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Germany invades Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia surrenders after Adolf Hitler annexes the country into the Third Reich. -
Germany orders assault on poland
Germany's Adolf Hitler signs the order for an assault on Poland. -
Germany's September Campaign
Germany invades Poland in their September Campaign. The infamous "blitzkrieg" tactic is used. -
France and Great Britain declare war on Germany
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Period: to
The Phoney War
The Phoney war was a war between the Allies and Germany where no major battles occurred on the Western Front -
Newfoundland declares war on Germany
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Poland surrenders to Germany
Germany splits Poland with Soviet rRussia. Slovakia and Lithuania gain territories. -
German-Soviet Frontier Treaty is signed
The treaty's secret attachment transferred Lithuania to the Soviet sphere of influence. -
British forces move to the Belgian border
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Lithuania signs Treaty of Mutual Assistance
Lithuania signs Franco-Soviet Treaty of Mutual Assistance Pact with the Soviet Union. This allows the Soviets to have 20,000 men in military bases in Lithuania. -
Polish Jews are ordered to wear Star of David armbands
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Period: to
Winter War
The Winter War was a conflict between Soviet Russia and Finland in which Russia was trying to gain territories in Finland. -
USSR is expelled from the League of Nations
This expulsion was due to Russia engaging in war with Finland -
Germany makes final plans for Denmark and Norway's invasion
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Hitler orders unrestricted submarine warfare
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Period: to
Germany's Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was fought between Norway, the Allies, and Germany. Germany was victorious in occupying Norway. -
The Rotterdam Blitz brings an end to the Battle of Rotterdam.
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Germany bombs Paris
This was the final step in "Operation Dynamo" -
The Blitz Bombing of Great Britain Starts
The purpose of the bombing was to destroy civilian and industrial sites to prevent the manufacturing of ammunition and to destroy peoples faith in the UK -
Erwin Rommel is appointed head of German Army troops in Africa
The unit is later renamed the "Afrika Korps." This unit was the German expeditionary force in the Northern Africa Theater. -
Roosevelt signs the Lend Lease Act
This act's main goal was to put army and naval bases in Allied countries and supply the countries with rations, munitions, and weapons. -
Buckingham Palace is Hit in Luftwaffe Bombing
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The Tuskegee Airmen begins
More formally known as the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces, the Tuskegee Airmen was an all-black group of military fighter pilots. -
Germany invades Soviet Union
Known as "Operation Barbarossa", was an invasion on Moscow, Leningrad, and the Southern Caucus. -
Hungary and Slovakia Declare War on Soviet Union
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Stalin announces "Scorched Earth Policy"
This is an act in where the military burns or destroys buildings, crops, or other resources that might be of use to an invading enemy force. -
The "V for Victory" sign is adopted by Allies
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Bloody Sunday Massacre
Thousands of Jews shot during the Bloody Sunday Massacre in Stanisławów, Ukraine by Ukranian and German police. -
Hideki Tojo Becomes 40th Prime Minister of Japan
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Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
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China officially declares war on Japan
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Germany and Italy declare war on the United States
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Japanese land on the Philipines
Japan lands on the islands Samar, Mindanao, and Jolo -
Hitler becomes Supreme Commander-in-Chief
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"Operation Barbarossa" Fails
After the Soviet Army pushed Germany's army back ~100 miles, the counter-offense stopped and Germany retreats. -
Nazis finalize "Final Solution" Method
Nazis at the Wannsee conference in Berlin decide that the "final solution to the Jewish problem" is relocation and execution. -
Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, Yokohama, and Nagoya
Jimmy Doolittle's B-25's take off from the USS Hornet and bomb the cities. The raids are a great boost of morale for Americans. -
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a battle fought in the Pacific theater by the US vs. Japan. It was a battle lasting around 4 days and it was fought with ships and airplanes. The United States was victorious. -
Paulus surrenders to Soviet Troops
Friedrich Paulus and his staff surrender to Soviet troops in Stalingrad. -
US successfully takes Guadalcanal from Japanese
The Unites States successfully takes Guadalcanal from the Japanese, ending the Guadalcanal Campaign. -
Italy surrenders to Allies
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"Operation Eiche" takes place
"Operation Eiche" was the rescue of Mussolini from a mountaintop prison. -
Italy declares war on Germany
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"Operation Overlord" is Confirmed
"Operation Overlord" is the plan for the invasion of France -
Diplomats from the USSR and Finland meet to sign an armistice
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"Operation Overlord" Commences
"Operation Overlord" starts when over a thousand British bombers drop bombs on German gun batteries in Normandy, France. -
D-Day Begins
D-Day begins with the Allies landing over 100000 soldiers on Normandy beaches. -
Stalin launches offensive on Finland
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The Soviets take Vilnius, Lithuania.
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The Battle of the Philippine Sea takes place
The United States Fifth Fleet wins a decisive naval battle over the Imperial Japanese Navy near the Mariana Islands. Over 200 Japanese planes are shot down while the Americans only lose 29 to enemy action. -
The Allies reach the "Gothic Line"
This is the last German strategic position in Northern Italy. -
The Battle of the Bulge begins
German forces attempt a breakthrough in the Ardennes region. The main object of Hitler's plan is the retaking of Antwerp. -
The Germans commence "Operation Nordwind"
This is a surprise offensive in northern Alsace -
Soviet Army Enters Auschwitz Concentration Camp
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The Battle of Manila begins
Forces of the U.S. and Philippines enter Manila. The Manila massacre takes place during the fighting. -
U.S. Marines invade Iwo Jima
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U.S. Marines raise the American flag on Iwo Jima
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The Battle of Okinawa Begins
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Germany surrenders unconditionally to the Allies
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Germany surrenders unconditionally to the Soviet Union
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The B-29 bomber Enola Gay drops the first atomic bomb "Little Boy" on Hiroshima
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The B-29 bomber Bockscar drops the second atomic bomb "Fat Man" on Nagasaki.
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The Japanese Instrument of Surrender is signed on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay
This act ends World War II
