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Nazi/Soviet non-aggression pact
The non-aggression pact allowed Germany to invade Poland without fear of retaliation from the Soviet Union. When France and Germany declared war on Poland, Germany launched an offensive that marked the beginning of World War II. -
Hitler invades Poland
Germany invaded Poland in order to reclaim and control territory lost during WWI. The non-aggression deal with the USSR guaranteed that Germany would invade if the USSR took any action. Britain and France would declare war on Germany if Hitler refused to leave Poland. -
Britain and France declare war on Germany
The outbreak of war did not come as a surprise. Tensions in Europe had been building for years and there was a growing feeling that German aggression needed to be confronted with force. The British reluctantly accepted that war was necessary to stop Hitler. -
Battle of the Atlantic
The war for control of the Atlantic between Germany and the Allies. During WW2, this was the longest continuous fight. The Atlantic was the source of all of Britain's resources, and if it was destroyed, the country would lose access to all of them. -
Canada declares war on Germany
In September 1939, Canada voluntarily entered the war after realising that Nazi Germany was threatening the very existence of Western civilisation. Canadians were in the middle of the combat almost from the start, in the air. -
Miracle at Dunkirk
Over 338,000 British and French soldiers were evacuated. The British Royal Air Force played a critical role in this by intercepting German bombers from over the shore. This would significantly boost morale among British soldiers and help them find a larger force. -
Battle of Britain
Germany launched bomber planes into Britain to attack ports, air bases, aircraft manufacturers, radar sites, and to weaken Britain's air defence. Winning enabled Britain to escape Nazi domination and to establish a base of operations from which to launch the D-Day invasion of Normandy. -
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
The Japanese navy launched an unexpected invasion on the US naval facility in Honolulu, Pearl Harbor. The USS Arizona, which sunk with over 1000 soldiers on board, was successfully destroyed and detonated by the Japanese navy. The strike would break America's isolation in the war and lead to the United States unleashing an atomic bomb on Japan. -
Battle of Dieppe
The allies launched a major raid on the French port of Dieppe which would ultimately be unsuccessful. The German defences were stronger than the allies had expected and Canadians lacked support from the navy and air force. Many soldiers were killed or taken prisoner after the raid and the allies learned a lot that would lead to the success of D-Day. -
Italian Campaign
Allied forces invaded Italy from the south and advanced up the Italian peninsula until they were near Germany. This would lead to Mussolini's demise and the end of fascism in Italy. -
Battle Of Ortona
The Canadian armed forces invaded Ortona, and their goal was to take over Ortona. This was their hardest battle where the Canadians fought through rubble-covered narrow streets, booby-trapped houses, machine-gun fire, and concealed landmines throughout the town. This was significant because capturing Ortona allowed the Canadians to advance INTO Rome. -
D-Day
The Allies launched a naval, air, and land assault on Nazi-occupied France. Allies parachuted into drop zones in northern France. Ground soldiers then landed on five different beaches. Following D-Day, Germany began to lose the war and surrendered less than a year later. -
End of the War in Europe (Germany Surrenders)
The German Instrument of Surrender was signed, thereby ending Germany's participation in WWII and the Nazi Party.