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Treaty of Versailles signed
Peace document signed at the end of WWI. Signed by the Allies and Germany in the Palace of Versailles, France, on June 28, 1919. It took effect January 10, 1920. It imposed harsh penalties on Germany, such loss of territory, massive reparations payments and demilitarization. -
Benito Mussolini
Born July 29, 1883, died April 28, 1945. Italian prime minister from 1922–43. -
Hirohito
Born April 29, 1901, passed away January 7, 1989. Became emperor of Japan in 1926 until his death in 1989. People claim he was generally passive about war, being hesitant on war with the U.S. and allying with Germany. Others claim he was active in the war efforts. -
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The Great Depression
By far the worst economic downfall of the industrialized world. This lasted an entire decade, from 1929 to 1939. After the stock market crash of 1929, millions became unemployed, and some stocks became worthless. The New Deal and its various programs, such as the Tennessee Valley Authority, Works Progress Administration, and the demand for workers in factories to support the Allies in WWII helped to bring the U.S, back up full force, ending the Great Depression. -
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Full name Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Born January 30, 1882, passed away April 12, 1945. 32nd president of the United States (1933–45). He led America through The Great Depression and WWII, and established the New Deal. He began war with the Axis Powers after the Pearl Harbor incident, and backed them into a corner. He died in office, with Truman picking up where FDR left off. -
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The Holocaust
Mass genocide of millions of Jewish people, and millions of others. It began in 1033, but was much more extreme from 1941-45. Hitler’s “final solution” came into fruition under WWII, with killing centers being constructed and taking 6 million Jewish lives, along with 5 million others, targeted for racial, political, ideological and behavioral reasons. -
Adolf Hitler
Born April 20, 1889, died April 30, 1945. Leader of the Nazi Party from 1920/21, chancellor (Kanzler) and Führer of Germany from 1933–45. He established an absolute dictatorship, and led Germany throughout all of WWII. After a massive defeat, he committed suicide on April 30th, 1945. -
Winston Churchill
Born November 30, 1874, died January 24, 1965. British statesman, orator, and author who became prime minister during WWII and led his country from the brink of defeat to victory. He began the formation of the Allies, and fought all the way to his resignation in 1945. -
Battle of France
German Invasion of France which was from May 10, 1940 to Jun 25, 1940. This was the result of France claiming war on Germany after the invasion of Poland. After more than a month of fighting and joint actions of Italy and Germany, France surrendered. -
Battle of Britain
Airborne battle fought by the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy against the Nazi air force, the Luftwaffe. The RAF and FAA were defending the UK after the events of the Fall of France. If the Luftwaffe were to win, then the UK would have been exposed to invasion. After three months of fighting, the UK would win, suffering more than 500 pilot deaths and the destruction on 792 planes. -
Joseph Stalin
Born December 6, 1878, passed away March 5, 1953. Prime Minister from 1941-53. He led the USSR during WWII, at first signing a pact with Hitler but then joining the Allies later. He participated in the big three meetings, and was perceived as a formidable negotiator. -
Zyklon B
Discovered in the late 1800's and patented in the early 1920's, Zyklon B became the preferred killing method in concentration camps. This was also used in WWI, but was soon banned, The gas chambers claimed 1.1 million lives in Auschwitz-Birkenau, Majdanek, and elsewhere. Most of these people were Jewish. -
Battle of Moscow
Beginning with the first German advance on September 30, 1941, this battle lasted until January 7, 1942. It started with Operation Typhoon, which was a two pincer movement to the North and South of Moscow. After many battles and a failed prediction by Hitler, Stalin began the Soviet counter-offensive, sending more than 2000 tanks and airplanes, and about 1.1 million soldiers. -
Hideki Tojo
Born on December 30, 1884, and passed on December 23, 1948. Hideki Tojo was appointed prime minister on October 18, 1941. He lead Japan's war efforts, and garnered many victories in southeast Asia. After the Allied invasion of the Mariana Islands however, his entire cabinet resigned and he was succeeded by Koiso Kuniaki. He attempted to kill himself on September 11th, 1945, but was nursed back to health. He was later hanged in trial. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Surprise attack by Japanese forces on the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. Leading cause as to why the United States joined WW2. -
Battle of MIdway
Naval battle which took place in the Pacific Theater of WWII. Lasted for three days. The U.S. destroyed Japans front line carrier, and eliminated most of the countries best pilots. -
Battle of Kursk
Fight between German and Soviet forces on the Eastern Front near Kursk in the Soviet Union, during July and August 1943. The Germans failed the assualt, giving the Soviet Union the win. -
D-Day
A.K.A. The Normandy Landings, Allied Invasion of Normandy, Operation Overlord. This was a planned naval,land, and airborne assault against Nazi-occupied France. The Allies secured the victory over German forces, and this became a turning point for WWII in Europe. -
The Yalta Conference
A.K.A. Crimea Conference and code-named Argonaut, held February 4–11, 1945. During this conference, the Big Three agreed that after Germany's unconditional surrender, it would be divided into four occupation zones, controlled by the U.S., British, French and Soviet military forces. Berlin would also be split into similar occupation zones. Took place in Yalta, Ukraine. -
Harry S. Truman
Born May 8, 1884, passed away December 26, 1972. 33rd President of the U.S. He took office when FDR passed away on April 12, 1945, and led the U.S. during the final stages of World War II. He did discussions with the Allies on postwar Germany, and authorized the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. -
Victory in Europe Day
The formal accepting day of Germany's unconditional surrender. This marked the end of WWII in Europe. -
The Potsdam Conference
Conference which took place in Potsdam, Germany. The participants were the UK, U.S, and the Soviet Union, represented by, in order, Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee, President Harry S. Truman, Premier Joseph Stalin. They came to an agreement where each Allied power, along with France, would administer a zone of occupation in Germany. -
Hiroshima Bombing
On August 4th, 1945, the U.S.dropped the Little Boy atomic bomb onto the Hiroshima prefecture of Japan. This bomb is said to have ki approximately 135000 casualties. -
Nagasaki Bombing
3 days after the Hiroshima bombing, the U.S dropped another bomb, dubbed "The Fat Man", onto Nagasaki. The bomb is said to have about 64000 casualties. -
Victory over Japan Day
August 14, 1945 marked the day Imperial Japan surrendered in WWII, putting the war to an official end, Since then, August 14 and 15 have become the celebration VJ day, or Victory over Japan Day. The term has also been used for September 2, 1945, when Japan’s formal surrender took place aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, in Tokyo Bay.
