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Germany Invades Poland
Adolf Hitler unleashes the German army into Poland. Over 1 million German troops blitz through Poland, defeating it in a mere six weeks. The invasion prompted Britain and France to declare war, officially beginning World War 2. -
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GERMAN BLITZKREIG
At the beginning of World War 2, Germany employed a new tactic called blitzkreig, literally "lightning warfare." The strategy was to use the Luftwaffe, German air force, and mechanized cavalry, Panzer tanks, to annihilate enemy towns and weakening the enemy's willingness to fight. The Germans moved quickly without resting and completely overwhelmed their enemies during the first part of the War. -
Pearl Harbor Attack
On a bright and sunny Sunday morning in Hawaii, the Empire of Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, the home of the U.S. Pacific fleet. The surprise attack came as Japan struggled to expand its power due to a U.S. embargo that prevented shipping oil to Japan. The Japanese hope was to destroy the U.S. ability to fight in the Pacific. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress for a declaration of war the very next day. The event officially begins involvment of the United States in World War 2. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Stalingrad is a strategic and important city in Southern Russia and served in World War 2 as a gateway to the oil-rich region of Russia. Hitler desperately needed supplies of oil and he stubbornly decided that Stalingrad was the site to wage a war, partially due to his hatred of Joseph Stalin and the city that bore his name. The Battle is the bloodiest of the war with the Soviet Union losing 1.2 million soldiers and Germany 850,000. Ultimately, it is the first loss for Germany in Europe. -
VJ Day
The Empire of Japan surrendered to the United States on April 15, 1945 essentially ending World War 2. Several weeks later on September 2, aboard the USS Missouri, Japan formally signed the treaty ending the war. President Harry Truman accepted the surrender and proclaimed the day VJDay - Victory over Japan Day.
