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The Invasion (Blitzkrieg) of Poland
In 1939, Hitler made new territorial demands in Poland.
Fearing Hitler intended to dominate Europe, Britain and France refused to give in to his demands. -
Great Britain and France Declare War on Nazi Germany
To defend the balance of power in Europe and safeguard Britain's position in the world.
By the end of the month, Poland had ceased to exist ... and World War II had begun. -
The Invasion (Blitzkrieg) of Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands & France
intended to bring the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Armies into positions in Belgium from which they could invade France. -
The Battle & Great Escape at Dunkirk
The Ardennes trapped almost 400,000 British and French soldiers as they fled to the beaches of Dunkirk on the French side of the English Channel.
In less than a week, a makeshift fleet of fishing trawlers, tugboats, river barges, pleasure craft - more than 800 vessels in all - ferried about 330,000 British, French and Belgian troops to safety across the Channel. -
The Battle of Britain
Germany assembled an invasion naval fleet on the French coast and started an air war at the same time over Great Britain. -
Selective Service and Training Act
The first peacetime draft in United States' history.
16 million men between the ages of 21 and 35 were registered.
Of these, 1 million were to be drafted for one year -
Lend-Lease Assistance Act
Lend-Lease Act to sell, lease, or lend war materials to “any country whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States.”
American battleships began protecting British ships crossing the Atlantic with supplies for Britain. -
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
Miller helped carry wounded sailors to safety during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Two waves of Japanese airplanes attacked the U.S. Pacific fleet stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. -
America Enters World War II
helped to get the nation's economy back on its feet following the depression. -
Germany and Italy Declare War on the United States
In response to the latter's declaration of war upon the Empire of Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor four days earlier. Germany also declared war on the U.S. the same day. -
The Battle of the Coral Sea
it was the first time in World War 2 that the Japanese experienced failure in a major operation; and. the battle stopped the Japanese sea-borne invasion of Port Moresby. -
The Battle of Midway Island
stopped the growth of Japan in the Pacific and put the United States in a position to begin shrinking the Japanese empire -
The Invasion of North Africa
Stalin pressured Britain and America to open a “second front” in Western Europe.They launched Operation Torch, an invasion of Axis-controlled North Africa, commanded by Dwight D. Eisenhower. -
The Invasion of Sicily & Italy
the Allies had successfully delivered a devastating blow against the first fascist government in world history when they toppled Mussolini's regime. -
The D-Day Invasion of France
drain German resources and block access to key military sites -
Nazi Concentration Camps Discovered
It revealed to the world, the scope of Nazi horrors and gave new meaning to the war. -
The Yalta Conference
it divided Germany and Berlin into four allied zones. -
V-E (Victory in Europe) Day
General Eisenhower accepted the unconditional surrender of the Third Reich.
On May 8, 1945, the Allies celebrated V-E Day - Victory in Europe Day.
The war in Europe was finally over. -
The Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki
Japan surrendered shortly after the second explosion, once American leaders agreed to allow the Japanese Emperor to remain on this throne. -
The Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima
Hiroshima was an important Japanese military center.
Forty-three seconds later, almost every building in the city collapsed into dust from the force of the blast.
Hiroshima had ceased to exist.
Still, Japan’s leaders hesitated to surrender. -
V-J (Victory over Japan) Day
Marked the end of world war 2 one of the deadliest and most destructive wars in history -
The Battle of the Bulge
Allies began moving eastward liberating Paris in August 1944.
However, the Allies advanced so quickly they were caught by surprise when Germans counter-attacked in the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944.
After this battle, the German attack collapsed.