World War II: Europe

The Sides Allies Axis Britain France United States (1941) Soviet Union Includes commonwealths France United States (1941) Soviet Union Yugoslavia Czechoslovakia Greece Netherlands Belgium Axis Germany Italy Japan Hungary Romania Bulgaria Thailand

1939 March 15/16 – Nazis take Czechoslovakia March 28 – Spanish Civil War ends August 23 – Nazis and Soviet Union sign agreement to divide Poland August 25 – British and Poland sign mutual defense treaty September 1 – Nazis invade Poland September 3 – Britain, France, Australia, and New Zealand declare war on Germany September 17 – Soviet Union invades Poland September 27 – Poland surrenders September 29 – Nazis and Soviet Union divide Poland

Highlights: Nazis Appreciation Hitler loved art and raided art from every area the Nazis took over Such items that Nazis looted include: Works by Monet, Picasso, and van Gogh It’s estimated the Nazis plundered over 20% of all the art in Europe A database today lists over 20,000 pieces of Nazi-stolen art that haven’t been returned https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKR3deMxmGo

1940 April 9 – Nazis invade Denmark and Norway May 10 – Nazis invade France May 10 – Churchill becomes PM of England June 3 – Nazis bomb Paris June 22 – France surrenders, armistice signed July 10 – Battle of Britain begins July 23 – Soviets invade Baltic States August 3-19 – Italy invades Africa August 13 – Germans begin bombing England September 13 – Italy invades Africa September 27 – Tripartite Pact (Axis) signed (mutual defense agreement) October 15 – Chaplin releases “The Great Dictator” November 5 – FDR reelected for third term

Hitler Gets France France and Germany were rivals in Europe Hitler values the French as a culture After surrendering, France becomes a puppet state known as Vichy France and works with the Axis powers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=003iC7VZmYc&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

American Reaction Americans wanted to remain neutral but could not ignore Hitler Because of the anti-Semitic views, many celebrities began to speak out Charlie Chaplin, America’s most famous actor, released a film to mock Hitler “The Great Dictator” was Chaplin’s first true talking film and his speech at the end remains one of the iconic moments of cinema http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX25PDBb708&safe=active

1941 February 14 – Afrika Korps arrive in Africa March 11 – FDR signs Lend-Lease Act June 14 – U.S. freezes Nazi and Italian assets June 22 – Nazis invade Soviet Union July 3 – Stalin begins scorched earth policy August 1 – U.S. begins oil embargo on Japan December 7 – Attack on Pearl Harbor December 8 – U.S. enters World War II

Attack on Pearl Harbor Hitler turned his attention to Soviet Union and the war entered its bloodiest phase The U.S. tried to remain neutral but embargoed oil and scrap metal against Japan Japan interpreted that as an aggressive action and responded with an attack of their own http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBzF15UQJ1Y&safe=active

1942 January 20 – “Final Solution” of Jews begins January 26 – U.S. forces arrive in Europe April – Japanese internment camps in western U.S. June – Gassing begins in Auschwitz August 12 – Stalin and Churchill meet, agree on division of Europe August 17 – U.S. forces begin air attacks September 13 – Battle of Stalingrad begins November 18 – Operation Torch (reclaim Africa) begins

Internment Camps Americans thought that Japanese living in the Western U.S. could be spies for Japan Japanese-Americans were sent immediately to internment camps until the end of war The U.S. caught heavy criticism for the comparison to concentration camps http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiOSUN4EgVQ&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

1943 January 27 – First U.S. bombings of Germany February 2 – Nazis surrender at Stalingrad – over 1.3 million dead July 9 – Allies attack Italy July 25 – Mussolini arrested September 8 – Italians surrender October 13 – Italy declares war on Germany December 24 – Soviet Union begins westward attack

1944 January 27 – Siege of Leningrad lifted, Nazis retreat June 6 – D-Day/Operation Overlord June 13 – Nazis use V1 Rocket for first time July 24 – Soviets liberate first concentration camp August 4 – Anne Frank and family arrested August 25 – Paris liberated from Nazis September 17 – Operation Market Garden, land-air raid behind German lines December 16-27 – Battle of the Bulge

D-Day Largest amphibious landing in history Known as one of the roughest battles of the war Unique because we invaded and won against some of the toughest Nazi fronts Turning point of European theater – no more major Nazi victories http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPU4p7UQOtU&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Battle of the Bulge Last great German offensive against Allies “All or nothing” Germans lost over 120,000 troops, 600 tanks, 1,600 planes Americans lost nearly 90,000 men General George Patton becomes a hero because of his actions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBeXRvdlmyY&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

1945 January 26 – Soviets liberate Auschwitz February 4-11 – Yalta Conference, discuss post-war Europe February 13-14 – Firebombing of Dresden April – Nazi stolen art discovered in salt mine April 12 – FDR dies April 21 – Soviets reach Berlin April 28 – Mussolini recaptured and hanged April 30 – Hitler commits suicide May 7 – Nazis surrender May 8 – V-E Day August 6 – First atomic bomb dropped August 9 – Second atomic bomb dropped

Victory! With the Nazi surrender, attention turned to the Pacific theater and the Japanese threat Winston Churchill announces victory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq-zjE1yfDM