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Soviet forces penetrate the siege of Leningrad
soviet troops make a opening in the german siege of leningrad, which lasted for about a half a year http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviet-forces-penetrate-the-siege-of-leningrad -
Hitler becomes futhrer
With the death of German President Paul von Hindenburg, Chancellor Adolf Hitler becomes absolute dictator of Germany. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-becomes-fuhrer -
Germans Invade Poland
1.5 million German troops invade Poland, simultaneously, the German Luftwaffe bombed Polish airfields, and German warships and U-boats attacked Polish naval forces in the Baltic Sea. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-invade-poland -
Hitler survives assassination attempt
The 16th anniversary of Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch, a bomb goes off right after Hitler finished giving a speech. Hitler walked away unharmed by the blast. -
Italy and Japan resign with Germany
Germany, strategically signed the Tripartite Pact in Berlin with Italy, and Japan to become allies creating the powerful Axis powers. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history -
Germans conquer Crete
The last of the Allies evacuate after 11 days of battling a successful German parachute invasion of the island of Crete. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-conquer-crete -
Pearl Harbor Bombed
Japanese dive bomber appears out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pearl-harbor-bombed -
British surrender Hong Kong
The British garrison in Hong Kong surrenders to the Japanese, on christmas day. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-surrender-hong-kong -
United Nations created
President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill issue a declaration, signed by representatives of 26 countries, called the “United Nations.” The signatories of the declaration vowed to create an international postwar peacekeeping organization. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-nations-created -
Daylight saving time instituted
Congress pushes ahead standard time for the United States by one hour in each time zone, imposing daylight saving time–called at the time “war time.” -
Allies surrender at Tobruk, Libya
General Erwin Rommel turns his assault on the British-Allied garrison at Tobruk, Libya, into victory, as his panzer division occupies the North African port. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-surrender-at-tobruk-libya -
Italian surrender is announced
Dwight Eisenhower announces the surrender of Italy to the Allies. Germany reacted with Operation Axis, the German plan to forcibly disarm the Italian armed forces.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/italian-surrender-is-announced -
Mussolini re-establishes a fascist regime in northern Italy
On this day in 1943, Benito Mussolini, deposed dictator of Italy, fashions a new fascist republic–by the leave of his new German masters–which he “rules” from his headquarters in northern Italy. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mussolini-re-establishes-a-fascist-regime-in-northern-italy -
U.S. troops land on Eniwetok atoll
Operation Catchpole is launched as American troops devastate the Japanese defenders of Eniwetok and take control of the atoll in the northwestern part of the Marshall Islands. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-troops-land-on-eniwetok-atoll -
D-Day
The allied powers landed on the beaches of Normandy, France be crossing the english channel. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/d-day -
Hitler is paid a visit by his would-be assassin
Count Claus von Stauffenberg, a German army officer carries a bomb into Hitler's main office in Berchtesgaden, with the intention of killing Adolf Hitler. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-is-paid-a-visit-by-his-would-be-assassin -
Hitler to Germany: “I’m still alive.”
Adolf Hitler takes to the airwaves to announce that the attempt on his life has failed and that “accounts will be settled.” He announces that he is not dead and is very much alive. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-to-germany-im-still-alive -
V-E Day
Celebrated by Great Britain and the US, Victory in Europe, cities in both nations, as well as formerly occupied cities in Western Europe, put out flags and banners, celebrating the defeat of the Nazi war machine. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-america-and-britain -
Soviets declare war on Japan; invade Manchuria
The Soviet Union officially declares war on Japan, pouring more than 1 million Soviet soldiers into Japanese-occupied Manchuria, northeastern China, to take on the 700,000-strong Japanese army. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-declare-war-on-japan-invade-manchuria -
Japan surrenders
The Japanese navy and air force were destroyed. The Allied naval blockade of Japan and intensive bombing of Japanese cities had left the country and its economy devastated. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-surrenders
