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Mao Zedong Heads Long March
While Japan had invaded Manchuria, the communists were fighting the nationalists, who chased the communists on a 6,000 mile march known as the Long March. The communists would gain support from peasants along the way. -
Germany Invades Poland; Britain and France Declare War on Germany
The Germans invaded Poland at dawn using a strategy known as blitzkrieg, which would overwhelm the Poles. When Britain and France declared War on Germany afterwards, it was the start of a war in Europe. -
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
The Japanese came to Pearl Harbor at dawn, and bombed the harbor and many ships. What Franklin Roosevelt describe as "a date which will live in infamy", the attack on Pearl Harbor caused the US to enter a war in the Pacific against Japan. It also led to discrimination against Japanese residents of the US. -
Germany Surrenders
Germany officially surrendered after Hitler killed himself and after the siege of Berlin. This meant a victory in Europe for the Allies, and much of Europe was liberated, but there was a struggle to find new governments after the corrupt fascist regimes. -
Allies Use Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
This was the first time that an atomic bomb was actually used, as American scientists had been working on it secretly. Bombing the two cities gave the US victory, and allowed the US to swoop in and reshape Japan, but the bombs killed hundreds of thousands of people. -
United Nations is Formed
The United Nations would bring justice for crimes and atrocities committed during the war. The United Nations would also prevent another such war from happening again.
