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Period: to
Germany invades Poland
Germany used the 'Blitzkrieg' tactic: bombing them from above to take out railways and communication lines, and then invading via land, taking out enemy forces and setting up concentration camps. Although the Polish had thousands more men then the Germans, a lack of preparation and backup from the Soviet union ultimately caused their downfall. -
Britan and France declare war on Germany
Just two days after Germany's invasion of Poland, Britain and France declare war. The British prime minister at the time, Neville Chemberlain, pulled out every British troop stationed in Poland. French prime minister, Edouard Daladier carried out similar actions, stating that unless all troops were withdrawn from Poland that France would be at war with Germany. -
Period: to
Churchill becomes prime minister of Britain
Neville Chamberlin resigned the position of prime minister of Britain after losing a confidence vote, and Winston Churchill was called on to replace him. -
Period: to
Evacuation of Dunkirk
The evacuation of Dunkirk was also known as Operation Dynamo, and envolved the evacuation of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force), and all other allied French troops from Dunkirk back to England. An estimated 140,000 French and Belgium troops and an additional 198,000 British troops were saved. -
France signs armistance with Germany
Six weeks after the Nazi party invaded Western Europe, the French government signed an armistice (truce) with Germany. -
Period: to
Battle of Britain
The German and British air forces clashed in the skies, above the UK. This was the longest bombing attack to ever occur throughout history. -
Period: to
Operation sea lion
After Germany took over Poland, the leaders in Berlin began to strategies the fighting in the west against France and Britain. Hitler planned to invade on August 16th, planning to capture the ports along the English channel, but the operation was pushed back to September 16th. -
Italy enters war on side of Axis powers
Both Germany and Italy agree that weakening the European order would be a good course of action. -
Tripartite pact is signed
The Tripartite Pact was the idea of mutual assistance in case of any of the nations involved in the Axis powers were attacked from any outside nations, not already involved in the war. The Axis powers were formed by Germany, Italy and Japan. -
Period: to
Siege of Tobruck
This siege took place at the Port of Tobruck, which was heavily fortified against all forms of attack. Most of the Allied forces were driven out of Libya by German and Italian forces, and all remaining soldiers were within the Port of Tobruck. There were an estimated 14,000 Australian and 12,000 Indian and British troops within. These troops endured attacks and air raids for days. -
Period: to
Operation Barbarossa
The Nazi party invaded the Soviet Union with more then three million German soldiers and three thousand tanks. However the Soviet Union fought back, defeating Germany due to the weather and terrain. -
Bombing of Pearl harbor
Hundreds of Japanese fighter jets flew aboce the Pearl Harbor naval base and dropped bombs. They destroyed 20 American ships and killed more then 2,400 people. An additional 1,000 were left injured. This air raid was the event that caused president Franklin D. Roosevelt to declare war on Japan. -
Japan takes Singapore
After the Japanese conquered the French, they transported 24,000 Japanese troops to the Malay Peninsula. They attacked Singapore via air raid, killing an estimated 61 civilians. -
Britain and US declare war on Japan
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, president Franklin D. Roosevelt asked for a deceleration of war by the Congress. His request was granted, and America was at war with Japan. -
Period: to
Battle of midway
This battle was a four day sea and air war. The US Pacific fleet managed to take out four Japanese aircraft carriers, despite being vastly outnumbered. -
Period: to
First battle of El Alamein
This was a battle in North Africa between the British and German/Italian armies. -
Period: to
Battle of Starlingrad
The Soviet Union defeated the city of Stalingrad. This has been quoted as 'one of the bloodiest battles ever recorded', with an estimated two million casualties. -
Period: to
Second battle of El Alamein
This battle was a five hour battle on the Axis lines, initiated but Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery. -
D-Day landings
156,000 British, American and Canadian forces landed on five beaches that were situated along a fifty mile protected coast of France. -
Period: to
Battle of the Bulge
This battle was the last recorded major offense in World War Two. The Germans attempted to push the Allied forces from Northern France to Northwest Belgium. -
Mussolini captured and executed
Mussoline and his mistress Clara Petacci fled to Switzerland, but upon arrival at the boarder discovered that the guards had crossed to the Parisian side. Upon discovery by th Partisans, both Mussoline and Petacci were shot. -
Hitler commits suicide
During the end of the war, Hitler spent most of his time hidden in an air raid shelter, located 55 feet under the chancellery. His officers tried to tell him to escape to a property that he owned in the Bavarian Alps. Instead, Hitler and his wife took cyanide pills. Hitler also shot himself in the head. -
German forces surrender
General Alfred Jodl signed the surrender of all German forces in the East and West. -
V.E Day
Victory in Europe Day is a day celebrated in both America and Britain. These nations put out flags and banners once a year on May 8th, in celebration of the defeat of the Nazi party in May 1945. -
Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
America dropped a five ton atomic bomb on Hiroshima. This is the action said to have both ended WWII, and started the cold war. America was the only nation to ever use an atomic weapon during the course of the war. This bomb killed 80,000 people instantly, and thousands more civilians died in the following weeks from both wounds and radiation. -
Soviet Union declares war on Japan
After declaring war on Japan, the Soviet Union sent over a million soldiers into Manchuria. -
Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki
This was America's second atomic bomb to be dropped on Japan. This explosion killed between 60,000 and 80,000 people instantly. -
Japanese surrender (end of WWII)
Japan surrendered to the allied forces, ending the war. -
United Nations is born
The United Nations Charter was created and signed on June 26th, 1945. It is now in effect and ready to act in case of another war. -
Bibliography 2
• http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-tripartite-pact-is-signed-by-germany-italy-and-japan
• https://www.google.com.au/search?source=hp&q=what+is+an+armistice&oq=what+is+an+armistice&gs_l=psy-ab.3...298684.302416.0.302538.27.12.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..27.0.0.0...0.2q0sUl_4HAQ
• http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa
• http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/explore-history/australia-wwii/abroad-wwii/rats-tobruk -
Bibliography 3
• http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor
• http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-midway-begins
• http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad
• http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day
• http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-the-bulge
• http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/benito-mussolini-executed -
Bibliography 4
• http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-surrenders-unconditionally-to-the-allies-at-reims
• http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-surrenders-unconditionally-to-the-allies-at-reims
• http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-commits-suicide-in-his-underground-bunker -
Bibliography
• http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-invades-poland
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/3/newsid_3493000/3493279.stm
• http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/churchill-becomes-prime-minister
• https://www.google.com.au/search?q=first+lord+of+the+admiralty&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjJ8KqT7f7WAhWJbrwKHYiiAa0Q_AUICSgA&biw=644&bih=796&dpr=1.13
• https://www.britannica.com/event/Dunkirk-evacuation