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Annexation of Sudetenland
Hitler and Mussolini contributed to a signed pact referred to as "the peace of our time." The pact put Sudetenland in Hitler's hands. This was a valuable land containing a majority of Czechoslovakia's resources, leaving them vulnerable for Hitler to take over the rest of the country.
Article: [https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nazis-take-czechoslovakia]
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS5GglsNKyo] -
Pearl Harbor
The Japanese created a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, a naval base in Hawaii, that not only destroyed military equipment but killed many people. This caused Roosevelt to take action and declare war, putting the U.S. in WWII.
Article: [https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor]
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2kSnlS4xX8] -
The Philippines
After Pearl Harbor, Japan launched another surprise attack on the Philippines in Manila. The defense took place until the United States-Philippine forces surrendered. Japan began organizing a new government.
Article: [http://countrystudies.us/philippines/21.htm]
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3l6d_o1mxc] -
Japanese Internment Camps
After Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt signed the "Exclusive Order 9066" that placed Japanese Americans in camps. This was due to the hysteria of war and is considered one of the vilest things the U.S. has done.
Article: [https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/japanese-american-relocation]
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZTioTkHcB0] -
Battle of Midway
A naval battle that was the turning point of the Pacific theater. The U.S. Navy defeated the attack from the Japanese against Midway.
Article: [https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway]
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-au50GxIXw] -
Guadalcanal
First victory for Allies in the Pacific Theater. The U.S. Marines created a surprise attack and took control of an airbase.
Article: [https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-guadalcanal]
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VzCTvSQ4JY] -
Stalingrad
A turning point in Europe, and for the Allied forces. Apparently one of the largest most enormous bloodiest military campaigns. Germans retreated and after this Germans did not advance any farther into Eastern Europe.
Article: [https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad]
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qekQkYR3bAA] -
D-Day
U.S. British and Canadian forces invaded the Normandy France region on the stretch of beaches. The code name was operation overlord, and this was one of the marks for the end of the war.
Article & Video: [https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day] -
Meeting at Yalta
The second wartime meeting with Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt to agree on Germany's unconditional surrender and start preparing plans for the post world war. Most agreements were kept secret but once known were controversial.
Article: [https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/yalta-conference]
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5ZdgjY8I7E] -
Island Hopping
A military strategy used in the Pacific theater by Allies and Axis powers. An island is captured one by one until Japan was in the range of American bombers. Troops began landing on April 1, 1945.
Article: [https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1671.html]
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5LUDLuYkdU] -
Death of Hitler
Hitler was paranoid of being captured by the Russians. He and his wife swallowed cyanide capsules in his underground bunker, and for good measure shot himself. It was this over being humiliated in front of the world.
Article: [https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-commits-suicide-in-his-underground-bunker]
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p92hZ1ye8A] -
The Fall of Berlin
The Battle of Berlin made Nazi Germany sign a surrender to the Allies marking the end of the war for Europe. It lasted four days and one of the last pitch battles of WW2.
Article: [https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall]
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9fQPzZ1-hg] -
Los Alamos
The worlds first atomic bomb, "Fat Man," was detonated at Los Alamos, New Mexico. This project, part of the Manhattan Project, was successful in weaponizing the atom.
Article: [https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhattan-project-history/Events/1942-1945/establishing_los_alamos.htm]
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppgdBI31-lo] -
Meeting at Potsdam
Last WWII meetings held by the "big three," Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt. The primary conversation was on post-war Europe but also to demand an unconditional surrender of Japan.
Article: [https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/potsdam-conference]
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdTmrusxCag] -
Hiroshima
The first atomic bomb, "Little Boy," was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. This wiped out 90% of the city's population, leaving the second bomb on Nagasaki the surrender of Japan.
Article & Video: [https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki]
