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Japan Invades Manchuria
Japan invades Manchuria in 1931. There they created a puppet state of Manchukuo and occupied this region until the end of WWII. they did this in order to expand the Japanese empire. -
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War in the Pacific
During World War II -
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project began in 1939 in order to develop the first atomic bomb in the US. Prominent physicists wrote a letter to president FDR to warn that other countries were developing powerful new bombs. The Manhattan Project was established to start research and begin the construction of an atomic bomb. -
Germany invades Poland
Nazi Germany invades Poland following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. This was the invasion which showed the world Nazi Germany's "Blitzkreig", the next generation of military tactics. This for the most part was a decisive victory for the Germans and the official start of World War 2 in the European theatre. -
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War in Europe
During World War II -
Britain declares war on Germany
After the ultimatum the British issued to Germany to pull their troops out of Poland expired, Britain was obligated to declare war on Germany due to an earlier agreement with Poland. -
France declares war on Germany
After a similar ultimatum was issued and expired, France declared war on Germany due to the same agreement as Britain with Poland. -
Canada declares war on Germany
Due to the Statute of Westminister Canada was not automanically at war with Germany. The decision was Parliament's and they voted "yes". -
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Phoney War
The Phoney War was a period of inactivity when the German Military was rearming and the Allies were waiting at the Maginot Line -
German invasion of Norway and Denmark
Operation Weserübung. This was the end of the Phoney war and the Blitzkrieg began again. Just like Poland, these two Countries were defeated by the German war machine. -
German invasion of the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium
Using the Blitzkrieg tactics Germany quickly took over these three countries. Another decisive victory for the German War Machine -
German invasion of France
After the conquest of smaller European contries, Hitler decided to invade France -
North African Campaign begins
The Desert War (operation Torch) was fought for 3 years and was a massive Tank war. The Axis powers needed to control the Mediterranean's access points for any chance of victory: the Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez canal. This would allow access to the oil rich Middle East. The allies needed this point to attack the soft underbelly of Europe (Italy). -
France Surrenders
The French army was no match for the German war machine. Britain (commonwealth too) was now alone in the war against Germany. -
Battle of Britain begins
With France conquered Germany's next target was Britain. The Luftwaffe needed air superiority so the land forces of Operation Sea Lion could land (German land invasion of Britain). The Germans started bombing military installations. -
The "Blitz"
The Luftwaffe bombed many civilian targets (residential areas) day and night constantly -
Tripartite Pact Signed
This pact was signed in Berlin, Germany. It formally established the WWII Axis powers and consisted of Germany, Japan, and Italy. -
German invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia
Tending to Italy's wishes, Germany decides to in vade Yugoslavia and Greece -
Germany launches Operation Barbarossa
Hitler's invasion of Russia after giving up on invading Britain. Hitler breaks the non-aggression pact in 1939 and invades Russia because of the abudant raw materials and room for labour camp expansion. This would become some of the bloodiest fighting in the War. -
Siege of Leningrad begins
Hitler wanted to capture this city has it had massive industrial strength (11% of all Russia's production). The German army then circled the city and cut off all the supply lines (except Lake Lagota). Many people starved and died because the Red Aramy did not surrender. -
Hideki Tojo
Hideki Tojo becomes Prime Minister of Japan. He was in charge of Japan throughout the duration of WWII. -
Japan Attacks Across East Asia
Japan attacks various countries such as China, the Philippines, Guam, French Indochina, New Guinea, and Wake Island -
Pearl Harbor Attacked
The Japanese attacked naval bases in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Pearl Harbor is located in the Hawaiian Islands. This attacked brought the United States into World War II. -
Doolittle Raid
American air raide with firebombing over Tokyo in response to bombing of Pearl Harbor. -
Battle of Midway
This marked the turning point of the war in the Pacific. The Allies walked away victorious from this naval battle with the Japanese. -
The Battle of Stalingrad
One of the bloodiest battles in Human history because of the disreguard for civilian and military targets. Hitler's ambiton to take Stalingrad is speculated to be one of the reasons for the Wehrmacht to be defeated by the Red Army. The Germans needed to pull back, and this was a turning point in the War. -
Tunisia Campaign
A series of battles fought in the North Africa campaign (mostly tanks). The campaign opended with a swift wave of German and Italian victories, but later ended in a Allied decisive victory. This is where Rommel's Afrika Korps were defeated by way of numerical superiority. -
Allied Evacuation of Dunkirk
The German's had reached the French port of Dunkirk. The British Navy brought hundreds of fishing boats, pleasure crafts, merchant ships and ferries to rescue 340 000 stranded soliders across the English Channel and bring them back to England. -
Sicilian Campaign
Operation Husky, After several victories in the North African campaign the allies could attack the "soft underbelly" of Europe The Allied solidiers fought against heavy resistance from Italian and German forces. The Allies eventually proclaimed victory which lead to the removal of Benito Mussolini and the new Italian government surrendered. The German's still occupied mainland Italy. -
Battle of Berlin
Russia had a significantly bigger army at the time and invaded Berlin. The amount of anti Russian propaganda in Berlin at the time caused the young and the old fight against the Russians. The Russians were eventually the ones who saw the end to the Third Reich -
Liberation of the Netherlands
After another hard fought battle the Canadians sucessfully liberated the Netherlands -
D-DAY- Allied invasion of Normandy
he beaches of Normandy were split into five main sections Gold, Sword, Juno, Omaha, Utah, and were to be taken by British, Canadian and American forces. Now two western fronts were open to liberate Europe. -
Liberation of Paris
After months of intense fighting in the Southern France campaign, the Americans had reached Paris. Paris had been ruled by a Nazi puppet government for 4 years, allowing the French Republic to take over. -
Battle of the Bulge
The allies countined to move on into Germany. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
This battle had some of the fiercest fighting during the war. The Americans ulitimately won the battle. -
Battle of Okinawa
This battle consisted of intense fighting. Kamikaze Japanese attacked Allied forces. This battle had the largest number of casualties in the Pacific World War. This battle was also the largest battle during the war. -
Truman Takes Office
Harry S. Truman took the presidency after the death of Roosevelt. He authorized the use of atomic weapons against the Japanese. -
VE DAY- NAZI GERMANY SURRENDERS
With Hitlers suicide and the allied invasion of Berlin the Nazi's agreed to an unconditional surrender on all fronts. The Second World War on the Europe was over. VE day was declared -
Trinity Test
This was the first nuclear test in America. This happened in New Mexico and marks the beginning of the Atomic Age. -
United States Bombs Japan
On August 6-9 the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan. The bombs devastated Japan and left lasting effects on the community. Six days after the bombs were dropped Japan announced its surrender, officially ending World War II. -
Emperor Hirohito announces surrender of Japan
