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Period: to
Russia in WWII
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Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
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Russia Applies to League of Nations
Russia applies to League of Nations in an attemp at rapprochement with GB and France. However, GB and France did not accept the peace offer. -
Non-aggression Pact
Stalin signs the pact with Hitler. This basically meant that Russia would stay out of WII.
WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO DO THIS?
- Left Hitler free to fight Britain and France without fear of attack from the Soviet Union. Gave
Stalin a chance to gain territory and time to improve Soviet defenses. -
Hitler Invades Poland
Germany invaded Poland from the West, while Stalin attacked from the east. The 2 nations divided Poland between them. In 1940 the Soviet union annexed the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. -
Germany invades Russia
Nearly led to the collapse of the Soviet army. Within weeks Germans had reached Leningrad. People in Leningrad began digging anti-tank trenches and erecting barricades out of stone, metal, and scrap. -
Germans in Leningrad
By September the Germans entered the city and no one could enter or leave. Food supplies dwindled, dogs and cats disappeared. -
German Troops Stop Advancing
They came within 50 miles of Moscow before the bitter Russian winter slowed their advance in November 1941. -
Battle of Stalingrad
One of the largest battles fought on the eastern front and is marked by its disregaurd for military and civilian casualties. This was a turning point in the war - Germans had no more victories in the East. -
Russian Troops Finally Stop Germans
The Soviets finally stopped the Germans in 1942 on the Volga river. Hitlers armies either froze to death, were captured, or retreated, and soviet forces occupied Eastern Europe. -
Tehran Conference
Meeting of Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill, and FDR. Central aim was to plan the final strategy for the war against Nazi Germany and its allies. The chief discussion was the opening of a second front in Western Europe. -
Yalta Conference
The Big Three met to dicuss Europe's post war reorganization. Nazi Germany must surrender...Germany and Berlin would be divided into 4 occupied zones. Germany had to undergo demilitarization and pay heavy reparations. The Provisional Government of the Republic of Poland would be recognized. All Soviet Republics would gain UN membership (14 out of 16 were denied).Stalin agreed to fight against Japan in 90 days. -
Potsdam Conference
Churchill, Stalin, and Truman gathered to decide how to administer punishment to the defeated Germany who had agreed to an unconditional surrender. The goals were to establish post-war order, peace treaties issues, and countering the effects of the war. -
Russians go into East Germany and Capture Berlin
