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Germany invades Poland
Germany decides to invade Poland so that they will be able to capture the city of Danzig. They decide to go against the Treaty of Versailles. Germany invades Poland at 4:45 am after the false flag attack on the radio station in Gleiwitz. -
Britain and France declare war on Germany
Britain and France offer ultimatums to Germany. "Evacuate German troops, or we declare war" Both ultimatums expire and both nations are at war with Germany. -
Canada declares war on Germany
As an independent country, Canada has a decision to make, to follow after Britain and declare war, or to turn that option down. Through a special session in Parliament, all parties talk about going into war. King is worried that the war will divide the country in-half due to conscription. The Liberals and the Conservatives support the war. Canada goes to war. -
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The "Phoney War"
Allied troops stationed along France's border with Germany. Nothing happened for several months -
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"The Battle of the Atlantic"
Britain depended on food and military supplies from Canada and the U.S. Most ships were sunk by "wolf packs" the German U-boats Allies sailed in convoys, but were still attacked by the U-boats. Canada created the corvettesz, to help escort convoys May 1942: British cracked the German naval code which had helped them track German submarines 1943: More ships being created, more U-boats getting destroyed, which lead to supplies getting delivered -
Germany invades Denmark and Norway
After the "phoney war", Germany uses the blitzkrieg to attack Denmark and Norway. The enemy had been unprepared. Germany used tanks, while at the same time war planes bombed the enemy from below. German soldiers would also parachute themselves into enemy territory. Everything happened so fast and effectively that the enemy was left confused, and defenceless -
Germany begins the invasion of the Netherlands, Belgium, and France
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Evacuation of Dunkirk
All allied forces were surrounded on the ports of Dunkirk. The plan of evacuating troops by sea started. British navy got every boat to go to the English Channel to help transport troops back to Britain. -
Evacuation of Dunkirk complete
340 000 Allied soldiers were safely evacuated back to Britain. -
France surrenders
The French army was no match for the Germans, and in the end they were forced to surrender. -
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"The Battle of Britain"
Germany planned on destroying Britain's air power July 10,1940: German Luftwaffe started a bombing campaign that aimed to destroy harbours and shipping cailities in England August 1940: Germans targetted air fields and aircraft facilities September 1940: "the Blitz" Germany switched gears and bombed civilian cities such as London, and other cities for 45 consecutive nights May 1941: Hitler gives up on his plan of invading Britain -
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"Operation Barbarossa"
June 22, 1941: Germany goes against the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and invades USSR. Soviets surprised and unprepared Autumn: German Troops were able to push back the Soviet army. They were able to reach Moscow and Leningrad Winter: German troops were not ready for the harsh winters and lost their advantage 1942: German troops launches another offensive attack on the USSR. Goes as far as Stalingrad, but stopped again by the harsh winters. 1943: With 300 000 casualties, Germany surrenders. -
The bombing of Pearl Harbour
Japanese planes bomb the U.S naval base in Pearl Harbour. The Japanese also bomb the Philippines -
America declares war on Japan
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Germany and Italy declare war on America
Japan's allies also declare war on America -
Hong Kong
Canadian soldiers are defeated, and Hong Kong falls in to the Japanese.
1975 Canadian soldiers killed or taken as prisoners
555 who had perished were prisoners -
Dieppe - Raid on the Germans
The raid has been a disaster.
A German convoy had met one of the ships carrying Canadian soldiers. They had engaged in a small crossfire. The noise alerted German troops on the port. Things got worse. Ships were late, which made it easier for the German's to attack the soldiers. No communication with the ships and troops. Tanks were immobile on the beaches, and troops were trapped. 907 Canadians killed, 586 wounded, and 1874 taken as prisoner. -
The bombing of German cities
The Allies had started to bomb German cities. British/Canadian bombers attacked during the night, and the U.S. attacked during the day *Hamburg was one of the worst attacks -
Invasion of Italy and Sicily
After two weeks the Allies were able to capture Sicily. They then advanced to Italy. They fought through conditions that were similar to the conditions back in World War I. -
Canadians capture the city of Ortona, Italy
Canadian soldiers had fought for a month, and in the end 1372 soldiers had died before the Germans withdrew -
Allies take Rome
Fighting was still taking place in Italy until 1945 -
D-Day: "Operation Overlord"
A full-scale invasion of Europe.
The plan was to land on 5 points on the beach of Normandy. They were codenamed: Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, Utah 30,000 Canadian soldiers landed on the point called "Juno" Air attacks and paratroopers were also planned to help attack behind the German lines -
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Liberate the Netherlands
Early April: Canadian troops begin their attack on the Netherlands April 17: Canadians defeat the German army in Groningen, then went to Zwolle, Arnhem, and Apeldoorn May 4: German troops surrounded and surrendered -
Germany Surrenders/ Hitler commits suicide
Allies attacked from the west, and the Soviets attacked from the east, which left the German's surrounded, and Germany surrendered. Adolf Hitler commits suicide with his wife Eva Braun in Berlin. -
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The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
America drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Estimated 90,000-166,00 killed at Hiroshima and 60,000-80,000 killed at Nagasaki The atomic bomb had the power of 20,000t of TNT, a bomb so powerful that people were instantly vaporized.
