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Annexation of Sudetenland
Beginning on October 1st, 1938, annexed lands were being incorporated into Germany, including Sudetenland. Hitler had Nazi Germany invade and occupy lands in Czechoslovakia, parts were annexed to Germany, including Sudetenland. Video about the event:
https://historica.fandom.com/wiki/Annexation_of_the_Sudetenland Article with information about the event:
https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=87 -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
December 7th, 1941, the Japanese launched their surprise attack on the United States Navy, stationed at Pearl Harbor. A large number of ships employed in the Pacific were destroyed, as well as American lives. This was done to cripple the American Navy and prevent a response to the ongoing Japanese advance in the Pacific. Video: https://www.pbs.org/video/war-pearl-harbor-attack/ Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Japanese Internment
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, America was fearful of spies and general threats to national security. What this really meant was they were going to label anyone of Japanese heritage as a potential threat. Japanese American citizens were sent into internment camps at the behest of FDR under Order 9066. Video: https://www.cfr.org/video/lessons-learned-japanese-american-internment-during-wwii Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/japanese-american-relocation -
Battle of Midway
The battle of Midway, which started June 4th, 1942, was one of the most intense naval battles in history. It was a turning point for the war in the Pacific. It marked the end of the Japanese advance eastward, and the beginning of the American advance towards Japan. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-au50GxIXw Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
United States Pacific Advance (Island Hopping)
After the battle of Midway the balance of power within the Pacific Theater shifted. The United States began the offensive, using the strategy of Island Hopping. This saw the military going from island to island, capturing whatever they could. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBgxW3H_tsI Article:
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/pacific-strategy-1941-1944#:~:text=Amphibious%20Invasions%20and%20Island%20Hopping,Higgins%20Industries%20in%20New%20Orleans. -
Guadalcanal Campaign
The Guadalcanal Campaign or Battle of Guadalcanal was a multi-month fight, beginning August 7th, 1942. It was one of the first victories for the Allies in the Pacific and the first success in their advance towards Japan. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VzCTvSQ4JY Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-guadalcanal -
Battle of Stalingrad
What was meant to be a German invasion of Russia's industrial center, turned into a multi-month blood bath. It began August 23rd, the battle was between forces of the Soviet Union, as well as common Russian citizens, against Nazi armies. The Soviets ultimately won, resulting in an awful loss for the Nazis. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHkELWFqGKQ Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
D-Day
Also known as Operation Overlord, D-Day was the beginning to the invasion of Germany. June 6th, 1944, allied ships landed in Normandy, France, which had been take over by Nazis. The goal was to get off the beaches, into France, and begin the march to Germany. It was very brutal and saw many casualties. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KY1pDLulF4 Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Philippines Campaign
The Philippines Campaign which began October 20th, 1944, was an Allied mission to liberate the Philippines from Japanese forces which had taken over earlier in the war. Video: https://www.warhistoryonline.com/whotube-2/philippines-campaign-1944-45.html Article: https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100322720 -
Yalta Conference
February 4th, 1945, the Yalta conference was initiated. Held between the "Big 3" (Allied leaders FDR, Churchill, Stalin), the conference discussed what would occur after the war. Topics were discussed such as land claims, the future of nations, what would happen after the war. Video: https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/2015/02/11/how-the-yalta-conference-shaped-the-world/ Article: https://www.britannica.com/event/Yalta-Conference -
Battle of Berlin
The battle of Berlin began April 16th, 1945, it was the final major battle of the war in Europe. Allied forces, mainly soviets, stomped out German opposition. German citizens were forced by Hitler to fight a last stand against any enemy. This lead to the death of many civilians and the destruction of the city. Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgHWSJBlnas Article: https://www.military-history.org/cover-feature/the-battle-of-berlin.htm -
Hitler's Death
During the battle of Berlin, fearing capture, Hitler, who was hidden in a bunker with his girlfriend, killed himself, April 30th, 1945. Hitler was afraid of facing justice for his crimes when Soviet troops stormed Berlin. Eva Braun, his girlfriend, died by cyanide. Hitler shot himself. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNV5pP-5FM0 Article: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-commits-suicide-in-his-underground-bunker -
Trinity Test
The Trinity Test was the first ever test of a nuclear weapon. It occurred on July 16th, 1945, in Los Alamos, New Mexico. This test was part of the secretive Manhattan Project, the success of this test demonstrated the power of nuclear weapons. Video: https://www.atomicheritage.org/tour-stop/trinity-test-0#.YGYky69Ki00 Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/trinity-test -
Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference was between Stalin, Churchill, and Truman. It started on July 17th, 1945. This conference was meant to discuss the outcome of Europe after the war, as well as the surrender of Japan. Video: https://www.britannica.com/video/180248/Overview-Potsdam-Conference Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/potsdam-conference#:~:text=The%20Potsdam%20Conference%2C%20held%20near,new%20American%20president%2C%20Harry%20S. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
On August 6th, 1945, the first ever nuclear attack was commenced by the United States on Japan. The plane Enola Gay dropped the bomb "Little Boy" over the city of Hiroshima. The bomb detonated above the city and killed thousands. The radiation exposure would go on to kill thousands more. Japan surrendered a few days later, after a second bomb. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgp6ZH-by-E Article: https://www.history.com/news/hiroshima-nagasaki-second-atomic-bomb-japan-surrender-wwii