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1. Germany’s Invasion Of Poland:
What?
-The German Luftwaffe (German Air Force) bombed Polish airfields, and German warships and U-boats attacked Polish naval forces in the Baltic Sea.
-1.5 million German troops invaded Poland along the 1,750-mile border with German-controlled territory.
Why?
-Lebensraum, or “living space,” for the German people.
Effects?
- France and Britain declared war on Germany.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-invade-poland -
2. German Blitzkrieg:
- German Blitzkrieg:
What?
-A German term for “lightning war,” a military tactic designed to create disorganization among enemy forces through the use of mobile forces and locally concentrated firepower.
Why? -It is used to weaken enemy forces before attacking them on the ground. Effects? -The German army could easily crush strong military forces by constant overwhelming bombing. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg
- German Blitzkrieg:
What?
-A German term for “lightning war,” a military tactic designed to create disorganization among enemy forces through the use of mobile forces and locally concentrated firepower.
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3. Pearl Harbor:
What?
-Pearl Harbor is a U.S. naval base in Oahu, Hawaii, that was attacked by surprise by the Japanese forces on December 7, 1941.
Why?
-The Japanese government thought that the only way to solve its economic problems was to expand into (and attack) its neighboring territories and take over their market.
Effects?
-President Franklin D. Roosevelt declares war on Japan.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
4. Bataan Death March:
- Bataan Death March: What? -Approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to make a 65-mile march to Japanese prison camps. Why? -The combined U.S.-Filipino army had an extreme lack of naval and air support (and they got captured by Japanese troops). Effects? -Thousands of soldiers died from disease, mistreatment and starvation. [https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march]
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5. Stalingrad (description in timespan)
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Period: to
5. Battle Of Stalingrad:
What?
-It was a brutal military campaign between Russian forces and Nazi Germany and the Axis powers during World War II.
-It is known as one of the largest, longest and bloodiest battles in modern warfare.
Why?
-Adolf Hitler wanted his army to occupy Stalingrad, seeing its value for propaganda purposes, given that it bore Stalin’s name.
Effects?
-Russian forces lost more than 200,000 men but they successfully held off the Germans.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
6. D-Day:
- D-Day: What? -It was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history. Why? -It was to bring about the end the war and to get the Axis Powers out of the former French territory, Normandy. Effects? -It prevented Hitler from sending troops from France to build up his Eastern Front against the Soviets and it caused the surrender of Nazi Germany as well. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day
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7. Battle Of The Bulge:
What?
-The Battle of the Bulge was named because of the westward bulging shape of the battleground on a map. It was the largest land battle of World War II that the United States participated in. More than 1 mil men fought.
Why?
-Allies had to face a last-stand battle against the Germans-who were losing the war.
Effects?
-Americans had 81,000 deaths, British 1,400, and Germans had near 100,000 deaths. More than 100,000 Germans were taken prisoner.
https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1753.html -
8. Battle of Iwo Jima:
What?
-It was a huge military campaign between U.S. Marines and the Imperial Army of Japan in early 1945 that lasted for 5 weeks.
Why?
-American military leaders planned an attack on Iwo Jima and they thought it would last no more than a few days because the Japanese navy and airforce were heavily damaged.
Effects?
-The American military declared that Iwo Jima had been captured.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
9. Battle of Okinawa:
What?
-It was the last major battle of World War II, and one of the bloodiest. It was on April 1, 1945 which was Easter Sunday.
Why?
-The invasion was part of Operation Iceberg, a plan to invade and occupy the Ryukyu Islands.
Effects?
- During the Battle, the American Fifth Fleet suffered 36 sunk ships, 368 damaged ships, 4,900 men killed or drowned, 4,800 men wounded, and 763 lost aircrafts.
-Americans ultimately won the battle.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
10. VE-Day:
What?
-It meant an end to nearly six years of a war that had cost countless losses.
- It was the celebration of the end of a long war.
Why?
- Germany finally surrendered after suffering many losses in the war.
Effects?
-VE day became a national holiday to those all over Europe.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-you-need-to-know-about-ve-day -
11. Dropping Of The Atomic Bombs:
What?
-America dropped the world’s first deployed atomic bombs (called Little Boy and Fat Man) over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Why?
-America did it to force the Japanese to surrender and stop fighting.
Effects?
-The two bombs killed a collective amount of around 120,000 people and killed even more from radiation poisoning.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
12. VJ-Day:
What?
-It was the day that Japan surrendered to the Allies, finally ending World War II.
Why?
-The Japanese surrendered because of the two atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Effects?
-World War 2 finally ended.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
