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Period: to
Span of the War
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Germany invades Russia
Hitler leads three armies into Russia: one to the north towards Leningrad, one to the east towards Moscow, and one to the south towards Stalingrad. While the German army was successful in going deep into Soviet territory, they were never able to actually defeat the USSR. Later, the Germans would focus their efforts on the Caucasus Oil Fields and Stalingrad. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Germans, fed up with not being able to defeat the Soviets, decide to focus their attention on Stalingrad and the Caucasus oil fields. However, the Germans invaded Stalingrad during a winter that they weren't prepared for. The Soviets held strong, and the Germans would surrender in January 1943, despite Hitler telling them not to. -
Germans flee North Africa
America and England decide the first place to invade would be North Africa, as this would make invading Italy a lot easier. America sends in Dwight D. Eisenhower to command the invasion. With the help of the tank commander George Patton, the German commander Rommel surrendered and retreated. -
Invasion of Sicily
With North Afica captured, the Allied forces invade Sicily. This was very easy to do and only took 38 days to capture. Now, the Allies control the Western Mediterranean. -
Tehran Conference
The 'Big Three' - Stalin, FDR, and Churchill - meet in Tehran to discuss how to take down Germany. Remembering how well World War 1 went for the British, Churchill was hesitant to invade Europe. However, FDR sided with Stalin, and the three decided to open up a front in Western Europe. -
D-Day: the Invasion of Normandy
The Americans and British begin Operation Overlord, thier plan to invade France and defeat Germany. This called for a huge offensive on the beaches of Normandy, France. The first of the troops landed at 6:30 AM. Of the five beaches that were attacked, Omaha beach was considered the worst, with the most German fortifications and armor. -
Valkyrie
As Germans grew to hate World War 2, a plot to assassinate Hitler arose. Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg attempted to kill Hitler by planting a bomb in his shelter. While the explosion did kill or wound 20 people, Hitler emerged alive. Believe that fate was on his side, Hitler refused to surrender. -
Germans Counter
Hitler decides to have one last effort in pushing out the allies. The Germans messed with supply lines, and gathered together in the Ardennes. This led to the Battle of the Bulge, where the Germans almost broke the Allied line. -
Mussolini Executed
By January, the Soviets had made it to the Odor River, which was outside Berlin. As Allies were pushing eastward, they were able to capture the old prime minsiter of Italy, Mussolini, as he was fleeing Switzerland. He was promptly executed. -
Hitler commits suicide
Hitler was going crazy. He was on drugs, writing army campaigns for armies that didn't exist, and gave orders that no one would follow. Finally, Hitler decided he had enough. He went into his secret bunker with a few fo his associates and killed himself. The German army surrendered to the Allied forces soon afterward.
