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Rise of Fascist dictators in Europe
A rise in fascism in Europe grew in the early tweenties. It countinued throughout WWII. Benito Mussolini was one of the first fascist dictators and he was admired greatly by Adolf Hitler. Fascism surged in Europe as a result of the Great Deppression. -
Japanese aggression in Asia
Japan invaded the city of Beijing in a suprise attack and quickly took many parts of China. The USSR made a non-aggression pact with China, but gave them a supply of weaponry. By October they took Shanghai and by December Nanking. By October 1938 Japan forced the Chinese government to flee inland to Chongqing. -
Annexation of Austria
Often refered to as the "Anchluss", it was one of the first major steps Hitler took to regain land lost in WWI. Even thought it violated the Treaty of Versailles other countries only responded with verbal complaints. Although the annexation went through the Chancellor of Austria was under great preassure to allow it. Germany then sent in a large military and police force into the country. -
Munich Conference
The Munich Conference was an agreement between France, Britain, Germany, and Italy. It allowed Germany to annex a portion of Czechoslovakia that was on the border on Germany and Czechoslavakia known as Sudetenland. Czechoslovakia was not present at the conference and had little say in the decision. It was a failed act of appeasment by the European powers and only increased Hitlers power. -
Nazi Genocide
Also known as the Holocaust, it was the mass murder of Jews by order of Adolf Hitler. Aproximately two thirds of the jewish population in Europe were killed. Over six million Jews were killed as a result of mass murder in concentration camps and in extermination camps. People who were also disabled or who were labled homosexual were also killed. -
Period: to
WWII
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Battle of the Atlantic
The Battle of the Atlantic spanned for over six years and was the longest battle in WWII. It was an Allied naval blockade aimed at Germany. It was put in place after the start of the war and resulted in an Allied victory. Although over 3,500 allied ships were destroyed and over 70,000 allied seamen killed, it was a costly win for the Allies. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact
The Nazi-Soviet pact was the official non-aggression treaty between Germany and Russia. It also included secret war manuevers that would allow Germany to conquer most of Europe. On June 22 1941 Hitler broke the pact and inavded Russia. This was a major error by Hitler that some argue resulted in his defeat. -
Phony War
Germany set up a very small offensive line near the French border. This cause the British and French to send thousands of troops to the Maginot Line. The Germans never ended up attacking and only small skirmishes accoured for seven months. It was coined "Phony War" possibly because US Senator William Borah quoted, "There is something phoeny about this war." The inactivity continued untill Germany invaded Denmark and Norway. -
Fall of France
The Battle of France resulted in a successful German invasion of France. Germany invaded the undefended city of Paris and conquered the North and West sections of France. British troops imediately retreated at the start of the attack. The Maginot Line fell and the Germans took controll of France. -
Miracle at Dunkirk
The Miracle at Dunkirk was a massive Allied evacuation from the shores of Dunkirk, France. Over 300,000 soldier were evacuated from the beaches before an oncoming German attack. About 40,000 British and French troops were taken as prisoners of war and they were treated brutily. Is is concidered an successful opperation by the Allies because many men were saved even though many ships were lost in the retreat. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was an air campaign by the Germans to gain air superiority over the British. It resulted in bombings in key cities like London. German forces evenually stoped the bombings and this was a crucial mistake in the early parts of the war. This resulted in the inability for Germany to invade Britain. -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was a code word for Germany's secret plan to invade Russia. The Germans sent a massive offensive strike into Russia but it ultimatly failed. This directly broke the Nazi-Soviet Pack and the USSR declared war on Germany. This was a complete disaster, and was one of the main reasons for the downfall of Nazi Germany. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a suprise military strike by the Japanese navy. The attack was meant to interfere with United States envolvment in the Pacific Theatre as well as destroy the fleet. This caused the US to enter the war and join the Allies. Although the attack was a Japanese victory it resulted in the US entering the war which caused the downfall of the Axis powers. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was the most important naval battle in the pacific campaign. The battle was the defeat of the Japanese attack against Midway Atoll. It also had irrepairable damage against the Japanese Navy. This allowed the US to make large advances towards Japan in the Pacific. -
Battle of El Alamein
The Battle of El Alamein was apart of the Western Desert Campaign in North Africa. It was a battle that was caused by the Axis advance towards Egypt. There was quickly a stalemate untill the Allies broke through German lines. It was a decisive allied victory and was the first major offensive since the start of the war. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest battle in history resulting in over two million soldiers killed. The battle went on for five months and was an important Soviet Union victory. It was a turning point in WWII and Axis forces declined in the Eastern Front. The city was reduced to rubble from constent bombings and close-quarters combat. -
Invasion of Italy
The Invasion of Italy was an Allied attack on the cities of Salerno, Calabria, and Taranto. It resulted in an Allied victory that declined the Axis powers. On September 8th Italy surrendered to the allies. This weakened Axis forces and boosted the Allies morale. -
D-Day
D-Day was the landing of the Allied troops on the beaches of Normandy, France. It allowed the Allied forces to free France and make their way to Germany. It was a costly victory resulting in at least 12,000 soldiers killed. It changed the outcome of the war and ledto the end to Hitler's reign. -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Campaign. It resulted in an Allied victory and allowed US forces closer to Japan. The victory allowed a potiential land invasion into Japan which gave the Allies a strategic advance. Over 50,000 civillians were killed because of Japanese Soldier forcing mass-murders and mass-suicides so civillians would not be captured. -
Battle of Berlin
The Battle of Berlin was the final major battle in the Eastern Theatre in WWII. It resulted in the unconditional surrender of the city of Berlin. The Soviet Union quickly crushed the German forces and took over most of the city. Adolf Hitler and other high ranking officials all commited suicide in the city. -
Nazis Defeated
The Nazis unconditionaly surrendered to the Allies and took their soldiers out of countries like Finland and Norway. The Germans than had to surrender to the Allies and the Soviets unconditionally. The surrender was signed by Wilhelm Keitel that also put in place a cease-fire. This ended the war in the Eastern Front and the Nazi's control over Europe. -
United Nations
The United Nations was established because of the League of Nations failed to prevent World War II. Its goal is to protect world peace and solves problems. The 51 nations that founded the UN had now expanded to 193 nations. The United Nations Charter created the UN and it was signed by 50 of the 51 original countries -
Use of Atomic Weapons
The atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki resulted in the surrender of Japan in WWII. The allies were going to send an invasion but that proved to be to costly. The United States sent Japan an ultimatum that they would suffer great losses if they did not surrender. The bombs, Little Boy and Fat Man, were dropped on August 6th and August 9th. -
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan ended the Pacific Campaign and ended WWII. Japan was occupated and the official surrender was signed. Some Japanese soldiers did not recieve the notice and continued to the fight untill 1970. The war formally ended at the signing of the Treaty of San Francisco on September 8, 1951.
