-
Annexation of Sudetenland
It occurred after the Munich Agreement between Germany and the Allied Powers. Hitler wanted independence for the Germans in the Sudetenland, which is in Czechoslovakia. ARTICLE: https://www.theholocaustexplained.org/life-in-nazi-occupied-europe/foreign-policy-and-the-road-to-war/occupation-of-the-sudetenland/ VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaiAkLNFEzk -
Pearl Harbor
Japan bombed the U.S. Naval Base in Pearl Harbor in efforts to destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet. This attack caused the United States to enter World War II. ARTICLE: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjpzFHv0cks -
The Philippines
Japan attacked the Philippines before attacking Pearl Harbor. The US forces were ordered to leave, but they planned to come back. When they returned, they fought until Japan surrendered. ARTICLE: http://countrystudies.us/philippines/21.htm VIDEO: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/events-programs/educational-travel/world-war-ii-philippines/december-11-2021 -
Japanese Internment Camps
Camps established by FDR through Executive Order 9066. They were used to isolate Japanese-Americans to prevent espionage in the US. ARTICLE: https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/japanese-relocation VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-iVxs2xuYc -
Battle of Midway
Japan attacked the US base on Midway. To Japan's surprise, US forces were on the other side of the island and attacked the Japanese fleet. This US victory was a turning point in the war because it stopped Japan's growth in the Pacific. ARTICLE: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/battle-midway VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9eNr-tRGNU -
Stalingrad
It was a military campaign between Russian forces and Nazi Germany. The USSR stopped the Germans from advancing into their land. The battle turned the tide of the war in favor of the Allied Powers. ARTICLE: https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Stalingrad VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZeerCg_-mw -
Guadalcanal
Military campaign in the Pacific Theater. It was the first piece of territory the Allies took back from Japan. This island was important to control the sea lines of communication between Australia and the US. ARTICLE: https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Guadalcanal VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l9kk3ztpyM -
Los Alamos
Nuclear testing site in New Mexico. The atomic bombs that were used to drop on Hiroshima and Japan were tested here for the Manhattan Project. ARTICLE: https://www.atomicheritage.org/location/los-alamos- VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSf3GOMziOg -
D-Day
It was the Allied invasion of 5 beaches in Normandy, France. It resulted in France’s liberation from Nazi Germany’s control. One of the largest sea invasions in history. ARTICLE: https://www.britannica.com/event/Normandy-Invasion VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-pQ1i52h6A -
Yalta Conference
This meeting was held between FDR, Churchill, and Stalin (The Big Three.) They discussed the reorganization of Germany and Europe after the war. ARTICLE: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/yalta-conference VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcHbOtTQxWE -
Island Hopping
Military strategy used by the Allies to gain military base and secure the small islands in the Pacific. As a result, the US moved closer and closer to Japan and get its aircraft carriers close to the main islands. ARTICLE: https://www.historycrunch.com/island-hopping.html#/ VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmfbuKeLY7Q -
Fall of Berlin
One of the last major battles in the European Theater of WWII. The Soviet Union attacked Germany, which resulted in Germany’s surrender and Hitler’s commitment of suicide. ARTICLE: https://www.ducksters.com/history/world_war_ii/battle_of_berlin.php VIDEO: https://www.britannica.com/video/180245/Soviet-troops-Adolf-Hitler-Berlin-suicide-April-1945 -
Death of Hitler
Hitler committed suicide in Berlin, Germany. His death led to the surrender of Germany in the Fall of Berlin. ARTICLE: https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/04/30/hitler-suicide-bunker-eva-braun/ VIDEO: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/adolf-hilter-death-suicide-anniversary-nazi-germany-world-war-2-eva-braun-history-a9488061.html -
Potsdam Conference
Last meeting held by the Big Three during WWII. They focused on postwar Europe, but also demanded "unconditional surrender" from Japan. ARTICLE: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/potsdam-conference VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T3bakUasVA -
Hiroshima
The US bombed this city to make Japan surrender. They were also retaliating after the Pearl Harbor bombing. They used the Little Boy bomb.
ARTICLE: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/atomic-bomb-hiroshima VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMsg6I4rKSY