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Period: to
World War 2
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Germany Invades Poland
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Germany used the concept of blitzkrieg or lightning war. Poland's army was easily defeated. Most of their soldiers were on horseback while fighting German tanks. Picture Source- http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005070 -
Germany invades Denmark
On April 9, 1940 Germany invaded Denmark. This was done in spite of the treaty between the 2 countries. At the same time, Germany also invaded Norway. Both were quick victories for the Nazis. -
Germany Invades Holland
On May 10, 1940 germany invaded Holland. They were no match for the Germans. The Dutch suffered about 100,000 deaths before surrendering. The Queen of Holland was able to escape to England. -
France Surrenders
On June 22, 1940 France surrendered to Germany. They signed the armistice in the same railway car that Germany signed their armistice to end WWI. After the government left on the 11th, Marshal Henri Petain took control and surendered to the Germans. He was a WWI hero. Picture Source- www.fold3.com -
British go on offensive in North Africa
In December of 1940, the British began their offensive in north Africa. First, they removed the Italians from Egypt. then, they liberated Libya. The british victories caused Hitler to appoint Erwin Rommel to commander of Axis forces in Africa. He later earned the name desert fox. -
Germany Stopped
In October of 1941, the Germans were within a ile of Moscow. Hitler had promised the world to capture Moscow by Christmas. The Germans were unprepared for the impending winter. By the time the Russian offensive pushed them back, the Germans had already suffered massive losses. Picture Source- http://meredith.edu/summer-reading/roosevelt/timeline-events.htm -
Pearl Harbor
On December 8, 1941 the Japanese bombed the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor is located on Hawaii's island of Oahu. Many say that this is the reason that the U.S. entered the war. 2,350 Americans were killed in this attack. Picture Source- www.hawaii-pictures.org -
U.S. Declares War on Japan
On December 8, 1941 the U.S. declared war on Japan. This was in response to Pearl Harbor. This was also the U.S.'s first involvement in to the war. The U.S. ended up being a large factor in the war. -
Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.
On December 11, 1941 both Italy and Germany declare war on the U.S. This came only 3 days after the U.S. declared war on Japan. This move just brought America farther in to the war. this move proved fatal to Germany and Italy. -
"I shall return"
The day after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese invaded the Phillipines. U.S. General Douglas MacArthur attempted to fight them off. But, his 90,000 troops weren't enough to stop the Japanese. In March, they were forced to retreat to the Bataan Pennisula. The General promised the locals, "I shall return." he kept his promise. -
Battle of Midway
Btween June 4-7 the U.S, fought the Japanese at Midway. Midway is a small island northwest of Hawaii. It was home to a fleet of U.S. ships. 1 ship was lost, the Yorktown, but 5,000 Japanese were killed and they were no longer a thrat in the eastern Pacific. -
D-Day
On June 6, 1944 the largest military assult in history began. This was known as D-Day. Dwight Eisenhower led th troops in to Normandy, France. For germany, it was the beginning of the end. Picture Source: www.boston.com -
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima was a small, Japanese controlled island not far off the coast of Hawaii. The U.S. outnumbered the Japanese about 3 to 1. The japanese had the upper hand, though They had built a sequence of caves and bunkers throughout the island. After a month of fighting, the U.S. flag was raised over the island creating one of the most iconic photos in American History(Pictured Beside). Image Source- http://bapconvent.blogspot.com/ -
F.D.R. Dies
On April 12, 1945 U.S. president Franlin Delano Roosevelt died in office. His vice president, Harry Truman, stepped up to take the presidency. Truman had no idea about the atomic bomb project. He later authorized it. -
Germany Surrenders
On May 8, 1945 Germany surrendered, They did so as an unconditional surrender. Hitler had also disappeared. This was a huge victory for the allies. Picture Source- http://meredith.edu/summer-reading/roosevelt/timeline-events.htm -
Atomic Bomb Tested
On July 16, 1945 the U.S. tested their first successful atomic bomb. The test took place in Alamogordo, New mexico. The U.S. would later use this bomb on Japan. -
Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945 the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. This was the world's firs use of the atomic bomb in warfare. It is estimated that 140,000 people died. -
Soviet Union Enters War
On Augugst 8, 1945 the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. They had be inactive the rest of the war. As a first act of war, the invaded Manchuria. Muncharia was under japanese rule. -
Bomb Dropped on Nagisaki
On August 9, 1945 the U.S. dropped the 2nd atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. It killed between 40,000-75,000 people. This was the final bomb dropped. This bomb was dropped by the same plane that dropped the other, the Enola Gay. Picture Source- http://mrbruns.ning.com/ -
Japan Surrenders
On September 2, 1945 Japan surrendered to the U.S. They surrendered on the USS Missouri. Like Germany, Japan also did unconditional surrender. This ended WWII. Picture Source- meredith.edu
