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Hitler Becomes Chancellor of Germany
Hitler is named Chancellor of Germany by the German president. He was able to take that position for his promises to fix the economy and to get rid of the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler affected the world in a big way by starting WWII which changed the coarse of history. Info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-is-named-chancellor-of-germany Picture: http://www.rarenewspapers.com/view/589606 -
Invasion of Poland
Germany invades Poland and within weeks of the battle, the Polish army is unable to defend its land and Warsaw surrenders to the Germans. The reason for the battle was to regain lost land that was given to Poland after the Treaty of Versailles. This battle started WWII in a domino effect Info: https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005070 Picture: https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005070 -
Winston Churchill Becomes Leader of British Government
Chamberlain was the Prime Minister before Churchill but after WWII broke out, Chamberlain wasn't able to stop many invasions made by Hitler and therefore lost popularity and lost the confidence of the House of Commons. Churchill had military experience and gained popularity among the Brits. Info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/churchill-becomes-prime-minister Photo: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/01/25/donald-rumsfeld-launches-solitaire-app-inspired-by-winston-churc/ -
Italy Enters War
Italy declared war on France and Great Britain after staying neutral since the beginning of the war despite Hitler urging Mussolini to join. Benito Mussolini decides to join after considering that Hitler might conquer Europe all on his own. Info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/italy-declares-war-on-france-and-great-britain Photo: http://www.rarenewspapers.com/view/594787 -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain of a turning point for World War II and determined part of the war. The battle took place in thew skies over Britain with the British Royal Air force and the German Luftwaffe. The Luftwaffe failed to gain an air advantage and eventually Britain won. Info: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-britain
Photo: http://www.veteranstoday.com/2013/07/11/the-battle-of-britain-anniversary/ -
Axis Powers break Non-Aggression Pact
The non-aggression pact was an agreement between Germany and the USSR and stated that neither nation should attack each other for 10 years. The pact fell apart when Germany attacked the USSR ending the pact. Info: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/german-soviet-nonaggression-pact Photo: https://wn.com/germany_invaded_the_ussr -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan launched a secret attack on the naval base Pearl Harbor that lasted just 2 hours. The effects were devastating with the destruction of 20 vessels, 300+ airplanes, and the death of 2000 soldiers and sailors. The day after, Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan and at the same time, Germany and Italy declared war on the USA. Info: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor
Photo: http://www.historyonthenet.com/americas-first-reactions-to-the-pearl-harbor-attack/ -
Bataan Death March
The USA surrendered the Bataan peninsula to Japan and the 75,000 US and Pilipino troops were forced to march 65 miles to various concentration camps and were subject to harsh treatment from the Japanese soldiers. Many soldiers died during the march Info: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march Photo: https://www.britannica.com/event/Bataan-Death-March -
Battle of Coral Sea
The first air-sea battle in history that was between Japan and the Allied Forces. Both sides suffered heavy damages and the Japanese were left without enough planes which resulted in an Allied victory Info: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-coral-sea Photo: http://www.gunplot.net/main/content/battle-coral-sea-saving-australia -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a turning point for the United States to allow them to move into the offensive. The battle was won using code-breaking to figure out the Japanese plans for their attack that were made several weeks before the planned attacks which made the United States prepared for the attack. Info: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway Photo: https://www.reference.com/history/battle-midway-important-c00b55c201410030 -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was regarded as one of the most important battle in WWII because it turned the table to the Allies. The battle took place in Stalingrad and was a successful defense by the USSR and was the bloodies battle with 2 million combined deaths. Info: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad Photo: https://elginhistory12.wikispaces.com/Battle+of+Stalingrad -
Italy Surrenders to Allies
Italy surrendered to the allies after the fall of the Fascist party. Badoglio, the man who took over after Mussolini, accepted the surrender and Allied troops began moving in into Italy. Hitler also launched an operation to occupy 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
D-Day was the largest amphibious attack in history. it was the begging of the end for the war in Europe after more that 100,000 allied troops landing in Normandy and liberated a large part of Western Europe Info: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day Photo: http://www.futuregamez.net/movies/longestday/longestday.html -
1st Liberation of Concentration Camps
The Soviets were the first to liberate a concentration camp. They liberated Majdanek concentration camp in Poland near the end of the was and later went on to liberate other concentration camps. Info: https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007724 Photo: http://www.racontemoilhistoire.com/2016/02/21/triangles-roses/ -
Liberation of Paris
After being occupied by the Nazis for 4 years, Paris is liberated by allied forces. The defense there was light and the Allied forces were able to get the Nazis to surrender although Hitler had an order to blow up the landmarks and burn the city. Info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/paris-liberated Photo: http://www.warandtactics.com/smf/world-war-2-pictures/liberation-of-paris-celebration/ -
Battle of the Bulge
Hitler tried to split the Allied forces by launching an offensive against the Allied forces. The Allied soldiers were caught by surprise and fought back against the Germans. The Allied forces took advantage of a bulge to be able to stop the German forces. Info: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge Photo: https://www.army.mil/botb/ -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima started to be planned after the United States needed a base near the Japanese wear they can keep their bombers and fighters. The island was defended by 23,000 Japanese soldiers who fought from tunnels and caves. The United State forces were able to defeat the Japanese soldiers. Info: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima Photo: http://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/how-the-battle-of-iwo-jima-saved-american-lives/ -
Death of FDR
FDR had complained of pain in his head and collapsed showing the symptoms of a cerebral hemorrhage. A few hours later he was announced dead and Harry S. Truman became the new president after FDR. Info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fdr-dies Photo: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt -
Death of Hitler
As the war came closer to the end, Hitler stayed in his underground bunker that was self-sufficient. As the Soviet forces closed in on Berlin, Hitler and his wife committed suicide by taking cyanide pills and Hitler shot himself with a pistol. Info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-commits-suicide-in-his-underground-bunker Photo: http://ww2today.com/2-may-1945-german-forces-begin-to-surrender-in-the-west -
Germany Surrenders
General Alfred Jodl tried to limit the surrender to troops in the Western front only but he contacted Hitler's successor and was forced to surrender all troops in the East and West. This ended the 6-year war. Info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-surrenders-unconditionally-to-the-allies-at-reims Photo: http://nokturnaltimes.tumblr.com/post/144040440455/historysisco-on-this-day-in-history-may-7 -
Bombing of Hiroshima
The United States dropped the first ever nuclear bombs on the city of Hiroshima. The atomic bomb was called Little Boy. An estimated 237,000 people died from the bomb directly and indirectly. Info: http://www.atomicheritage.org/history/bombings-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-1945 Photo: http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Hiroshima -
Bombing of Nagasaki
3 days later after the bombing of Hiroshima, the atomic bomb "Fat Man" was going to be dropped on the city Kokoro but the B-29 crew was not able to get a visual on the city due to clouds. They decided to drop the bomb on the secondary target Nagasaki. 80,000 people died at the end of 1945. Info: Photo: http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/g_l/levine/bombing.htm -
Japan Surrenders
After the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan was left devastated and their only option was to accept defeat and surrender. After the surrender of Japan, World War II officially came to an end. Info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-surrenders Photo: https://www.psych2go.net/the-good-news/