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Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact
On this day, a nonaggression pact was signed between Germany and the Soviet Union. The Pact the two countries agreed to take no military action against each other for the next ten years. Soviet Leader, Joseph Stalin, viewed the Pact as a way to keep peaceful terms with Germany. -
Germany's invasion of Poland (1939)
Germany invading Poland was the first of Germany's betrayals in World War II, considering both countries signed a nonaggression pact. 1.5 million troops invaded the 1,750 mile border of Germany/Poland, and German Uboats and air forces attacked airfields and Polish navy. Two days later, on September 3rd, Britain and France declared war on Germany to set off World War II. -
German Blitzkrieg
"Blitzkrieg" translated to English means "lightning war". This tactic was developed as a solution to trench warfare that took place in World War I. Blitzkrieg tactics overwhelmed Poland in 1939, then continued to attacked Denmark, Norway, and lower countries from April-May 1940. -
Fall of Paris
In May of 1940, Germany launched and invasion of France and the Low countries. In June of 1940, Parisians awoke to German-accented voices announcing that curfew was being imposed for 8 PM. British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, had tried to convince the French government to hang on and not sue for peace. -
Operation Barbarossa
On June 22nd,1941, Hitler sent his armies eastward in an invasion of the Soviet Union. Barbarossa was the crucial turning point in WWII. Germans were conquerors not liberators- their goal was to enslave slavic population and exterminate the Jews. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 7th, 1941, the Japanese launched 200 planes on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. America was in complete shock because they were focused on Germany and the Nazis. Japan's attack allowed Americans to rally behind their government. The day after the attack, President Franklin Roosevelt asked congress for a declaration of war. -
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference was when the Nazi Party and German government officials discussed and coordinated what they called the "final solution of the Jewish question". This marked a turning point in Nazi Policy toward the Jews. Each man seated at the table understood that the cooperation of this agency was vital if such ambitious policy was to succeed -
Battle of Midway
This battle was one of the most decisive US victories against Japan in the beginning of World War II. This battle lasted only four days and was a sea and air battle. The US destroyed four Japanese aircraft carriers while only losing one of their own. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was the most successful Soviet defense of the city of Stalingrad in USSR during World War II. Russians consider it to be the greatest battle of World War II. This battle stopped German advance into the Soviet Union and marked turning of the tide of the war in favor of the allies. -
Operation Gomorrah
On July 24th, 1943, British bombers arrived in Hamburg, Germany, late in the night. 42,600 civilians were killed and another 37,000 were wounded in Hamburg. US eighth Air Force made an intense bombing run of Northern Germany, which consisted of 2 raids on Hamburg during the daytime. British attacks on Germany continued until November of that year. -
Allied Invasion of Italy
On September 3rd, 1943, British 8th army under Field Marshall Bernard L. Montgomery begins the Allied invasion of the Italian peninsula. The Italian government secretly agreed to the Allies terms for surrender. Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini envisioned building fascist Italy into a new Roman Empire. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
On D-Day, some 156,000 American, British, Canadian forces landed on a 50 mile stretch of beaches in the Normandy region of France. This invasion was one of the largest assaults in history. The Normandy invasion has been called the beginning of the end of war in Europe. -
Battle of the Bulge
During this battle, Germans launched the last major offensive of the war, Operation Mist, an attempt to push the allied front line west out of Northern France and into Northern Belgium. This battle is called "the Bulge" because the allied front line bulged inward on wartime news maps. There was 250,000 Germans in the initial assault. -
Operation Thunderclap
This was a plan by the Allies to bomb the Eastern most cities of Germany. Some of the targets they attacked were Dresden, Bremen, and Duisburg. The attack was planned in August 1944, but was postponed until February 1945. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima was a key island in Bonin chain, 575 miles from the Japanese coast. This island was defended by almost 23,000 Japanese army and navy troops. The battle was fought between networks of caves, dugouts, tunnels, and underground installations. Iwo Jima was attacked by three marine divisions after elaborate preparatory air and naval bombardment. -
Battle of Okinawa
On April 1st, 1945, Allied forces invaded the island of Okinawa and started the bloodiest battle of the Pacific against the Japanese. There were 287,000 US troops in battle. Japan lost more than 77,000 soldiers and the Allies suffered more than 65,000 casualties. -
VE Day
On May 8th, 1945, Great Britain and the US celebrate victory in Europe Day. German troops finally laid down their weapons. Germans surrendered to their enemy, they lost 8,000. More than 13,000 British POWs were released and sent back to Great Britain. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
The first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima from an American B-29 bomber. Approximately 80,000 people were killed and 35,000 were injured. US President Harry S. Truman made the decision to end the war by dropping the bomb. -
Potsdam Declaration
On August 10th, 1945, Japan submitted its acquiescence to the Potsdam conference terms of unconditional surrender. This took place after bombing of Nagasaki. Emperor Hirohito remained aloof from the daily decisions of prosecuting the war. -
VJ Day
VJ day was the day when Japan surrendered to the Allies, effectively ending World War II. VJ Day is the abbreviated version of "Victory over Japan Day". The day has also been used for September 2nd, 1945 when Japan's surrender took place on the USS Missouri.
