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Period: to
German Blitzkrieg
Germany used a war tactic called "Blitzkrieg" to fight their enemies in the early part of the war. Germany used this war tactic because it proved to be very effective for Germany. Since it helped them invade Poland as well as other countries. This tactic helped Germany succeed in conquering counties and helped them win the first half of the war.
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/blitzkrieg-lightning-war
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RZdt8zS2nY -
Fall of Paris
The Germans invaded Paris and took over it. The Germans were trying to expand their territory to conquer all of Europe. 2 million citizens left Paris, the German Gestapo made arrests, interrogations, and spying on the citizens, as well as made Germany in control of it for 4 years. This impacted Germany to continue to expand their territory west.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-enter-paris -
Period: to
Operation Barbarossa
Germany made an attempt at an invasion in the Soviet Union. Hitler wanted to take the oil fields in Eastern Europe. He thought Stalin was up to something and he wanted to expand and seize Eastern Europe. The Germans ended up losing the campaign and lost about 730,000 casualties. This started to make a turning point in the Eastern Front.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Operation-Barbarossa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EubrbG5YNC4 -
Pearl Harbor
The Japanese plotted to make a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. They killed thousands of Americans and destroyed most of their battleships and planes. The Japanese did this because of the oil and steel embargoes that the U.S. put on Japan. The Japanese destroyed 4 of the battleships, 188 American planes, and killed 2,403 Americans as well wounded 1,178 Americans. This impacted America to join World War II.
https://www.thoughtco.com/attack-on-pearl-harbor-2361421 -
Wannsee Conference
It was a meeting held by Nazi officials at Wannsee to discuss the "Final Solution". It happened because the Nazis wanted to find a more effective policy for the Jews. This conference made the idea to make concentration camps and force Jews to work there a reality. This would end up killing millions of Jews.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Wannsee-Conference -
Bataan Death March
75,000 Filipino and American troops marched through the Philippines into the dense Jungle towards the Prisoner of War camp. The Japanese captured Manila and forced the American and Filipino troops to go to the POW camp they set up to keep them put as they invaded the Philippines. Thousands of troops were killed by disease, starvation, and brutality from their captors. This impacted America to save their men and fight there.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Period: to
Battle of Midway
The Japanese and United States fought on Midway Island. The United States needed to use their island hopping strategy to get to Japan. The United States lost 340 men and the Japanese lost 3,057 men. This led to a turning point in the Pacific Theater. It helped pave the way for America to reach Japan.
https://www.thoughtco.com/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-2361422
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-au50GxIXw -
Period: to
Battle of Stalingrad
This was a battle between Germany and the Soviet Union in the Eastern Front. It happened because Germany wanted the oil fields there and if they took over it, it would benefit Germany a lot. There were 478,741 Soviet troops killed. There were 650,000 - 750,000 Axis troops killed. The battle became a turning point in the Eastern Front.
https://www.thoughtco.com/world-war-ii-battle-of-stalingrad-2361473
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHkELWFqGKQ&vl=en-US -
D-Day The Invasion of Normandy
The Allies stormed the beaches of Normandy and successfully invaded it. Although they lost thousands of men to the Germans. It happened because the Germans took over France and the Allies wanted to liberate it. There were 10,400 Allie casualties and around 7,000 German casualties. This impacted the Americans to push on into Europe and made the Germans retreat.
https://www.thoughtco.com/d-day-the-invasion-of-normandy-3863640 -
Period: to
Liberation of Concentration Camps
The Allies began liberating concentration camps. They liberated the camps because there were starving people as well as dead. It became something shocking enough to not document it. Pictures were taken and showed how people were tortured. It was to show what we should never do again. This gave the Nazis more punishments and hate from around the world.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/liberation-of-the-concentration-camps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNpl83-rXKM -
Period: to
Battle of the Bulge
Germany fought the Allies near Germany to push them back from their advances. Hitler needed to make a counter-attack on the Allies to protect their strategic positions. The Allies lost 20,876 soldiers and the Germans lost 15,652 soldiers. This was a victory for the Allies and became the last big campaign for the Germans on the Western Front.
https://www.thoughtco.com/battle-of-the-bulge-2361488
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZmPM9s1mTs -
Period: to
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Americans invaded Iwo Jima and attacked Japanese forces. The U.S. did it to destroy the Japanese defenses and bases. As well as to get closer to Japan so they could make the invasion. About 19,000 Japanese soldiers died and 6,821 Americans were killed in the battle. This became a victory for the Allies and became one of the last battles in the Pacific Theater.
https://www.thoughtco.com/battle-of-iwo-jima-2361486
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nud1bXy-Xmk -
V-E Day
Germany surrendered to the Allies. It happened due to the Allies taking over Germany and taking over their strategic points. As well as the loss of Hitler, who was vital in helping lead the Nazis. Which left the Nazis in limbo and lost. Germany was split into East and West Germany which was controlled by the Allies. This impacted the Allies to make Germany pay for reparations.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Period: to
Dropping of the Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Two atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The U.S. decided to drop bombs instead of deploying troops to save thousands of lives. It killed a total of 120,000 people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and injured thousands. It showcased a new doomsday weapon. This event caused the surrender of Japan and the end of WWII.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wxWNAM8Cso -
V-J Day
Japan surrendered to the Allies, which officially ended World War II. Due to Japan suffering massive casualties from the bombing raids and atomic bombs that were detonated they had no choice but to surrender. It allowed troops to go home and end the war. It made Japan more peaceful to the United States after that day.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
