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German Blitzkrieg 1939-1940
Term stands for lightening war. Blitzkrieg was a tactic used to create disorganization among enemy forves. It focused on locally concentrated firepower. The Germans tried the tactic out in Poland but suceeded in Belgium.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
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WWII events
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Fall of Paris
German tanks rolled into Paris. 2 million people fled. Paul Reynaud asked the U.S. for help. The U.S was prepared to send material aid but that was it because Hitler would take it as an official declaration of war. President Roosevelt froze the American assets of the Axis powers, Germany and Italy.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-enter-paris -
Operation Barbarossa
Hitler launched his armies eastward to invade the Soviet Union. The invasion went from the North Cape to the Black Sea. It was a crucial turning point in WWII. It forced Nazi, Germany to fight a 2 front war.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Pearl Harbor
Japanese fighter planes attacked a U.S. naval base in Hawaii. More than 20 ships were destroyed including 8 enormous battle ships. Nearly 2,000 soldiers were killed and 1,000 were wounded. The attack lasted 2 hours and the day after Franklin D. Roosevelt delcared war.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Wannsee Conference
15 high-ranking officials of the Nazi party and the German governtment came together to discuss a "final solution" to the European Jews. The term "final solution" was the code name for annilhation of the jewish population. Hitler authorized the mass murder. Most participants of the conference were national socialists.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wannsee-conference -
Bataan Death Match
75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to make an arduous 65-mile march to prison camps. Thousands died during the march hints the name Bataan death march. It happend because the U.S surrenedered the Bataan peninsula to the Japanese. Prisoners were treated awful.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Battle of Stalingrad
It was a successful defense against the U.S.S.R. Most historians consider it to be the greatest battle of WWII. It stopped the Germans from advancing into the Soviet Union. It was the bloodiest battle in history. Russians called it a contempory cannae.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
Allied invasion of Italy
The british army began the invasion. On the day of the invasion the Italian government secretly agreed to the allied terms. By 1943 groups were planning to overthrow Benito Mousilini. The invasion began on the mainland when it began the government surrendered to the allies.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-invade-italian-mainland -
D-day (Normandy Invasion)
The invasion lasted from June to July and resulted in allied liberation of western Europe from the Nazi party. Over 156,000 Americans, canadians, and british soldiers landed on the 50 mile stretch of beaches. One the largest military assults in history. Normandy was the beginning of the end to WWII.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Battle of the Bulge
Hitler tried to split the allied armies.Also known as Adrennes Offensive was the largest battle fought on the western front in WWII. Also was the largest battle fought by the U.S. army. German troops did not succeed however, it did create bulge in American lines 50 miles wide and 70 feet deep. The initial German attack consisted of more than 200,000 men, 1,000 tanks and assult guns.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Liberation of concentration camps
Soviet soldiers were the first to start liberating the concentration camps. British, American, Canadian, amd French troops also began freeing the concentration camps. The Americans were responsible for liberating Buchenwald and Dacha. Many died after liberation from malnourishment and could not be saved.
http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007724 -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The U.S. invaded after Pearl Harbor. Iwo Jima was defended by 23,000 Japanese troops that fought in underground caves. Iwo Jima was key island off the coast of Japan.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
VE Day
The U.S. and Great Britain celebrate their victory against the Nazi war machine. German troops laid down their arms and surrendered to the soviets. Many german troops fled in a mass exodus to avoid being taken as prisoner. More than 13,000 British prisoners were relased and sent back to Great Britain. The next day after he soviets lost 600 troops the Germans finally surrended.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Dropping of the atomic bomb
The United States dropped a bomb on Hiroshima a city in Japan. It was the first use of atomic weaponry in warfare. At the time Nazi Germany was working on nuclear weapons. Bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagaski. Over 120,000 casulities total. The bombs were dropped to bring the war to a quick end and show weapons of mass destruction to the Soviet Union.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-hiroshima -
VJ Day
Japan announced it was willingly surrendering to the allies helping to end WWII. The surrender took place on the U.S.S. Missouri. 6 years of hostilities came to an end. The day is also known by victory over japan day.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
