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Begin of WWII
Germans 1.5 million troops invade Poland along its 1,750-mile long border. The German troops bombed polish airfield and used German warships and u-boats to attack the polish naval on the Baltic Sea. The German fuhrer claimed the attack was a defensive action -
Germany Invades Soviet Union
The German invasion to the Soviet Union caught the whole word by surprise. German troops pushed this invasion along the 1,800-mile long border from south and west. The invasion by Germany breaks the non-aggression pact signed by Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, which was a naval base in Hawaii. The president of the United States at the time, Franklin D. Roosevelt, completely mobilizes all of his forces and declares war on Japan. -
Battle of Midway
The allies fight back when they attack japan in the battle of midway. This battle efficiently destroyed japans naval strength when the US took out 4 of their aircraft carriers. This battle lasted 3 days. -
Germany Surrenders to Soviet Union
Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of Stalingrad, in southern Russia. The soviets completely wore out the German troops, and on February 2nd, Germany surrenders fighting at Stalingrad. -
Italy Surrenders
Italy signs an unconditional armistice with the allies. This surrender was signed 5 days before the announcement made by Eisenhower was released. Italy was in downfall after the death of their Prime Minister Benito Mussolini. -
D-Day
D-Day videoMore than 160,000 allied troops land on a 50 mile stretch on the French coastline to fight Nazi Germany troops at the beaches of Normandy, France More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion and over 9,000 allied troops were wounded, but the allies came out with a victory over Hitler’s troops. -
The Battle of Leyte Gulf
The battle of Leyte gulf is the largest naval battle in history. This battle lasted From October 23rd - 26th, 1944, between combined US, Australian forces and the Japanese Navy. -
The Battle of the Bulge
Germans launch the last major offensive of the war, an attempt by the Germans to push the allied front line from northern France to northwestern Belgium. To create a so-called “bulge” around around the area of the Ardennes forest. -
Captur of Iwo Jima
US marine’s invaded iwo jiima February 19 1945. Approximately 70,000 U.S. Marines and 18,000 Japanese soldiers took part in the battle. After 36 days of fighting, the island was finally declared secured on March 16th 1945. -
Germany Surrenders
German high command signs the unconditional surrender of all German forces, east and west, at Reims and northwestern France. -
End of the War
Japanese commands have also signed the unconditional surrender, finally bringing six years of WWII to an end.