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Invasion of Poland
Nazi Germany launched a surprise attack on Poland, marking the start of World War II. The quick invasion led to the rapid fall of Poland and the division of its territory between Germany and the Soviet Union. -
Battle of France
This occurred when Germany invaded France with tanks, air, and mechanized infantry units. Germany was able to conquer France within two months. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was a military campaign between the Royal Air Force (RAF) of Britain and the German Luftwaffe. It was the first major military campaign fought entirely in the air and aimed at preventing Germany from gaining air superiority over Britain. The RAF's successful defense curbed Hitler's plans for invasion and boosted British morale. -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union. The purpose was to conquer vast territories, eliminate Soviet military capabilities, and secure resources for Germany's war effort. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor occurred when the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise military strike against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The assault resulted in significant damage to the U.S. Pacific Fleet, including the sinking of several battleships and loss of air strength. At the time, the United States was neutral in World War II, but following this event, the U.S. entered the war. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway occurred when aircraft from Japanese carriers attacked and damaged the US base on Midway. This crucial battle was a US victory and damaged Japan's ability to launch further large-scale mobile strikes against Allied forces. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad occurred when Germany attempted to conquer the city of Stalingrad but were resisted by Soviet forces. The Soviet victory significantly weakened the German forces. -
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was a strategic Allied invasion of North Africa. The operation involved landings in Morocco and Algeria with the purpose of securing North Africa and opening up a second front against Axis forces. The success of this operation made way for the Allied liberation of North Africa. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was Hitler's last major offensive move. Even though the Germans did create a bulge in Allied lines, the Allies pushed back and it became one of the largest and bloodiest battles of WWII. -
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was attended by the leaders of the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom. The purpose of the conference was to discuss post-war reorganization which included the division of Germany and the establishment of the United Nations. -
D-Day
D-day occurred when Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in a coordinated assault against German defenses. It stands as the largest seaborne invasion in history. -
Liberation of Paris
The liberation of Paris was a military battle that happened until the German garrison surrendered the French capital. This was celebrated as a significant turning point in the war and a symbol of hope and freedom for the people of Paris. -
Battle of Berlin
The Battle of Berlin occurred when Soviet forces launched a massive assault on the German capital. Soviet troops were successful and ended Nazi Germany's resistance. -
Germany Surrenders
As Soviet forces neared Adolf Hitler's command bunker in central Berlin, Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945. Within days, Berlin fell to the Soviets. German armed forces surrendered unconditionally. -
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945. The bombings killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, most of whom were civilians but it forced a quick surrender by the Japanese.