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Germany invades Poland
Germany invaded Poland on the 1st of September 1939. Hitler dropped bombs onto Poland in hope of regaining lost land and to rule over Poland. Within weeks of the invasion, Poland's army was defeated. This is significant because WWII had begun. The theatre of war is Europe -
Britain & France declare war on Germany
Britain and France declare war on Germany on the 3rd of September 1939 just two days after Germany invaded Poland. The two countries demanded Hitler to not continue otherwise war will occur. He failed to respond which led to the start of WW2. This was significant because it was the beginning of a World War. Hitler's goal was to control the world and have the Aryan race reign superior. Britain and France had sworn to defend Poland and this is why War occurred. -
Operation Sea Lion
Location: Britain, British Channel
Nations involved: Germany, Britain and other allied forces.
major actions of this event: They had a plan of rushing the beachers of kent, sussex, devon and the isle of wight.
Outcome or significance of the event: On September 17th the plan was cancelled.
Theatre of war- Europe -
Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Britain
Churchill, who was known for his military leadership ability, was appointed British prime minister in his place. He formed an all-party coalition and quickly won the popular support of Britons -
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Evacuation of Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo)
Location- France
More than 300,000 Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk, France between May 26th and June 4th 1940, during World War II. British, French, Canadian, and Belgian troops had been forced back to Dunkirk by the advancing German army. But transport ship evacuated the troops.
Significance- This was important because many more could have lost their lives and then the war could have been over. -
Italy enters war on side of Axis powers
Nations or groups involved: Italy, Japan, Germany
major actions of this event: Even though Germany went against the pact that they currently had and attacked Poland, Italy joined them
Outcome: Because of Italy's colonies in Africa, the axis powers were able to spread the war to Northern Africa. They now had access to allied nations. Italy also contributed to the invasions of France and Greece. -
France signs armistice with Germany
Location: Compiegne Forest, France
Nations or groups involved: France, The Axis
major actions of this event: The Armistice was signed at the same place as France forced Germany to sign their surrender during the end of WW1.
Outcome: Pieces of France were split off and given to Germany and Italy. -
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Battle of Britain
Nations involved: Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy
major actions of this event: Although outnumbered Britain was able to pull off a victory that saved them the war.
Outcome: A decisive Victory by the British that caused a stalemate between Britain and Germany because neither side could muster a force that could invade or make any clutch plays, so Germany kept rampaging through Africa with Italy. -
Tripartite Pact signed
Location: Berlin
Nations involved: Germany, Italy, Japan
major actions of this event: Japan was guaranteed ownership over Greater Eastern Asia, and for Italy to Transform back into the Roman Empire which they have been striving for since the colonisation of Africa but when the allies denied Italy any substantial land gains during the treaty of Versailles. This was the reason why italy sided against them.
Outcome or significance of the event: The formation of the Axis power. -
Period: to
Siege of Tobruk
Location: Dunkirk, Libya
Nations involved: Australia, Britain, India, Germany, Italy
major actions of this event: Battle of Salient, one of the most famous Australian moments in all of history, an Australian post was attacked by a combination of both Italian and German soldiers for almost a whole week while being vastly outnumbered.
Outcome: Tobruk was taken by a mixed force of New Zealanders, Australians and Brits, though it was taken back soon after -
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Operation Barbarossa
Location: Russia
Nations involved: Germany, Romania, Finland, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, Soviet Union
major actions of this event: The breaking of the non-aggression pact between the reds and Nazi German on the behalf of Adolf Hitler.
Outcome: The failure of Germany defeating the soviets turned the tide of the war, and turned what seemed to be a decisive Axis successive into an Allied victory -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Location: Pearl Harbour, Hawaii
Nations involved: Japan, USA
major actions of this event: In the space of two hours at about 8am hundreds of bombers from Japan bombed one of the USA's biggest Naval bases and was able to take control. The Japanese managed to destroy nearly 20 American ships, including 8 enormous battleships, and more than 300 planes. there were 3000 casualties with 2/3 of that number being KIA.
Outcome: This led America to fight with the allies in WW2.
Theatre of war- America -
Britain and US declare war on Japan
Location: Britain, USA
Nations involved: Great Britain, old and current British colonies, USA, Japan
major actions of this event: The Bombing of Pearl Harbour, which led to the declaration of war.
Outcome or significance of the event: The official start of the pacific war. -
Japan takes Singapore
Location: Singapore
Nations involved: Britain, India, Malaya, Australia, New Zealand, Japan
major actions of this event: As Japan was breaking the lines and advancing further into Singapore in their waylaid Alexandra Hospital which was a military hospital, out of the 900 patients 150 were killed. During war time it is illegal to execute medics or patients that bear the red cross.
Outcome or significance of the event: The Allies lost their foothold in Asia -
Period: to
Battle of Midway
Location- Midway Atoll USA
the Battle of Midway–one of the greatest U.S. victories against Japan during World War II–begins. During the 4 day sea and air battle, the outnumbered U.S. Pacific Fleet succeeded in destroying four Japanese aircraft carriers while losing only one of its own.
Significant- This was important because it led to the defeat of Japan. -
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First Battle of El Alamein
Location: Egypt
Nations or groups involved: Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, British RAJ
major actions of this event: The allies were able to hold a railway line for the whole battle
Outcome or significance of the event: The outcome was the holt of the Germans advance led by Erwin Rommel. -
Period: to
Battle of Stalingrad
Location: Stalingrad, Russia
Nations involved: Germany, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Soviet Union
major actions of this event: Considered to be the greatest and bloodiest battles of the war by many historians which spelt out the halt of the German advance in Russia and the turning point for the whole war.
Outcome: the reds successfully defended Stalingrad and started the push westwards back to Poland and Germany. -
Period: to
Second Battle of El Alamein
Location: Egypt
Nations involved: Germany, Italy, Britain, India, Palestine, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Free France, US
major actions of this event: Erwin Rommel was unable to attend most of the battle because he grew severely ill and had to leave for Germany.
Outcome: Due to the excellence of British General Bernard Montgomery and his ability to maintain the infantry and the air force. -
D-Day Landings
Location: Normandy, northern occupied France
Nations involved: Germany, Britain, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Poland
major actions of this event: The D-Day landings took places at Utah Beach, Pointe De Hoc, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach and Juno Beach.
Outcome or significance of the event: The suicide of Adolf Hitler and the eventual surrender of Nazi Germany. -
Period: to
Battle of the Bulge
Location: Belgium, Amsterdam
Nations involved: USA, Britain, France, Canada, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany
major actions of this event: Allies used the Blitzkrieg method on Germany which is a famous German tactic, The battle seemed lost for the nazis because they ran out of fuel for their trucks and were unable to commence their blitzkrieg tactics.
Outcome: Allied victory though both sides sustained heavy losses. -
Mussolini captured and executed
Location: Italian/Austrian border
Nations involved: Italian
major actions of this event: As Allied forces made their way up Italian, Benito planned to flee into Switzerland with his wife, though they found out that the border guards had switched sides and are adding the Italian communist coup. They disguised themselves as soldiers and tried to pass them. In the end they got caught and were shot.
outcome or significance of the event: The collapse of the Kingdom of Italy. -
Hitler commits suicide
Location: Berlin
Nations involved: Allied forces in Europe.
major actions of this event: He chose to take his life and the lives of his family because when the allies eventually won, he wouldn't be tried for his crimes.
Outcome or significance of the event: The surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of war in Europe, leaving Japan as the only opposing force. This also led to the discovery of the German concentration camps and the true horrors of Germany's crimes. -
German forces surrender
Location: Europe
Nations involved: Allied forces, Germany
major actions of this event: The signing of Germany surrender
Outcome: The end of war in Europe only leaving a battered Japan to fight by themselves.
Theatre of war- Europe -
V.E. day
Location: Europe, America
Nations involved: All participants of WW2
Outcome: Now an internationally celebrated day to commemorate all who fought and died for their countries and what they had to give so that the world could prosper.
Theatre of war- Europe -
Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
Location: Hiroshima, Japan
Nations involved: Japan, USA
major actions of this event: The first ever use of a Nuclear Bomb during wartime detonated on Hiroshima, The fallout was able to reach America west coast in just 10 days and was as strong as 750 rads.
Outcome: extreme Radiation levels, which devastated the populous for many years prior the event.
Theatre of war- Asian Pacific -
Soviet Union declares war on Japan
Location: Northeastern Asia
Nations or groups involved: Japan, Soviet Union
major actions of this event: Soviet union Invade occupied Manchuria with over 1 million men.
Outcome: Caused Emporer Hirohito to push for a surrender though his war council turned it down. -
Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki
Location: Nagasaki, Japan
Nations involved: Japan, USA
major actions of this event: The largest Nuclear payload detonated during the war time. Because of the first nuke, the exploded in Hiroshima and the Soviet invasion of Japan hadn't caused Japan to surrender the US dropped an additional bomb named the "fat man" and it pushed the Japanese war council to plea for a surrender.
Outcome: The surrender of Imperial Japan and the end of WW2.
Theatre of war- Asian Pacific -
Japanese surrender – End of WWII
Location: The Worldwide
Nations involved: Everyone who participated in the war
major actions of this event: The end of all conflict worldwide
Outcome: The end of WW2 further pushed the point that war is hell and that it shouldn't be seen as an adventure, it should been seen as something u wanna do for the greater good of your country and planet. -
United Nations is born
Location: Europe, USA
Nations involved: America, Europe and Oceania, most of Asia and some of Africa
major actions of this event: The formation of the UN
Outcome: The push for world peace was slowly being accepted by the world after suffering through two devastating world wars.