-
Period: to
WW2
Axis Powers- Germany, Italy, and Japan
Allied Powers- Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, the United States and China -
Invasion of Poland
WW2 begins:
● Nazi Germany emerged as major power
● Expansion of territory & violation of
Treaty of Versailles -
Invasion of Russia
Germany Invades Russia:
● Germany turned their back and decided to
invade Russia in 1941
● Operation Barbarossa
Lebensraum- Expand German “Living space”
● Rapid advancement into Soviet Space
Quick takeover of East Poland & toward Moscow -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
America enters the war:
● Without warning, Japan attacked Pearl
Harbor U.S. naval base in Hawaii
● Destroyed most of U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet &
killed several thousand Americans.
● “A date that will live in infamy -
Battle of Stalingrad
● Battle of Stalingrad-August 1942-February 1943
● November 1942- Soviets encircle Germans & cut off supplies
● Harsh winter-Germans unprepared, weak morale
● Major turning point for the Soviet Union
● First major German defeat -
Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
● America defeated a much larger Japanese
force that was trying to seize Midway Island in
June, 1942
● Strategic location, move closer to Hawaii
● U.S. destroyed four Japanese aircraft carriers
● Turning point in the Pacific -
Battle of the Bulge
● Battle of the Bulge–Dec 1944-Jan 1945
● Surprise German offensive in eastern
Belgium and Luxembourg
● Goal to split Allied forces in two and
capture Antwerp, port city
● German gains, Allies initially pushed back
● Logistical failures and harsh conditions,
fierce Allied resistance -
D-Day
● Normandy landings: D-Day–June 6, 1944
● Liberation of Europe from Nazi control
● Intelligence gathering for proper landing
● Deceptive operations-fake tanks
● Allied forces launched onto the beaches
of Normandy, France -
Invasion Iwo Jima, and Okinawa
“Island hopping” slowly worked
○ Brutal push: Harsh resistance and terrain, kamikaze
pilots, long distance of pacific, supply chain issues
● Invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa in 1945
brought the United States closer than ever to
Japan
● Invasions cost thousands of American lives
and even more Japanese lives, including civilians. -
Surender of Germany
● Soviets closed in on Berlin, Germany from the east
● Americans came from the west
● Hitler knew there was no chance of Nazi victory
and he committed suicide.
● Mussolini was killed by an angry mob in Italy
● Germany surrenders after fall of Berlin
● V-E Day (Victory in Europe) – May 8, 1945 -
Japan surrenders
● Japan surrendered after the atomic attacks and
V-J Day (Victory in Japan) – August 14, 1945
