-
Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg was a German military tactic, meaning "lightning war". Hitler invaded Poland because he wanted to regain territory and eventually rule Poland. He attacked both from the air and on land. There were hundreds of bombs dropped on the civilians and tanks rolling throughout Poland, completely destroying everything in its path. This was a very successful tactic for Hitler because Poland had no chance of fighting back.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-invades-poland -
Germany captured Paris
Parisians awoke this morning with an announcement that by 8 pm German troops were coming to occupy Paris. Around 2 million people fled before German tanks entered Paris. The Gestapo did hundreds of arrests, interrogations, and spying immediately upon entrance. Parisians were trapped in their capital and Germany successfully had a hold on Paris.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-enter-paris -
Battle of Britain began
Germany was in charge of nighttime bombing raids against London. Although the German Luftwaffe failed against Britain's Royal Air Force, they caused extreme destruction and hundreds of thousands of casualties. The overall plan of Germany had failed because they couldn't dominate the skies to prepare for invasion. London was attacked for 76 nights in a row.
https://www.britannica.com/event/the-Blitz -
Operation Barbarossa
Hitler sent his armies into a mass invasion of the Soviet Union from North Cape to the Black Sea. Germany underestimated the Soviet Union because of their counterattacks that prevented them of their advance. Moscow appeared open but the Russian weather intervened. The Germans were struggling and eventually made a slow retreat and now caused them to have to fight a two front war.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Lend Lease Act
The Lend Lease Act's role was to provide military aid to foreign countries. This allows the U.S. to support war interests without being directly involved. The U.S. would only provide for countries such as Britain, the Soviet Union, China, Brazil, and some others. By lending war materials to Britain without pay, it allowed them to keep fighting, eventually leading America into the war.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/lend-lease-act -
Pearl Harbor
Japan wanted to expand their empire and the U.S. refused to export oil to them, so they sent hundreds of Japanese fighter planes to Pearl Harbor. They ended up destroying and damaging around 20 naval vessels. More than 2,400 Americans were killed in this attack. Japan's intention was to destroy the Pacific fleet, therefore targeting Pearl Harbor.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
The U.S. declares war on Japan & Germany
After Japan ruined America's Pacific fleet, FDR declares war against Japan and Germany declares war on America.He gave a ten minute speech to the citizens, getting them to be just as passionate about protecting their country as he was . Within only an hour, Roosevelt had the declaration of war against both Japan and Germany.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-united-states-declares-war-on-japan -
Bataan Death March
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japan began their invasion of the Philippines. U.S. surrendered the Bataan Peninsula to the Japanese because of the fact that they were no longer able to hold out any longer. Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to make a march to prison camps. This march was 65 miles and they had to deal with extreme heat and horrible treatment.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Victory at Battle of Midway
The Japanese fleet commander wanted to choose a target near Pearl Harbor to try and draw out the American fleet. The U.S. was able to break the Japanese code, therefore allowing them to prevent and counteract Japan's plan to attack. The U.S. defeated Japan and the battle is one of the most conclusive naval battles of WWII. This victory allowed the U.S. and its allies to be in an offensive position.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
Around 400,000 Jews were closed in in one area in Warsaw, which was closed off with brick walls, barbed wire, and armed guards. When troops were sent to liquidate the ghetto, Jews decided to fight back with small weapons. This fight lasted for about a month and Germans would destroy buildings and the bunkers Jews were hiding in. Eventually the ghetto went under Nazi control and survivors were sent to concentration camps.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/warsaw-ghetto-uprising -
Stalingrad
In the Battle of Stalingrad, Soviet forces surrounded and defeated an entire German army. This battle prevented and stopped further German advance into the Soviet Union. It was also marked as a turning to a favor of the Allies during WWII. The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest battles in history with as many as nearly 2 million causalities.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
D-Day
Allies mad a fake campaign to mislead the Germans about the planned invasion. Around 156,000 American, British, and Canadian forces landed across the coast of France Normandy's region. This was along five beaches with an approximate 50 mile stretch. By late August of 1944, all of northern France was liberated. This was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history which required a lot of planning.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The American invasion of Iwo Jima was inspired because of the need to have a base near the Japanese coast. First, they started off when air and naval attacks. Then, three marine divisions from the U.S. landed on the island. The marines defeated around 23,000 Japanese troops within a month of the fighting.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Battle of the Bulge
Hitler wanted to split the Allied armies in northwest Europe. American units didn't expect this and they fought very desperate battles to try and prevent any type of German advance. When the Germans tried to go further into the territory, the Allied troops formed a line that looked like a large bulge. The Allied General's successful ways was vital to their defense and helped to neutralize the German attacks.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
Soviet soldiers were the first of the Allies to liberate prisoners from a concentration camp during the end of WWII. They started with the Majdanek camp in Poland and then went to liberate other camps. When the entered Auschwitz, they found hundreds of sick and exhausted prisoners that the Germans were forced to leave behind in their retreat. British, Canadian, American, and French troops also freed these prisoners from the camps.
https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007724 -
End of WWII
American bombers dropped the first atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Japan. This attack wiped out 90 percent of the city and thousands later died of radiation. Three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Japan's emperor announced their country's surrender in WWII over the radio. This officially ended WWII with an Allied victory.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki
