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German Invasion of Poland
This event was the catalyst of World War II. After World War I, a lot of land that was previously Germany's was lost, some of which going to Poland. This was part of the Treaty of Versailles, a document that stripped Germany of its resources. The Germans were all angry, and when Adolf Hitler took control they sought to gain back what was lost. All the while, France and Britain stood by and watched everything happen without interfering, but this invasion crossed the line, and the war began. -
The Fall of France
After the Treaty of Versailles, Germany built up their military to a fairly-well and devised a plan to take control of France. In May of 1940, Germany first invaded Belgium to distract, while sending the majority of their troops to a different French area, the Arden (forests). Many people fled to Paris, which was now overrun and unable to provide. By the time Germany reached the city the French had to give in and sign an armistice- thus giving Germany an upper hand (seemingly) for good. -
The Battle of Britain
Winning over the French left the Germans on a high. They began plotting to conquer Britain as well- something considered their first misstep, beginning their downfall -and in mid-1940, they began constant bombings of the country that would last almost a year. Despite these violent efforts, the Germans couldn't defeat Britain's air force nor could they get them to surrender. They halted, and postponed any plans of invasion, shifting gears to invading the Soviet Union instead. -
Pearl Harbor
On December 7th, 1941, the Japanese Navy dropped bombs on a US base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii out of the blue. This began the Pacific Theater, US declaring war on Japan and officially entering WWII. Japan wanted to block trade routes that were near said base to gain more resources and establish themselves as a threat compared to the powerful and domineering Allies. This was their way of making sure the US would stay out of their way. -
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is known as the turning point of World War II. This time, the US was able to crack the codes Japan's navy was using to communicate and plan their attacks. They went island to island defeating Japan and establishing superiority in the Pacific. Both sides suffered significant casualties and loss of equipment. -
The Battle of Stalingrad
Historians consider Stalingrad to be the one of the greatest battles of WWII. It prevented the Germans from entering the Soviet Union, and gave the Allies the upper hand for good. The Germans wanted to seize Stalingrad because it was a hub for transportation and resources. It was also named after Stalin, and Hitler thought such a win would look good under his belt. Unfortunately, the Soviet Union took an offensive stance and won. -
The Battle of Italy
The Battle of Italy is considered one of the war's longest campaigns. Lasting almost two years, the Allies fought Italy and their colonies hoping for a win and a leg up on the Axis Powers as a result. Defeating Italy would give the Allies hope, as well as the smaller countries under Nazi rule. The battle didn't quite go as planned, though. Terrains were rough, and the troops were unprepared. US was more concerned with storming Northern France at the time, which didn't help either. -
D-Day
Before D-Day, German troops occupied France. This event was the beginning of the end- making history as the largest amphibious (Allied soldiers storming the beaches from the water) invasion ever. The allied troops (US, Britain, Canada) stormed the beaches of Normandy- after sending 23,000 paratroopers behind enemy lines via parachute the night before. The Germans were able to hold off the Allies for weeks, despite a clear disadvantage, but the fighting ended in an Allied win during mid-august. -
The Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was the last major battle the Germans took part in while on offense. It took place in the Ardennes Forest, Belgium. In the beginning, it seemed like the Germans had a chance of winning against the allies- they captured opposing soldiers and tortured them costing the US a fair amount, but not enough to win the war. Ending in early January the next year, the Germans lost and were left crippled- down 100,000 men and a large amount of their supplies. -
Germany's Surrender
The Germans surrendering signified a near ending to the second World War. The Soviet Union worked with the US to capture Berlin, as well as encroach from the western borders. Hitler committed suicide days before the invasions, when it became apparent Germany would lose. Without his leadership, Germany had little choice but to give up Berlin and surrender to the Allies. -
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
On August 6th of 1945, America dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima- three days later bombing Nagasaki, killing over 120,000 Japanese citizens. These bombs changed warfare forever. About a week later, Japan surrendered and the war came to an end- one that left many countries in shambles yet again.