World War Major Events

Germany and Soviet Union Sign nonaggression pact

Aug 23, 1939

In this pact the Germans and Soviets agree not to fight because Hitler does not wany to fight a war on two fronts, and the Soviet do not want to fight at all.They did not agree to be friends or have alliance but they wont attack eachother.

Germanys Lightning attack on Poland

Sep 1, 1939

Germany attacked and bombed the capital of Poland, Warsaw. This event was the start of World War II and caused Britain and France to declare war on Germany.

Soviets forces invade Poland

Sep 17, 1939

Stalin sent Soviet troops to start occupying the eastern half of Poland. Though it went against the nonaggression pact, the Soviets got involed in World War II

Germany invades France

May 10, 1940

Germany invaded France and trapped France in the city of Lielle. They escaped to Dunkirk and Great Britain sent fleets that carried 338,000 soldiers to safety.

Italy joins forces with Hitler

Jun 10, 1940

Italy then declared war on Britain and France. Italy elped Germany and attacked France from the south.

Battle of Britain

Sep 7, 1940

Germany bombs Britain from noon until midnight. Britain had radar which helped them know about Germanys attacks.

HItler invades the Balkans

Apr 6, 1941

Hitler invaded Yugoslavia and Greece.Within 11 and 17 days both countries surendered.

Hitler invades the Soviet Union

Jun 22, 1941

Germany invaded the unprepared Soviet Union. The Soviets used the scorched earth policy, and retreated letting Hitler take Moscow.

Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

That morning the people on Pearl Harbor woke up to Japanese bombings. 2400 Americans were killed and 1000 were wounded.

Bataan Death March

Apr 1, 1942

Japanese forced American prisonors on the Philipines to march through the cold without food or water. They marched under awful conditions to stay alive and were constantly beaten.

Battle of Midway

Jun 4, 1942

Japanese fleets moved on Midway island to destroy the US pacific fleet. The Japanese wanted to establish a Japanese airbade but were defeated by the US.

Battle of El Alamein

Jul 1, 1942

Battle began with a artilery barge on Germany. The allies won after 10 days of repeated attacks.

Battle of Guadalcanal

Aug 7, 1942

Allies landed on the island to stop communication routes and supply routes to Japan. The Allies managed to defeat them and took the island.

Battle of Stalingrad

Aug 23, 1942

Germany was in the Soviet union and sent nightliy bombings that turned the city to rubble. By early november the Germans controlled 90 percent of the city.

Mussolinis Death

Apr 28, 1943

The Germans tried to disquise Mussolini as a Nazi and sneak him out of Italy. He was recognized then shot and hung.

Capture of Sicily

Jul 10, 1943

180,000 allied troops landed and captured Sicily. This conquest toppled Mussolini from power.

Mussolini falls

Jul 25, 1943

King Victor Emmanuel III fired Mussolini and had him arrested.

Italy Surrenders

Sep 3, 1943

Itally surrenders but Germany siezed control of the northern part of Italy. Hitler then put Mussolini back in power

Battle of the Bulge

Dec 16, 1943

As allied forces were moving in on Germany from the west and Soviets from the east, Hitler decided to counter attack on the west. They broke through defences on the front and pushed the allies back.

D Day invasion

Jun 6, 1944

Allied forces landed on the coast of France to reclaim it. It was the greatest land and sea attack in history.

Iwo Jima

Feb 19, 1945

United States fought for the captured island to set up airfeilds and eventually won. It was a very fierce battle and about 240,000 causualties were caused.

Battle of Okinawa

Apr 1, 1945

A fierce battle between Allies and Japan as the allies moved closer to the Japanese homeland. THe japanese used kamikaze, the suicide bombers to help defend their land.

Germanys unconditional surrender

May 7, 1945

Germany accepted the unconditional surrender. The next day the surrender was signed in Berlin, also know as VE day or wictory in Europe day.

Hiroshima

Aug 6, 1945

Harry Truman decided to drop the bomb "little boy" on Hiroshima. The bomb was created using uranium-235 and never had been tested. At least 70,000 died immediately and 70,000 after.

Nagasaki

Aug 9, 1945

At 11:02 a bomber flew over and dropped a bomb "fat man" and killed 70,000 instantly and 70,000 after. Ater these two bombings, Japan surrendered unconditionally.