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Germany's Invasion of Poland
Hitler blitzkrieged Poland and Russia and attacked Poland from east. Poland awaited backup from Britain and France, but recieved very little. This marked the beginning of World War II. Because Britain and France both had pacts with Poland, they declared war on Germany. -
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Fall of Paris
The Battle of France, also known as the Fall of France, was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries during the Second World War. Beginning on 10 May 1940, the battle defeated primarily French forces. -
Operation Barbarossa
Hitler launched his armies eastward in a massive invasion of the Soviet Union: three great army groups with over three million German soldiers, 150 divisions, and three thousand tanks smashed across the frontier into Soviet territory. By this point German combat effectiveness had reached its apogee; in training, doctrine, and fighting ability. Barbarossa was the crucial turning point in World War II, for its failure forced Nazi Germany to fight a two-front war against a higher power. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan’s air force attacked the US naval base near Honolulu in Hawaii. The attack lasted 2 hours, and nearly 2,400 US people were killed. Japan’s attack was retaliation to the United State’s embargo on them. Japan was angered due to the US refusing to sell weapons to them, so they decided to bomb Pearl Harbor. The day after, President Roosevelt declared war, and joined the allies’ side, leaving their once neutral position. -
Wannsee Conference/Final Solution
The Wannsee Conference, was the meeting of Nazi officials on January 20, 1942, in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee. -
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Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
German troops fought to suppress an armed revolt by thousands of Jewish fighters trying to escape certain death by being deported to extermination camps. The resistance fighters of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising never stood a chance, but their bravery in the face of certain defeat to the Nazis continues to inspire more than 70 years after the uprising ended. Warsaw’s revolt inspired other countries in Europe to revolt in extermination camps and ghettos. -
Operation Gomorrah
Britain suffered many deaths due to German bombing raids. Because of that, Britain decided to bomb Hamburg, Germany on July 24, 1942 in operation Gomorrah. They tricked the Germans in several ways, and Hamburg was devastated, and it had many causalities. This battle lasted until November. -
Allied Invasion of Italy
The Allied invasion of Italy was the Allied amphibious landing on mainland Italy that took place on 3 September 1943 during the early stages of the Italian Campaign of World War II. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
The D-Day invasion was officially called Operation Overlord and involved landing 21 American divisions and 26 Polish, British, and Canadian divisions on a 50-mile stretch of beaches in Normandy, France. The Allies created a fake army of wood and cardboard tanks and ships to convince the Germans that the invasion would come to Calais and not in Normandy. Hitler sent his divisions to Calais and the Allies invaded France. This gave the Allies a foothold in Europe. -
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Battle of the Bulge
Caught off-guard by a surprise blitzkrieg from the Nazis, American units fought desperate battles to stem the German advance at St.-Vith, Elsenborn Ridge, Houffalize and Bastogne. Lieutenant General George S. Patton’s successful maneuvering of the Third Army to Bastogne proved vital to the Allied defense, leading to the neutralization of the German counteroffensive despite the heavy casualties that occured. -
Operation Thunderclap
On February 13, 1945, Operation Thunderclap was a proposal to bomb the eastern cities of Germany. The allies wanted to disrupt the infrastructure of the eastern front, and show the German population that the Nazi has failed them. The factors that led to the success of the bombing raid were the fighters, the weather, the air defenses, and the targets of the bombs. -
VE Day
VE day stands for “Victory in Europe” day. This is celebrated to commemorate Hitler’s surrender to the Allied forces. Hitler was by this point dead and there was no fighting. This caused the end of WWII. -
Potsdam Declaration
The Potsdam Declaration was the statement that included the terms required for Japan’s surrender in World War 2. After that President Truman ordered an end on the atomic bombing. This document was issued on July 26, 1945, stating that if Japan didn’t surrender they would face destruction. Japan professed that it was unable to continue fighting in the war, so they finally agreed to terms of unconditional surrender. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first atomic bomb over the Hiroshima, Japan. The explosion wiped out 90 percent of the city within seconds; tens of thousands more would later die due to radiation exposure. Three days later, a second A-bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing about 40,000 people. Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s in World War II to the US on August 15, and officially surrendered on September 2. -
VJ Day
VJ Day otherwise known as “Victory over Japan Day”. Emperor Hirohito surrendered to the United States after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Their surrender officially ended World War 2.
