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Nazis Begin Using "Concentration Camps"
The first concentration camp was opened on March 12, 1933 at Oranienburg outside of Berlin. When the Nazis gained power, they began arresting political opponents and Jews. These people were imprisoned in detention camps known as concentration camps. Here they were mistreated, forced to work, and some were murdered. By the time the Oranienburg camp was closed in 1934, it housed 3,000 people. This camp was the beginning of an expanding system of concentration camps. SA guards oversaw the prisoners -
Nazi - Soviet Pact Signed
Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union feared an attack from Germany. He tried to unite with the other anti-fascist countries of West Europe, but Britain rejected this proposal. Stalin was left vulnerable to German attack. He needed to buy time to prepare. This drove Stalin to sign a peace treaty with Germany, the Nazi-Soviet Pact, on August 23, 1939. For Hitler, this meant that he would not have to fight a war on two fronts, and prompted the start of WWII. -
Germany Invades Poland (Blitzkrieg)
When Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, code-name Operation White, they used a new tactic for the first time: blitzkrieg. It was based on speed, surprise, movement, and coordination, hitting hard and creating panic. German officer Hans Guderian developed it. This tactic was used by Germany in early WWII and proved very effective. Attacks began with dive bombers that were immediately followed by tanks and infantry. Within a month of the initial attack, Poland surrendered. -
Britain and France Declare War on Germany
When Germany invaded Poland, Britain and France issued an ultimatum telling Germany to withdraw, honoring their previous vow to defend Poland if they were attacked by the Germans. Germany didn’t respond, so on September 3, 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany, starting World War Two. Immediately following this, British troops were sent to France and the Athenia was sunk by a German U-boat, killing 112 passengers. Britain and France's defence did little to save Poland. -
Germany Launches 'The Blitz' on London
The Blitz, Germany’s strategic bombing campaign against London, began on September 7, 1940. During the Blitz, the Germans bombed London every night for 57 nights, targeting populated areas. Other British cities were also attacked. By the end of 1940, 15,000 civilians had been killed in the air raids and people were taking shelter in warehouse basements and underground subway stations. Instead of bringing down people’s spirits as Hitler intended, the Blitz brought them together against one enemy. -
United States Signs the Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act was passed by the United States Congress on March 11, 1941. There was much controversy up until this point in America about whether they should interfere in the war or not. The Act gave President Roosevelt the power to help any country in defense against the Axis powers by selling, transferring, exchanging, and lending equipment to them. $50 billion was allowed for Lend-Lease; over $31 billion went to Britain and the rest to 37 different countries. -
Germany Invades the Soviet Union
The German invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, started on June 22, 1941. They attacked with three million German soldiers and 3,400 tanks, divided into three groups. The north group marched for Leningrad, the centre group for Moscow, and the southern group for the Ukraine. The Germans experienced incredible success initially, but eventually the Soviets were able to push the German forces back. This was significant because it proved that the Germans were not invincible. -
Germans Surrender at Stalingrad
The first major defeat of Hitler’s armies occurred at Stalingrad. After fighting for months, the German sixth army was starving, weak, cold, and trapped. General Friedrich Paulus and his troops persisted until January 30, 1943, when they were finally forced to surrender to the Soviet Union. The rest of the Germans had surrendered by February 2, 1943. 150,000 men had died and more than 91,000 were captured. German prisoners were forced to march Siberia. This was seen as the turning point of WWII. -
D-Day Invasion at Normandy
On June 6, 1944, D-Day, Allied forces landed at Normandy. General Dwight Eisenhower organized the invasion, known as Operation Overlord, which involved around three million men. It consisted of attacks on five different beaches by the British 2nd Army and the American 1st Army, followed by the Canadian 1st Army and the American 3rd Army. 2,727 ships landed at Normandy as well as three airborne divisions. The Allies faced fifty German divisions. This attack opened up a second front for Germany. -
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference lasted from February 4, 1945 to February 11, 1945. The three chief Allied leaders, President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States, Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Great Britain, and Premier Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union met at Yalta in the Crimea to discuss the end of the war. Germany was nearly defeated, and they decided to divide Germany up amongst the Allies. They also agreed to establish a United Nations organization. -
V-E Day (Germany Surrenders)
On May 7, 1945 Nazi Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, and on May 8, 1945, Alfred Jodl signed Germany’s official surrender. Winston Churchill announced that the 8th would become Victory in Europe Day, or V-E Day. It would be a national holiday to celebrate the end of WWII and the triumph of the Allies. This surrender was significant because it meant that the war was over and the Nazis were defeated.
