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Means "lightning war". On September 1, 1939 Germany preformed a completely unexpected sneak attack on Poland. Blitzkrieg was a new military strategy that worked very well for Hitler. Hitler's goal was to capture the Polish Capital of Warsaw. This was the first military engagement of WWII. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/invasion_poland_01.shtml
https://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/ -
On June 14, 1940, the people of Paris, France had a very rude awakening by Germany invading their city. They sat in their capital captured all day while Germany invaded their city. Hitler's goal was to invade France to capture Paris, and he was indeed successful. On this day, President Roosevelt froze the assets of the Axis powers, Germany and Italy.
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On September 7, 1940, Germany bombed London, causing the start of the Battle of Britain. There was over 1,000 German aircraft and 300 bombers escorted by 600 fighters. This bombing caused Britain to fight back, starting what we know as the Battle of Britain.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/events/germany_bombs_london -
In March of 1941, the Lend Lease Act was passed. The purpose of this act was to provide U.S. military aid to foreign countries during the war. The U.S. president was able to transfer arms and other defense materials to any country that was in need. Britain especially needed war supplies, that is what pushed the act to be passed.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/lend-lease-act -
On June 22, 1941 Hitler launched his armies eastward in a massive invasion of the Soviet Union. There was over 3 million German soldiers and 150 divisions. Three thousand German tanks rolled into Soviet territory.
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On December 7, 1941 Japan made an early morning attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. They destroyed nearly 20 American Naval Vessels and over 300 airplanes. There was a casualty of over 2,400 Americans, and 1,000 were wounded.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
On December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor, the U.S. declared war on Japan in response to the bombing. On December 11, 1941 Germany declared war on the U.S. in response to a series of provocations by the U.S.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-united-states-declares-war-on-japan -
On April 9, 1942 the U.S. surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese during World War II, the approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to make an arduous 65-mile march to prison camps. The marchers made the trek in intense heat and were subjected to harsh treatment by Japanese guards. Thousands perished in what became known as the Bataan Death March.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
On June 7, 1942 the Battle of Midway came to an end concluding in U.S. victory. This U.S. victory took place exactly 6 months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This battle was an important turning point in the Pacific Campaign.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
In 1943, the German forces intended to begin the operation to liquidate the Warsaw ghetto on April 19, 1943, the eve of Passover. When SS and police units entered the ghetto that morning, the streets were deserted. Nearly all of the residents of the ghetto had gone into hiding places or bunkers. The renewal of deportations was the signal for an armed uprising within the ghetto.
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005188 -
On February 2, 1943 Germany finally got beat. The Soviet Union defeated the German army in the city of Stalingrad. It was considered to be the greatest Russian battle of their patriotic war.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
In December 1944, Hitler attempted to split the Allied armies in northwest Europe by means of a surprise blitzkrieg thrust through the Ardennes to Antwerp. Caught off-guard, American units fought desperate battles to stem the German advance at St.-Vith, Elsenborn Ridge, Houffalize and Bastogne.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
On June 6, 1944, The Americans and other allied troops arrived in Normandy, France to begin the liberation of Western Europe. This invasion was one of the largest amphibious attacks in history.
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On August 6 and August 9, 1945 two bombs were drooped in Japan by the U.S. One in the city of Hiroshima and one in the city of Nagasaki. These bombings cause Japan to surrender which caused the end of the war.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
In February 1944, the American amphibious invasion of Iwo Jima during World War II stemmed from the need for a base near the Japanese coast. Following elaborate preparatory air and naval bombardment, three U.S. marine divisions landed on the island in February 1945. Iwo Jima was defended by roughly 23,000 Japanese army and navy troops, who fought from an elaborate network of caves, dugouts, tunnels and underground installations.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
The Soviets liberated Auschwitz, the largest killing center and concentration camp, in January 1945. The Nazis had forced the majority of Auschwitz prisoners to march westward (in what would become known as "death marches"). Soviet soldiers found over six thousand emaciated prisoners alive when they entered the camp. There was abundant evidence of mass murder in Auschwitz.
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005131
