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Nazi Germany Invaded Poland
Germany’s invasion of Poland, after the signing of the Nazi- Soviet pact, was a direct cause of Britain and France’s declaration of war. -
Sitzkrieg “Phony War”
endedMay 10, 1940
The 8 month period after the invasion of Poland and the beginning of World War 2.
silence fell over Britain
Germany shifted attention from Poland to France. -
America First Committee
Founded in 1940
Isolationists determined to avoid American bloodshed at all costs proclaimed “England Will Fight to the Last American.” -
Fall of France
France was forced to surrender to Germany after an unexpected attack, their sudden collapsed frightened America into war preparations -
Battle of Britain
Hitler launched air attack on Britain, caused America to question neutrality. -
Destroyers-for-Bases Deal
Destroyers-for-Bases Deal refers to Roosevelt’s compromise in helping Britain.
He could not sell US destroyers without violating Neutrality Act
Britain received 50 old but useable destroyers and American was given the right to build military bases on British Caribbean islands -
Congress Instituted the Draft
Registration of men ages 21- 36 for the army. This act was to insure an adequate size military. -
Four Freedoms
Roosevelt’s attempt to move the country away from the foreign policy of neutrality.
encouraged US involvement in WW2
goals set by FDR stating four rights that he feels everyone should enjoy. -
Lend- Lease Act
Authorized the president to transfer arms or any other defense materials for which Congress appropriated money to “the government of any country whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States.”
marked the abandonment of prior American proclamations of neutrality
viewed as unofficial war declaration -
USS Kearny Attacked
October 17, 1941
USS Kearny torpedoed by German U- boat but did not sink.
11 men died
one of the clashes between German U- Boats and American Lend-Lease ships. -
Reuben James Sank
American destroyer Reuben James sunk by German U- boat
Caused America to pull the plug out of neutrality. -
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
“Black Sunday”
The day “which will live in infamy”
Allies of Japan, Germany and Italy, declared war on America December 11, 1941 -
Battle of Bataan
ended April 9, 1942
Most intense phase of Japan’s invasion of the Philippines America and the Philippines surrendered. -
Bataan Death March
right after the 3 month long battle of Battle of Bataan
After the American and Filipino surrender, they were rounded up and forced to march 65 miles and were subjected to harsh treatment by Japanese guards. -
Battle of Coral Sea
Ended May 8, 1942
A successful Japanese invasion force occupies Tulagi of the Solomon Islands, expanding the Japanese’s defensive border. -
Battle of Midway
With the use of advances in code breaking the United States was able to predict and counter an planned ambush inflicting permanent damage on the Japanese Navy.
Important turning point in the Pacific campaign -
Island Hopping Campaign Begins
This strategy calls for the capturing of Pacific Islands one by one.
With proper execution, the Japanese would be within range of US bombers which would allow Americans to launch a mainland attack. -
Battle of Stalingrad
-end on February 2, 1943
Russia successfully defended the city of Stalingrad.
turning point of the war in favor of the Allies. -
Battle of El Alamein
Marked the culmination of the North African campaign between the forces of the British Empire and the German- Italian army. -
Casablanca Conference
Meeting between president FDR and British prime minister Winston Churchill to plan out future strategies for the western Allies. -
Tehran Conference
December 1, 1943
U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin in Tehran, Iran met and discussed war strategies against Germany and Japan and made important decisions about post WW2 era. -
D-Day
The battle of Normandy, also known as D-Day, resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control. -
MacArthur Returned to the Philippines
MacArthur served as chief U.S. military adviser to the Philippines before World War II and returned to the Philippines after being forced to leave 2 years earlier. -
FDR Elected to a 4th Term
FDR broke the precedent of a two term presidency and remain the only president to serve over two terms. -
Battle of the Bulge
Surprise attack by Germans attempting to split Allied powers in the Northeast successful maneuvers from Lieutenant General George S. Patton’s lead to neutralization of German forces. -
Nuremberg Trials
lasted through 1949
A series of 13 trials that took place in Nuremberg, Germany with the purpose of bringing Nazi war criminals to justice
Defendants included Nazi Party officials and high-ranking military officers along with German industrialists, lawyers and doctors,
Charges included crimes against peace and crimes against humanity.
Nazi leader Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) committed suicide and was never brought to trial. -
Nuremberg Trials
-1949
A series of 13 trials that took place in Nuremberg, Germany with the purpose of bringing Nazi war criminals to justice
Defendants included Nazi Party officials and high-ranking military officers along with German industrialists, lawyers and doctors,
Charges included crimes against peace and crimes against humanity.
Nazi leader Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) committed suicide and was never brought to trial. -
Yalta Conference
As the war was winding down, the three Allied leaders met for the second time and agreed to demand Germany’s surrender and talk about the post- war world. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
US marines were able to wipe out defending Japanese forces in order to take the base near the Japanese coast. -
Battle of Okinawa
Biggest Pacific battle during WW2
Fight for ait bases vital to the projected invasion of Japan. -
FDR Died / Harry Truman Became President
President FDR dies leaving Vice President Harry S. Truman in charge of a country still fighting the Second World War and in possession of a weapon of unprecedented and terrifying power.
little boy and fat man -
VE Day
German troops throughout Europe surrendered.
ends war with Germany -
Manhattan Project Began
German physicists learned how to split the uranium atom
Lead to the invention of the first atomic bomb -
Potsdam conference
Last WW2 meeting between the “Big 3” heads of state established a Council of Foreign Ministers and a central Allied Control Council for administration of Germany.
made various agreements dealing with German economy, punishment for war criminals, land boundaries and reparations. -
Little Boy Dropped on Hiroshima
First ever atomic bomb is dropped on the city of Hiroshima, Japan by the US. -
Fat Man Dropped on Nagasaki
A second atomic bomb is dropped on the city of Nagasaki, Japan by the US
Lead to the unconditional surrender of Japan -
VJ Day
the surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945
VJ Day is the formal surrender ceremony that was held Tokyo -
Japanese War Crime Trials
Military Tribunals in the Far East hear cases against 28 Japanese military and government officials accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during World War II.
