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Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
President Hindenburg permits former Chancellor von Papen to appoint Hitler as Chancellor, with von Papen as Vice-Chancellor. President Hindenburg agrees because the previous two Chancellors were unable to control/gain support of the Reichstag. The effect was that the Nazi Party gained more power in the government. Info and Photo: http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/the-nazi-rise-to-power/how-did-the-nazis-gain-support/hitler-becomes-chancellor/#.WOHr2lOGOY0 -
Germany Invades Poland - WWII Begins
Germany invades Poland using the Blitzkrieg strategy, in order to provide "Lebensraum", or living space for Germany. This event sparked the beginning of WWII. Info:http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-invade-poland Photo:https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005070 -
Winston Churchill becomes Leader of British Government
Winston Churchill is appointed Prime Minister of Britain., because the previous Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, was unable to stop or prevent Nazi invasions in Europe. The effect of Churchill becoming Prime Minister is that Nazi Germany begins to face serious British military action. Info:http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/churchill-becomes-prime-minister Photo: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/goodlife/11572081/General-Election-Prime-Ministers-in-history.html -
Italy Enters WWII
Italy enters WWII after the war starts. The leader of Italy, Mussolini, joins the war because he wanted territory and wanted to expand Italy. Italy joining the war opened another front in the Mediterranean region, bringing some fighting to North Africa and Greece. Info: https://www.reference.com/history/role-did-italy-play-world-war-ii-a09a72f30eea70df# Photo:http://doncarina.com/naples.html -
Battle of Britain
Hitler tries to begin invading Britain using air forces, and fails. Britain was one of the only European countries left not invaded by Hitler, so it was Hitler's next target. This battle marked the first time Hitler's forces were defeated, and damaged German morale. It dissuaded Hitler from attacking Britain again. Info: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-britain Photo:http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-britain -
Axis Powers Break Non-Aggression Pact
Hitler's forces begin invading Russia. Although Hitler signed a non-aggression pact, he had never intended to keep it, and was planning to invade Russia all along. The impact of it was that it brought Russia into the war, and stretched Hitlers forces. Info: https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005156 Photo: http://www.delfi.lt/temos/molotov-ribbentrop-pact/ -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan launches a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. Japan chose to attack Pearl Harbor because it had many ships and planes squeezed into a tight space, and it wanted to destroy the U.S. fleet. This caused the U.S. to join WW2. Info: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor Photo: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Bataan Death March
The U.S. surrendered the Bataan Peninsula to the Japanese, and the 75,000 troops there were forced to march 65 miles to prison camps. The march was done in intense heat, and without food. The Japanese did this because it cost less to do this than provide transportation and care. Thousands of people died along the way to the prison camps. Info: www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march Photo: https://www.britannica.com/event/Bataan-Death-March -
Battle of Coral Sea
Allied forces intercept Japanese forces attempting to capture Port Moresby in New Guinea, resulting in a brief battle. The Allies did not want Japan to capture Port Moresby because they needed it for themselves as a base. The result of this battle is that Japan didn't have enough forces to invade Port Moresby, making it a win for the Allies. Info and Photo: https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-the-Coral-Sea -
Battle of Midway
The U.S. foils the Japanese plan to ambush its remaining aircraft carriers, and instead inflicts serious damage on the Japanese navy. The Japanese tried to ambush U.S. forces because they outnumbered them, and in order to invade other countries unopposed. This battle marked the U.S. shift to an offensive position. Info: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway Photo: https://warontherocks.com/2016/06/the-battle-of-midway-the-complete-intelligence-story/ -
Battle of Stalingrad
Germany tries to invade the Soviet city of Stalingrad, but the USSR successfully defends against the Germans. Hitler wanted to invade Stalingrad because he could continue invading Russia from Stalingrad. Germany loses, and the battle marked the point where the allies began winning World War 2. Info and Photo: https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Stalingrad -
Italy Surrenders to Allies
Italy officially surrenders to the Allied Powers. Italy surrendered because its former fascist leader was deposed, and the fascist party in Italy had collapsed. Italy's surrender meant that Allied forces would be allowed to move throughout Italy, but German forces began occupying Italy to remain in control of Italy. Info:http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/italian-surrender-is-announced Photo: http://www.rarenewspapers.com/view/595210?imagelist=1 -
D-Day
Allied forces invade the Normandy region of France. The Allies invaded Normandy because they needed to liberate France, and get their troops onto Europe. Info and Photo: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
First Liberation of Concentration Camps
Soviet forces liberate concentration camps. The Germans had retreated quickly from those camps, allowing the Soviets to free them with relative ease. Thousands of prisoners were freed, and the world begins to see the horrors of Nazi concentration camps. Info and Photo: https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007724 -
Liberation of Paris
US and French forces free France from Nazi occupation. Allied forces fought to free France. Germany loses control of an important region of Europe. Info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/paris-liberated Photo: http://www.timesofisrael.com/70-years-later-paris-prepares-to-celebrate-end-of-nazi-rule/ -
Battle of the Bulge
The German army launched an attack intended to split up the American and British armies in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. This battle occurred because the Germans were losing, and wanted to try to reverse the tide of the war. The German attack failed, and the Germans did not launch another major offensive attack after this. Info and Photo: https://www.army.mil/botb/ -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The U.S. launches an invasion on the the small Japanese island Iwo Jima. They chose this island because it was very important tactically. The Battle of Iwo Jima showed the U.S. how far the Japanese would go to defend their land, which influenced the use of nukes on Japan. Info: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/world-war-two/the-pacific-war-1941-to-1945/the-battle-of-iwo-jima/
Photo: http://www.history.com/news/the-battle-of-iwo-jima-begins-70-years-ago -
Death of FDR
President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies, from a cerebral hemorrhage. The vice president, Truman, was now suddenly told about the atomic bomb and was to make the decision whether to use it or not. Info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fdr-dies
Photo: http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/franklin-d-roosevelt -
Death of Hitler
Hitler commits suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head. He committed suicide because he had lost the war and the Russians were days away from overtaking his position. His suicide caused the Nazis to surrender unconditionally a few days later. Info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-commits-suicide-in-his-underground-bunker Photo: http://www.biography.com/people/adolf-hitler-9340144 -
Germany Surrenders
Germany surrenders unconditionally in WW2. It surrendered partly because it had practically lost the war, and partly because Hitler had just committed suicide. WW2 was over on the Western front. Info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-surrenders-unconditionally-to-the-allies-at-reims Photo: http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/keitel.htm -
Atomic Bomb #1
An American B-29 bomber drops an atomic bomb nicknamed "Little Boy", over Hiroshima, Japan, killing 80,000 immediately. The Allies had defeated Germany, but Japan refused to surrender, despite that they had no chance to win. The U.S. nuked them to try and end the war. Info: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki.
Photo: http://www.williammaloney.com/Aviation/USAFMuseum/WWII/BocksCarBoeingB29/pages/14LittleBoy.htm -
Atomic Bomb #2
The U.S. drops a second nuclear bomb on Japan, but this time in Nagasaki. The bomb, named "Fat Man", was dropped by the U.S. to encourage Japan to surrender in order to end the war. The bomb made Japan surrender. Info:http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki
Photo:http://www.atomicheritage.org/history/little-boy-and-fat-man. -
Japan Surrenders
Japan surrenders unconditionally in WW2 officially ending the war. The U.S. nuking of Hiroshima and Nagasaki made them decide to surrender. Their surrender marked the official end of WW2. Info:http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-surrenders Photo: http://mediaconfidential.blogspot.com.eg/2015/08/radio-flashback-wwii-ends-as-japan.html
