-
Germany Invades Poland
This is the event that sets off WWII. Germany's plan to invade Poland is the fire that sets the world ablaze. Germany's leader Adolf Hitler thought it was a good idea. The Polish were defeated. Class notes -
Germany invaded France and captured Paris
Hitler leads Germany in an invasion of France. There, he captures Paris. He does this to solidify Germany as a force to be reckoned with. Germany turns many heads worldwide, especially Britain's. https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/pages/ww2/ -
Germany bombed London
Germany bombs London in an attempt to gain more territory. The bombings last 11 months. This leads to the Battle of Britain. Germany finally loses. Class Notes -
Lend Lease
The United States gave Britain war supplies and old naval warships. In return, Britain gave the U.S. military bases in Bermuda and the Caribbean. This strengthened the bond between the U.S. and Britain. It also gave Britain more weaponry, artillery, etc. Class Notes -
Germany invaded the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union defeated Germany in Stalingrad. It was a turning point of the war in Eastern Europe. This marked an important day for the Allied Powers and a bad day for the Axis Powers. This was the first time Germany was stopped. https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005155 -
Operation Barbarossa
This was a code name for the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union. It was located in Eastern and Northern Europe. The German troops failed to defeat Soviet forces. The campaign signaled a crucial turning point in the war. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii -
Japan bombed Pearl Harbor
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, a naval base in Hawaii. This is the worst attack on American soil. The next day, America declares war on Japan. This is important because it is the event that draws America into WWII. Class Notes -
Germany declares war on the United States
Germany declares war on the U.S. after the attack on Pearl Harbor. This happens just four days after the attack. This is important because the U.S. declares war on Germany as well. The war has now become a worldwide affair. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/ -
Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer by the Imperial Japanese Army. 60,000–80,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war were loaded onto trains. This occurred after the three-month Battle of Bataan. The march was characterized by severe physical abuse and wanton killings, and was later judged by an Allied military commission to be a Japanese war crime. https://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/ -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a U.S. attack on Japan. The attack proved to be successful for the U.S. This was one of the most important battles for the U.S. It was a turning point of the war in the Pacific. http://spartacus-educational.com/2WW.htm -
Warsaw Ghetto uprising
The Warsaw Ghetto uprising was a Jewish act of defiance. It arose within the Warsaw ghetto. It opposed Nazi Germany's final effort to transport the remaining Ghetto population to Treblinka. The burning of the block was ordered. https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005137 -
D-Day
American and other Allied troops landed in Normandy, France. This was the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe. This was part of Operation Overlord. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive campaign. It took place on the Western Front. It was launched through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in eastern Belgium, northeast France, and Luxembourg. It caught the Allied powers completely off guard. -
Liberation of concentration camps
These events ended the misery for people stuck in concentration camps. Thousands were saved. Camps were shut down, never to be used again. This was a huge blow for the Axis Powers. https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005137 -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The United States Marine Corps landed on Iwo Jima. They eventually captured it. The goal was to capture the entire island. This five-week battle comprised some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the Pacific War. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii -
Atomic bombs dropped
The U.S. dropped two bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Japan. One was called the Fat Man and the other Little Boy. This was an extremely important day for the U.S. and Allied Powers. Japan was forced to surrender, ending WWII. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii
