-
WWII Begins
On the first of September, 1939, WWII began. It started in Europe, when Germany invaded Poland. Poland's army of 2 million men was easily defeated by Germany's firepower. Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Soldiers_from_world_war_two_2_saluting.jpg -
Period: to
World War Two
-
Germany Invades Denmark and Norway
Hitler claimed that he was trying to protect Denmark and Norway. Despite his treaty with them, he attacked Denmark. -
Germany Invades Holland and Belgium
On May 10th, Hitler moved 136 divisions against Holland and Beligium. The Dutch were helpless against the blitzkrieg. They suffered 100,00 casualties before surrendering. -
U.S. Studies Nuclear Weapons
President Roosevelt created the National Defense Research Committee to discover the possibility of a nuclear weapon. Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Operation_Upshot-Knothole_-_Badger_001.jpg -
Yugoslavia and Greece Occupied by Germany
Hitler attacked them on April 6th claiming to be protecting the Germans there. The Germans were victorious. The Yugoslavs resisted fiercely even after they were divided among the Axis powers. -
Germans in Moscow
The Germans reached the outskirts of Moscow in 1941. Hitler used infantry to attack the city, but his froces were worn down by the severe weather. The Soviet offensive was able to push them back. Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:504th_parachute_infantry_regiment_WWII_germany.jpg -
Pearl Harbor
On December seventh, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. One of the ships they destroyed was the USS Arizona. This was a very devastating attack and is ultimately what brought the United States into the war. Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_West_Virginia;014824.jpg -
War on U.S.
Germany and Italy declare war on the United States. -
Wannsee Conference
The top SS and Nazi leaders meet outside of Berlin. They formally plan the Nazi "Final Solution" against the Jews of Europe. -
Stalingrad
Severe fighting in the Russian city of Stalingrad led to a German defeat. Thousands of Russian civilians and soldiers died each day to keep Germany from taking the city. The Germans were forced to retreat. -
Radio Beacons
LORAN stationas, also called radio beacons, begin operating for long-range radio navigation. -
Japan Takes the Philippines
The Japanese attacked the Philippines the day after Pearl Harbor. The US forces experianced severe starvation and emaciation on the Bataan Death March. Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:7th_Cavalry_Leyte_Island_20_10_1944.jpeg -
Unconditional Surrender Policy
Roosevelt issued the Unconditional Surrender Policy that states that America will only accept and unconditional surrender from Germany and Japan. -
Battle of the Atlantic
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest lasting millitary campaign in history. It lasted from 1939-1945. The allies gained the advantage in 1943 and peaked between February and May. Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HMS_Barham_explodes.jpg -
British Window
The British begin using window. Window are small strips of reflective metal used to jam German radar in the air. This was used for the first time over Hamburg. -
Treatment for Syphilis
The U.S. army and Navy begin using penicillin as a treatment for syphilis. -
D-Day
On D-Day, over 200,00 American, British, and Canadian troops landed at Normandy in Northern France. The worst fighitng was on Omaha beach where many Americans died. The allies succeeded in going inland. Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War-_Operation_Overlord_(the_Normandy_Landings)-_D-day_6_June_1944_A24101.jpg -
F.D.R. Dead
President Roosevelt died on April twelfth, 1945. When he died, Harry Truman became the President of the United States. Truman knew nothing of the production of the atomic bomb. Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FDR_in_1933.jpg -
U.S. Nukes Japan: Hiroshima
The U.S. drops the atomic bomb on Japan at Hiroshima. This bomb killed as many as 140,000 people. Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AtomicEffects-Hiroshima.jpg -
U.S. Nukes Japan: Nagasaki
The United States drops another atomic bomb. This time they drop it in Nagasaki. This bomb killed up to 75,000 people. Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nagasakibomb.jpg
-_D-day_6_June_1944_A24101.jpg){kind=link}
