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Poland is invaded
On this day, German forces invaded Poland. Over 2,000 tanks and 1,000 planes were used by Germany for this invasion. This would act as the catalyst of World War II.
[Invasion of Poland, Fall 1939](www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005070) -
World War II begins
Britain and France, both allies of Poland, declared war on Germany. They did this in response to the invasion of Poland. A German submarine sunk the British ocean liner the "Athenia". This caused 112 casualties out of over 1,100 passengers.
Britain and France declare war on Germany -
The Soviet Union attacks Finland
The Soviet Union invades Finland with 465,000 soldiers and 1,000 aircrafts. The Finns fought back more than the Soviets thought they would, extending the battle. Even though the Finns fought back, it resulted in a Soviet win.
USSR attacks Finland -
Soviet Union suffers consequences
On this day the Soviet Union was dismissed from the League of Nations, a national organization put together after World War I. The Soviet Union was released by the League of Nations in response to their attacks on Finland. Their attack on Finland was unprovoked so the league decided to take action.
USSR expelled from the League of Nations -
Nazi invasions and Changes in power
The Nazis continue to invade countries after invading Denmark and Norway just a month before. The countries invaded on this day included Holland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. On this day, the British experiences a new change in power. This is the day that Neville Chamberlain resigns from his position as British Prime Minister due to his loss of support from the Labor Party. Winston Churchill takes Chamberlain's position. -
Germans bomb Paris
In this German attack on Paris, a total of 254 people were killed, many of them being civilians. This attack scared many people, even government officials. They wanted to flee but were threatened with consequences by France's minister.
Germans bomb Paris -
Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a new act
FDR signs the "Lend and Lease Act". This act allowed the president to lease, sell, or lend weapons or military aid to any country he deems necessary to help in order to help the U.S's defense. He signed this act in order to help Great Britain against Hitler. -
Benito Mussolini is arrested
Benito Mussolini, fascist leader of Italy, convenes with the Grand Council to decide and discuss Italy's future. Upon leaving the meeting, he was arrested by the police. -
Auschwitz is liberated
The infamous Nazi death camp, Auschwitz, is liberated. The Gestapo, Hitler's police, anticipating the Red Army, began to attempt to cover up their crimes. They began to murder the sick and destroy the crematoriums. Upon arrival, the Red Army came across over 600 corpses and 7,000 survivors. -
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Yalta Conference begins
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin convene at Yalta, located in the Crimea. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss terms for after the war. One of the things discussed was that Germany would be split up between the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. -
Benito Mussolini is executed
Benito Mussolini wanted to avoid being captured by the British or the Americans or being tried as a war criminal by communist partisans. He decided that trying to escape to Switzerland, a neutral country. The guards at the border recognized him and shot him and Clara Petacci, his mistress. After being shot their bodies were taken to Milan where they were hung upside down in public. -
Adolf Hitler commits suicide
On this day, the leader of the Nazis, Adolf Hitler, commits suicide. The Allies were inevitably going to defeat the Germans and Hitler wanted to avoid his punishment. Many Germans tried to assassinate Hitler to try to negotiate less severe punishments for the war. Hitler and his wife Eva Braun committed suicide by both swallowing a cyanide capsule, and Hitler also shot himself in the head. Adolf Hitler commits suicide -
World War II ends in Europe
On this day, the war has officially ended in Europe. On May 7, 1945, General Alfred Jodl of the German Armed Forces High Command, signed the unconditional surrender documents. These documents would make all forces under German control surrender. The surrenders would take place at 23:01 (11:01 P.M.) on May 8, 1945. This day became known as "VE-Day".
End of World War II in Europe
