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Nazi Germany invades Poland
Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, marked the beginning of World War II. The coordinated attack involving ground forces, air strikes, and indiscriminate bombings inflicted significant damage on Poland and triggered a series of military actions that ultimately engulfed the entire world in war. -
German ‘Blitzkrieg’ overwhelms Holland, Belgium and France
In 1940, the German 'Blitzkrieg' strategy proved devastating as it swiftly overwhelmed Holland, Belgium, and France during World War II. The combination of fast-moving armored units, air superiority, and coordinated attacks caught the Allied forces off guard, leading to the rapid collapse of their defenses and the subsequent occupation of these countries by German forces. -
Evacuation of Dunkirk
The evacuation of Dunkirk, which took place from May 26 to June 4, 1940, was a remarkable rescue operation during World War II. Under heavy German fire, a flotilla of civilian and military vessels evacuated over 300,000 Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk, France, enabling them to live to fight another day and symbolizing the spirit of resilience and solidarity. -
Battle of Britain and the ‘Blitz’ of British cities
The Battle of Britain, fought from July to October 1940, was a pivotal air campaign between the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the German Luftwaffe. The RAF successfully defended British airspace against the German onslaught, preventing a potential invasion and dealing a significant blow to Hitler's plans. -
The Allies take Tobruk
It was actually the Axis Powers that took Tobruk in 1941 -
Operation Barbarossa Begins
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II, launched on June 22, 1941. It was the largest military operation in history, involving millions of soldiers, and aimed at achieving German territorial and ideological objectives in the East. -
Attack on Pearl Harbour
The attack on Pearl Harbor took place on December 7, 1941, when the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise military strike on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This act of aggression resulted in the loss of numerous American lives and caused the United States to enter World War II as an active combatant, changing the course of the conflict. -
The Fall of Singapore
The fall of Singapore, also known as the Battle of Singapore, occurred during World War II when Japanese forces defeated the British and Allied troops and captured the city on February 15, 1942. It was a significant event in the war, marking the largest surrender of British-led forces in history and leading to the subsequent Japanese occupation of Singapore for the remainder of the war. -
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway, fought from June 4-7, 1942, was a crucial naval battle between the United States and Japan in the Pacific theater of World War II. The American victory at Midway, achieved through a combination of strategic planning and naval airpower, proved to be a turning point in the war, crippling Japan's carrier fleet and shifting the balance of power in favor of the Allies in the Pacific. -
First news of Nazi atrocities against Jewish people reaches the Allies
The first news of Nazi atrocities against Jewish people reached the Allies during World War II, as reports of mass killings and systematic persecution began to emerge. These shocking revelations provided the Allies with a grim understanding of the extent of the Holocaust and further solidified their determination to defeat the Nazi regime. -
German Forces Surrender at Stalingrad
The German surrender in Stalingrad in 1943 marked a turning point in World War II. After months of intense fighting, the encirclement and defeat of the German Sixth Army by Soviet forces not only resulted in a significant loss for the Axis powers but also boosted the morale of the Allied forces and signified a major setback for Hitler's military ambitions in the East. -
D-Day Landings
The D-Day Landings, which took place on June 6, 1944, marked the Allied invasion of Normandy, France during World War II. It involved the largest amphibious assault in history and played a pivotal role in the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation, ultimately leading to the downfall of Hitler's regime. -
the United States drops the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, during World War II. These devastating bombings resulted in immense loss of life and marked the first and only use of nuclear weapons in warfare, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of the war. -
Soviet liberation of Auschwitz
The Soviet liberation of Auschwitz took place on January 27, 1945, when soldiers from the Red Army arrived at the Auschwitz concentration camp complex in Nazi-occupied Poland. Their arrival marked the exposure of one of the most notorious Nazi death camps, where millions of innocent people, primarily Jews, were subjected to genocide.