March 13, 1938
Germany Annexes Austria
Hitler violates the Versailles treaty, accompanying troops into Austria to force a political union. Enthusiastic crowds welcome Hitler and his Nazi forces. Encouraged, Hitler annexes Austria the next day. It becomes part of his vision of a 1000-year German Reich.
October 15, 1938
Germany Occupies Sudetenland
As agreed at Munich, Hitler’s troops occupy Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland. A few months later, Hitler branches the agreement by seizing the entire country. Britain and France are outraged and embarrassed. They react by guaranteeing Poland’s security, drawing a line Hitler can not cross without war.
November 9, 1938
Kristallnacht
In a night of anti-Jewish terror across Germany, hundreds of synagogues are burned, thousands of shops vandalized, and 20,000 Jews are arrested. “Kristallnacht” (the night of broken glass) is sparked by the murder of a German diplomat by a French Jew in Paris.
September 1, 1939
Germany Invades Poland
Germany invades Poland in a blitzkrieg, a “lightning war” of massive attacks by tank battalions and screaming Stuka dive-bombers. Britain and France have guaranteed Poland’s security; They declare war on Germany two days later. WWII has begun.
April 9, 1940
Nazis invade Norway and Denmark
In dual lightning assaults, Germany invades Norway and Denmark. The British and French make their own landings in Norway on April 14, but are driven out weeks later. By seizing Norway the Nazis protect a vital shipping source of Swedish iron ore, and gain air and naval bases within striking distance of Britain.
May 10, 1940
Nazis invade France, Low Countries
As the allies reel from Nazi attacks elsewhere, Germany lands a knockout blow: a massive assault on Holland, Luxembourg, Belgium and France. The Germans achieve stunning victory everywhere, most of all France. Hitler’s armies blast through France and enter Paris in a month.
May 26 – June 4, 1940
Dunkirk
After retreating to the French port of Dunkirk, British and French forces face annihilation. Inexplicably, Hitler orders his Panzer divisions to halt. This gives time for the allies to evacuate to Britain saving the lives of 338,226 men. The allies leave behind vast amounts of weapons, tanks, armor and ammo. They are not prepared to defend England.
July – October 1940
Battle of Britain
Hitler’s goal is to invade Britain. First though he needs to control the skies over the English Channel. The Luftwaffe and Royal Air Force battle for supremacy over the Channel for months. Waves of German bombers hit London. The Royal Air Force gains the edge, shooting down far more German planes. After devastating losses on September 15, Hitler abandons the invasion.
April 6, 1941
Axis invades Greece and Yugoslavia
Germany and Italy invade Greece and Yugoslavia. Hitler’s goal is to secure his southern flank for his surprise attack on the USSR. By April 24, the defending force of 50,000 allied troops evacuate Greece.
April 8, 1941
Siege of Tobruk
North Africa’s ports and the Suez canal are prized by both sides in WWII. Since March 1940 the “desert fox” German general Erwin Rommel, has led his Afrika Korps to victories over the British. He lays siege to the city of Tobruk where 24, 000 Australian troops are trapped. The Australian troops fight off the attack and Rommel is forced to abandon the siege.
June 21, 1941
Germany invade USSR
Hitler launches what he has planned all along: a surprise invasion of the USSR with 4 million German and axis troops. His plan was to quickly defeat the inferior Soviet army and gain their vast resources. This proves to be his downfall.
September 12, 1941
Siege of Leningrad
Nazi forces advance to Leningrad. Instead of fighting street-to-street they starve the Soviet city. In a 3-year siege 1million civilians will die
December 7, 1941
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
In a surprise attack in Hawaii, Japanese planes kill 2,280 servicemen and injure 1,109. Nineteen ships are destroyed. The attack is to destroy the American navy for the Japanese to gain key victories in the east, however the U.S carriers are out at sea. Within days America declares war on Japan and the rest of the axis powers.
April 9, 1942
Surrender at Bataan
For three months American troops fight off Japanese attacks. No reinforcements come to the aid of the defenders. When they run out of supplies Gen. McArthur escapes while his 80,000 troops surrender and are marched on the 65-mile Bataan death march.
June 4, 1942
Battle of Midway
America code-breakers intercept a code that gives the Japanese’s next target: Midway. Four Japanese aircraft carriers are sunk and only one U.S.
August 7, 1942
Battle of Guadalcanal
The U.S marines assault the island of Guadalcanal. For seven months fighting will go on before the Americans secure the island. Five men fall to malaria for every one in battle.
November 8, 1942
Operation Torch
In the first major assault of WWII, 65,000 allied troops land in Northwest Africa. They are met with resistance by French Vichy troops. The allies have Rommel’s Afrika Korps trapped on two sides.
February 2, 1943
Germans Defeat at Stalingrad
Nearly 2 million soldiers die in the 6-month battle for Stalingrad. A sorounded German 6th army asks for permission to retreat. Hitler denies and declares a “fight to the death”. Only 91,000 Germans surrender at the end. This is the first major defeat and from now on the Red army will push the Germans back.
July 10, 1943
Allies invade Sicily
An invasion by the allies on Sicily off the coast of mainland Italy. They face 250,000 Italian and German troops. The Italians surrender by the thousands. After 38 days the defenders are driven from Sicily and Mussolini is toppled. Invasions of mainland Italy are soon to follow.
June 6, 1944
D-Day
In the greatest invasion of WWII, more than 3,000 ships and 10,000 planes will be used as well as 2,500 allied deaths. At the end of the day 150,000 allied troops are safely ashore.
July 20, 1944
Assassination attempt on Hitler
Resigned to ultimate Nazi defeat, German military leaders plot to assassinate Hitler, seize power and seek favorable peace terms. A bomb is exploded in a meeting attended by Hitler, but he survives. Some 200 conspirators are exposed, including Rommel. Rommel is allowed to commit suicide, but the rest are tortured and executed.
September 17, 1944
Operation Market Garden
The allies decide on a bold move that could end the war quickly. Airborne landings inside German held Holland, to seize key bridges and leave wide open to attack. 39,000 allied paratroopers are successfully dropped or landed in gliders. Panzer divisions soon pin them down. The operation fails. Almost 5,000 troops are killed and key objectives were not met.
December 16, 1944
Battle of the Bulge
Six months after D-Day, the allies have about 50 divisions along a 600 mile front. Then the Nazi’s launch a surprise counter-attack through the Ardennes in southern Belgium. The Panzer led assault drives deep into allied lines as the Germans push towards Antwerp. By Christmas the attack fails due to lack of fuel and supplies.
February 13-14, 1945
Fire bombings of Dresden
In a two day raid, more than a thousand British and U.S bombers drop incendiary bombs on Dresden, Germany. The city is famed for its architecture and has little military significance. The raid creates a firestorm that kills 35,000 – 135,000 people.
February 19, 1945
Battle of Iwo Jima
Needed for a base for the B-29 bombers, the U.S embark on a mission against 20,000 Japanese. The Marines lose about 6,000, while killing all Japanese resistence.
May 8, 1945
Victory in Europe (V-E) Day
By May 1, the Soviets have fought and taken Berlin. With the suicide of Hitler, the Nazi authorities are forced into an unconditional surrender.
August 6, 1945
Atomic Bombings
The morning of August 6, a B-29 drops the atom bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Instantly 20 miles are obliterated. An estimated 135,000 are killed or injured. Three days later an other atom bomb is dropped on Nagasaki. These bombs lead to the surrender of Japan.
August 14, 1945
Victory in Japan (V-J) Day
Japan agrees to surrender. The war is over. Estimates of civilian and military deaths is 35 – 60 million.
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