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Germany invaded Poland
Germany launched an attack on Poland.German invaded the Polish airspace with their own warplanes. Dropping bombs and unloading bullets down onto the Polish military. The Polish air force was quickly destroyed. The German tanks and troop trucks quickly came into battle. The trucks carried more than 1.5 million soldiers.The Polish invasion had unleashed World War II. This major attack didn't settle right with many Germans who had supported Hitler. -
Battle of the Atlantic begins with the sinking of the Montréal-bound passenger ship SS Athenia by a German submarine west of Ireland.
The S.S. Athenia was the first British ship to be sunk by Nazi Germany in World War II. -
Britain, Australia, New Zealand and France declare war on Germany.
In response to the German invasion of Poland three days earlier, the British government declared war on Germany. British colonies, as well as the Raj of India (ruled by the British), also automatically found themselves at war alongside Britain. France, Austrialia, and New Zealand joined Britain in declaring war on Sept. 3. -
Canada declares war on Germany.
one week before Canada declared war, a passenger liner called Athenia was torpedoed by German submarines. 200 of the 1500 passengers on board were Canadian. Several of them were killed, including ten-year-old Margaret Hayworth of Hamilton, Ontario. A state funeral was held for this young girl and her death helped to convince Canadians of the Nazi threat. -
Germany Invades the Netherlands and Belgium
Germans launched a Blitzkrieg attack on the Belgian frontier on may 10th. The Netherlands were attacked mainly by air. They were being crushed and negotiations for surrendering were under way. While the negotiations were under way. Hitler did this maily to threaten France as they were next for attack. -
Germany invades Denmark and Norway.
Germany descended on an unprepared Norway on April 9th, 1940, taking the country with little resistance from the scattered resistance. A pro-Nazi former official in the government told troops loyal to him to let the Germans land without opposition, meaning they were easily able to start their ground invasion. Nearby Allied troops attempted to drive the Germans off, but were easily beat back. Within the 24 hours, the Germans had destroyed most of Norway's equipment. -
Germany invaded Holland.
German bombers attack Holland at 03.55 on May 10th. The target was Waalhaven airfield to the south of Rotterdam. One hour later, a battalion of paratroopers was dropped onto the airfield. Dutch troops based in Waalhaven put up fierce resistance but it was in vain. As with all early blitzkrieg attacks, the Germans had the element of surprise. While Waalhaven was being taken - a perfect base for the Luftwaffe to use - more paratroopers landed at Dordrecht, ten miles to the south-east of Waalhaven. -
Holland surrenders
Germany invaded Holland on May 10th 1940. The invasion, based on blitzkrieg, was swift and devastating. Holland surrendered just six days later as her military had been unable to cope with the speed of blitzkrieg. -
Italy declares war on Britain and France.
Benito Mussolini declared war on France and Great Britain. This decision is probably the right move for Italy. Great Britain and France are being defeated by the Germans at the attle of Flanders. Intel tells us that Mussolini has been thinking that the war will be over soon and that France and Great Britain will surrender. -
France signs an armistice with Nazi Germany
the French government signed an armistice with Nazi Germany just six weeks after the Nazis launched their invasion of Western Europe. -
France surrender
It seems that Mussolini was right about France because they surrendered on June 25. He was wrong about Great Britain surrendering because the new Prime Minister is Winston Churchill. -
The Battle of Britain begins
The Battle of Britain was fought in the skies over England from 10th July and 31st October 1940. The term battle of Britain was coined by Winston Churchill in a speech to Parliament in June of 1940. -
Germany invades russia(Operation Barbarossa)
Hitler sent 3 million soldiers and 3,500 tanks into Russia. The Russians were taken by surprise as they had signed a treaty with Germany in 1939. Stalin immediately signed a mutual assistance treaty with Britain and launched an Eastern front battle that would claim 20 million casualties. The USA, which had been supplying arms to Britain under a 'Lend-Lease' agreement, offered similar aid to USSR. -
Canada declares war on Finland, Hungary, Japan and Romania.
a formal declaration issued by the Government of Canada (the federal Crown-in-Council) indicating that a state of war exists between Canada and another nation. -
canada declare war on japan
the Empire of Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor and declared war upon the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Prime Minister King and the Cabinet decided to go to war with Imperial Japan that evening and issued a proclamation declaring war the following day.That same day, the U.S. and U.K. also declared war on the Japanese Empire. -
japan attacks hawaii (us) BATTLE OF PEARL HARBOR
The attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and the battle of pearl harbor is a surprised military srike by the imperial japanese navy against the US naval base at pearl harbor hawaii.The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. -
US declares war on JAPAN . (UNITED STATES ENTER WW2)
A declaration of war is a formal declaration issued by a national government indicating that a state of war exists between that nation and another. For the United States, Article One, Section Eight of the Constitution says "Congress shall have power to ... declare War". However, that passage provides no specific format for what form legislation must have in order to be considered a "Declaration of War" nor does the Constitution itself use this term. -
Sgt. Major John Robert Osborn wins Victoria Cross at Hong Kong.
Sergeant Major John Robert Osborn was the first Canadian soldier in the Second World War to perform an act of such great bravery that he would be awarded a Victoria Cross. But his heroism on December 19, 1941 in the Battle of Hong Kong was not known until after the war when the story was finally pieced together from Hong Kong veterans liberated after the Japanese surrender. -
Britain surrenders Hong Kong to Japan
The British garrison in Hong Kong surrenders to the Japanese.
Hong Kong was a British Crown colony whose population was overwhelmingly ethnic Chinese. It was protected by a garrison force composed of British, Canadian, and Indian soldiers. -
First American forces arrive in Great Britain
The first United States forces arrive in Europe landing in Northern Ireland. -
5,000 Canadian, 1,000 British and 50 Americans participate in raid on Dieppe, France. Canadians took 3,367 casualties including 907 killed.
Dieppe Raid, also known as The Battle of Dieppe or Operation Jubilee, during World War II, was an Allied attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe, Seine-Maritime on the Northern coast of France. -
Battle of Stalingrad begins
was a major and decisive battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd) in the southwestern Soviet Union. -
Capt. Frederick Thornton Peters (Royal Navy) wins Victoria Cross at Oran, North Africa.
Captain Peters was in the "suicide charge" by two little cutters at Oran. The "Walney" and "Hartland" were two ex-American coastguard cutters which were lost in a gallant attempt to force the boom defences in the harbour of Oran during the landings on the North African coast. Captain Peters led his force through the boom in the face of point-blank fire from shore batteries, destroyer and a cruiser - a feat which was described as one of the great episodes of naval history. -
January: No. 6 (R.C.A.F.) Group of Bomber Command organized. it Included nearly 300 four-engined Halifax or Lancaster heavy bombers.
The Allied strategic bomber offensive was meant to destroy Germany’s ability to wage war. Therefore, most targets were cities with military and industrial facilities. Canada’s contribution to this campaign was an extremely powerful aerial striking force. Organized in January 1943 as No. 6 (R.C.A.F.) Group of Bomber Command, it eventually included nearly 300 four-engined Halifax or Lancaster heavy bombers, each carrying several tons of bombs. At first, No. 6 Group suffered heavy losses but better -
May 13, 1943 - German and Italian troops surrender in North Africa
North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts (Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War) and in Morocco and Algeria (Operation Torch) and Tunisia (Tunisia Campaign).
The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had colonial interests in Africa dating from the late 19th century. The Allied war effort was dominated by the British Commonwealth. -
BARRY MANILOWS BIRTHDAY
Barry Manilow (born June 17, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter and producer. He is best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana (At the Copa)".
In 1978, five of his albums were on the best-selling charts simultaneously, a feat equalled only by Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Mathis. -
Operation Husky - Allied landings in Sicily
The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis (Italy and Nazi Germany). It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign. -
Italy declares war on Germany
One month after the surrender of the Italian army, Prime Minister Pietro Badoglio declares war on Germany, Italy’s former Axis partner. Much of Italian territory, however, was still in German hands, and a puppet state led by deposed Italian leader Benito Mussolini was established in the north. Nevertheless, most Italians opposed Mussolini’s new government, and the Allies received invaluable aid from Italian resistance fighters during their continuing liberation of German-controlled Italy. -
Capt. Paul Triquet wins Victoria Cross at Casa Berardi, Italy.
was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valour "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Captain Triquet's utter disregard for danger and his cheerful encouragement were an inspiration to his men. -
Battle of Ortona
The Battle of Ortona (December 20–28, 1943) was a small, yet extremely fierce, battle fought between a battalion of German Fallschirmjäger (paratroops) from the German 1st Parachute Division under Generalleutnant Richard Heidrich, and assaulting Canadian forces from the 1st Canadian Infantry Division under Major General Chris Vokes. It was the culmination of the fighting on the Adriatic front in Italy during "Bloody December". The battle, dubbed "Little Stalingrad" for the deadliness of it -
Allied landings in Anzio
The Battle of Anzio began on January 22, 1944 and concluded with the fall of Rome on June 5. The campaign was part of the Italian Theater of World War II. -
Hungary occupied by German Army
German forces occupied Hungary on March 19, 1944. Horthy was permitted to remain Regent, but Kallay was dismissed and the Germans installed General Dome Sztojay, who had previously served as Hungarian minister to Berlin and was fanatically pro-German, as prime minister. Sztojay committed Hungary to continuing the war effort and cooperated with the Germans in their efforts to deport the Hungarian Jews. -
D-Day landings on the northern coast of France - Operation Neptune/Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings (Operation Neptune, commonly known as D-Day).Allied land forces that saw combat in Normandy on D-Day itself came from Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. -
BATTLE FOR CEAN
The Battle for Caen from June-August 1944 was a battle between Allied (primarily British and Canadian troops) and German forces during the Battle of Normandy.
Originally, the Allies aimed to take the French city of Caen, one of the largest cities in Normandy, on D-Day. Caen was a vital objective for several reasons. Firstly, it lay astride the Orne River and Caen Canal; these two water obstacles could strengthen a German defensive position if not crossed. -
Canadians capture Caen
The fighting front was confused. Many Germans gave up, but some held on to the bitter end. The bombing to this area, to the Canadian Front and the perimeter of Caen, had put the German defenders in disarray. Caen, cornerstone of the German defence, was captured by Canadians by July 10th.Soldiers from the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division capture Caen. -
Surrender of Axis forces in Greece
This Southern European nation was invaded by Italy in October 1940. The Italians were repelled. In December 1940, Greece invaded Italian-held Albania. In April 1941, Greece was invaded by Germany. Allied troops entered Greece in October 1944, and all remaining Axis forces in Greece surrendered on November 4, 1944. -
Soviets capture Warsaw
Warsaw was a battleground since the opening day of fighting in the European theater. Germany declared war by launching an air raid on September 1, 1939, and followed up with a siege that killed tens of thousands of Polish civilians and wreaked havoc on historic monuments. Deprived of electricity, water, and food, and with 25 percent of the city's homes destroyed, Warsaw surrendered to the Germans on September 27. -
German forces on the British and Canadian front surrender.
German General Blaskowitz surrendered all German forces in the Netherlands at the Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen to Canadian General Charles Foulkes. In Denmark, the German occupation forces surrendered. In Italy, German Armeegruppe C surrendered. -
The Germans formally surrender in Europe, known as Victory-in-Europe "V-E" day.
Britain marked VE (Victory in Europe) Day with scenes of great public celebration and services of thanksgiving. In France, the German garrisons in coastal strongholds finally surrendered. In Berlin, Germany, Marshal Zhukov accepted the German surrender, which was to take effect on 11 May. Also on this date, German troops in Czechoslovakia surrendered. -
The United States drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima (20 kiloton bomb 'Little Boy' kills 80,000)
The atomic bombings of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan were conducted by the United States during the final stages of World War II in 1945. These two events represent the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date. -
The Japanese surrender at the end of WW2
more that two weeks after acceping the Allies terms, Japan formally surrendered. The ceremonies, less than half an hour long, took place on board the battleship USS Missouri, anchored with other United States' and British ships in Tokyo Bay. . -
Emperor surrender broadcast - VJ Day
Victory over Japan Day (also known as Victory in the Pacific Day, V-J Day, or V-P Day) is a name chosen for the day on which Japan surrendered, effectively ending World War II, and subsequent anniversaries of that event. The term has been applied to both of the days on which the initial announcement of Japan's surrender was made – to the afternoon of August 15, 1945, in Japan. -
WW2 ends September 2, 1945
On Sept. 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered in a formal ceremony aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, ending World War II.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who accepted the surrender on behalf of the United Nations, said, “It is my earnest hope and indeed the hope of all mankind that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past.”
