the war. Out of fear of being directly involved in yet another war, the United States launched this committee that opposed aid towards the Allied forces. This was with the intention that American military involvement would be left out of this situation. -
Congress Instituted the Draft
After implementing and ratifying the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, men between the ages of 21 and 45 were legally obligated to register for the draft. Now that the war was starting to heat up, this legal obligation would be go down in U.S. history as the first peacetime draft. -
Four Freedoms
Encouraged by president Franklin D. Roosevelt, this speech would advocate that other countries around the world encourage the freedom of expression, speech, religion, and freedom from want and fear in their own countries. -
Lend-Lease
This act, passed by the United States Congress, would go on to allow the President to send food, weapons, and other war necessities to any country against the Axis that had assisted the U.S. in the past. This act would then eliminate any kind of possible neutrality between the United States and the other countries directly involved in this war. -
USS Kearny Attacked
The USS Kearny was a United States navy ship during WWII, the attack upon this ship by German U-Boats before the U.S. entered the war marked the eventually involvement in WWII by the United States. -
Reuben James Sank
Reuben James was a boatswain's mate who was occupied with fighting pirates throughout the mid-20th century. This navy ship would go on to be the first United States warship to sink due to the violent events during World War II. -
Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
On this date, Japanese air forces attacked a U.S. navy base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The effects of this attack went on to damage and kill several people, FDR would go on to claim that this day was "a date that would live in infamy." -
Battle of Bataan
Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in the United States, the Battle of Bataan marked the most intense part of Japan's invasion of the Philippines during WWII. -
Bataan Death March
During this march, thousands of Filipino and American troops were forced to march across Bataan and into prison camps during WWII. -
Island Hopping Campaign Begins
This was a military strategy used by the Allied forces during WWII; they would concentrate their important military supplies on important islands in the Pacific. -
Battle of Coral Sea
This was a major battle between the naval and air forces of Japan and the United States. This was the first carrier-versus-carrier battle in history, and would end up being a draw between these nations. -
Battle of Midway
This battle was a major turning point during WWII, before this, Japan had managed to sweep all of its naval enemies aside through their countless navy battles. -
Battle of El Alamein
The Allied victory during this battle would eventually lead to the retreat of German and Afrika corps during WWII. -
Casablanca Conference
The was the first official war conference between the Allied powers, the topics discussed during this meeting were rather vague. However, they helped determine how the Allied powers were going to go about war, and how they were planning on ending WWII. -
Battle of Stalingrad
This was known as the largest confrontation of WWII, wherein, Germany and its allies fought Russia in competition for its possession of Stalingrad. -
Tehran Conference
This was the first meeting between the major leaders of the Allied powers, they discussed the issues involving WWII and how these issues would go on to effect the future of different nations. -
D-Day
This was an extremely important victory among the Allies, the invasion of France and defeat of Germany troops was exactly what the Allies needed to successfully advance in this war. -
MacArthur Returned to the Philippines
As MacArthur entered the shore of the Philippines, he went on a radio broadcast claiming to the people of the Philippines that he had returned. -
Battle of the Bulge
Germany's defeat during this war would eventually lead to an early end to the WWII efforts, and would go on to be the last Nazi offensive war during this time. -
FDR Elected to a 4th Term
After being elected to an "unprecedented fourth term" President Roosevelt would go on to be a major political leader during WWII still, although his health was declining. -
Yalta Conference
This was the second meeting between three major leaders during WWII, wherein, representatives from Russia, England, and the United States met to request Germany's surrender and discussed plans for post-war. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
During this memorable military campaign between the Imperial Army of Japan and the United States. The island of Iwo Jima would go on to have three airfields that would have the potential to invade Japanese land. -
Battle of Okinawa
This battle was part of the three-point-plan that the United States had in order to win the war in the east side of the world. This would go on to be the most violent and significant battle during WWII. -
FDR Died/ Harry Truman Became President
Once FDR, a major player during WWII, passed away, his vice president, Truman would go on to succeed his position. Thus making him a new major leader during this vulnerable time in the world. -
VE Day
This European victory day was created to celebrate Nazi Germany's surrender to the Allies of World War II. -
Little Boy Dropped on Hiroshima
Only a couple days before the bombing of Nagasaki, the United States dropped its first bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. This was shortly done after Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor, this "Little Boy" would go on to destroy thousands of acres of land and killing several people. -
Fat Man Dropped on Nagasaki
"Fat Man" was the code name used for the nuclear bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, during World War II. Then devastating the country and killing millions. -
VJ Day
Also known as "Victory Over Japan Day," this day marked the final ending of World War II. -
Potsdam Conference
This conference failed to address the important issues, and were able to "set the stage" for the Cold War shortly after WWII. This was the third meeting between the world's most powerful leaders. -
Nuremberg Trials
These series of trails following World War II transpired with the sole purpose of bringing Nazi war criminals to justice. -
Japanese War Crime Trials
During this time, several trials were held in Tokyo, Japan, in order to determine a convict 28 military officials of war crimes and crimes against humanity. -
Manhattan Project Began
During World War II, this research project was created with the sole purpose of producing and understanding the world's first nuclear weapons. This project led by the United States would eventually go on to help nations such as Canada and the UK.
