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Neutrality Act
The Neutrality Acts were passed by the United States Congress in the 1930s, (1935, 1936, 1937, and 1939) in response to the growing turmoil in Europe and Asia that eventually led to World War II. This act sought to ensure that the US would not become entangled again in foreign conflicts. -
Germany's expansion & annexation of Austria
Hitler wanted all German-speaking people under one flag. Hitler marched into Austria and appointed a new government. This was an important event because Austria was now an "ally" of Germany. -
Blitzkrieg attack on Poland
Poland was attacked by Germany under Operation White (Fall Weiss). By the end of the month, Poland had surrendered to Germany. This was important because Germany could go through Poland to get to Russia. -
Signing of the Non-Aggression Pact (Germany and U.S.S.R)
On August 23, 1939–shortly before World War II (1939-45) broke out in Europe–enemies Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union surprised the world by signing the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact, in which the two countries agreed to take no military action against each other for the next 10 years. With Europe on the brink of another major war, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (1879-1953) viewed the pact as a way to keep his nation on peaceful terms with Germany, while giving him time to build his army. -
Transition of US home front to War production
The home front coordinated producing military weapons needed to fight. This helped the United States' econony. Many people were now employed and were working to support a war overseas. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was a struggle between the German Luftwaffe and the British Royal Air force which raged over Britain between July and October 1940. The battle, which was the first major military campaign in history to be fought entirely in the air. -
Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease act enabled the British to keep fighting until events led American into conflict. The Lend-Lease brought the United States one step closer to entry into the war. Republican senator Robert Taft noted that the bill would “give the President power to carry on a kind of undeclared war all over the world, in which America would do everything except actually put soldiers in the front line trenches where the fighting is.“ -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. The barrage lasted just two hours, but it was devastating. President Rooselvelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan. The United States was now involved with World War II. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a crucial and decisive naval battle in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. It occurred between 4 and 7 June 1942. It was Japan's first naval defeat since 1963. -
Invasion of Africa by Eisenhower
On November 8, 1942, the military forces of the United States and the United Kingdom launched an amphibious operation against French North Africa, in particular the French-held territories of Algeria and Morocco. That landing was named 'Torch,'. This was an important Allied strategy, ultimately controlling Africa, the Allies would be able to control Germany. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad (July 17, 1942-Feb. 2, 1943), was the successful Soviet defense of the city of Stalingrad. Russians consider it to be the greatest battle and some historians consider it to be the greatest battle of the entire conflict. It stopped the German advance into the Soviet Union and marked the turning of the tide of war in favor of the Allies. -
D-Day
D-Day, is the 1944 Allied invasion of Normandy, France during World War II. The largest amphibious assault ever conceived and executed, D-Day set records in terms of planning and training for such a massive assault. Trooups and and supplies moved across the English Channel overnight. Gaining a foothold in France was essential for the allies in this war. -
Liberation of Madjdanek (concentration camp)
The Majdanek extermination camp in Lublin was liberated by Soviet troops on July 23, 1944; it was the first of many Nazi concentration camps to be liberated by the Allies. This was important, as the war was coming to an end. -
The Battle of the Bulge
This battle was a counterattack of the Germans. As the German armies drove deep into the Ardennes in an attempt to secure vital regions, the line defining the Allied front took on the appearance of a large protrusion or bulge, the name by which the battle would forever be known. Over 100,000 U.S. soldiers lost their lives. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima (19 February – 26 March 1945) was a major battle in which the United States Armed Forces landed and eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese. The goal of America was to capture the entire island, including the three Japanese-controlled airfields. -
Battle of Okinawa
This is the last and biggest of the Pacific island battles of World War II. From April 1—June 22, 1945, the battle involved 287,000 troops of the U.S. against 130,000 soldiers of the Japanese/ At stake were air bases vital to the projected invasion of Japan. By the end of the 82-day campaign, Japan had lost more than 77,000 soldiers and the Allies had suffered more than 65,000 casualties—including 14,000 dead. -
V-E Day
VE Day officially announced the end of World War Two in Europe. This was a long awaited day for the Allies. -
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In August 1945, during the final stage of the Second World War, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The two bombings killed at least 129,000 people. This essentially ended World War II. So far, this remains the only use of nuclear weapons for warfare in history. -
V-J Day
This is the day celebrated by Americans as Victory over Japan. This essentially ended World War 2.
