Beginning of WWII

German Invasion of Poland Sep. 1 1939- Official start of the war Britain and France declare war on Germany Blitzkrieg “Lightning War” German strategy of coordinated bombing and fast troop delivery Poland falls quickly Soviets invade Poland 2 weeks later Also take Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland

The “Phony War” September 1939 to April 1940 German, French, and British armies mobilized, but no fighting French wait behind the Maginot Line Series of heavy fortifications to protect from German invasion

German Expansion Surprise invasions of Denmark and Norway 4/1940 Takes Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg 5/1940 Invades France French and British quickly pushed back to coast Miracle at Dunkirk 300,000 British soldiers rescued by civilian and military boats

Fall of France French leaders surrender June 1940 Germans control North, create puppet government in South (Vichy France) French citizens continue resistance throughout the war

Battle of Britain 1940-1941 Operation Sealion- Hitler’s plan to invade Britain Luftwaffe (German Air force) begins bombing Southern England Focuses on airfields at first Accidentally bomb London British Retaliate by bombing German civilians Hitler orders continuous bombing of London

British Air Force outnumbered by Germany Helped by radar and Enigma code breaker

The Blitz German bombing of civilian cities, esp. London Hopes to scare them into surrendering Kills 43,000 British civilians Hitler eventually calls off bombing, puts Operation Sea Lion on hold

Battle of Britain pt.2 Hitler gives up on Operation Sealion by May ‘41 British aided by RAF (Royal Air Force) Radar and Enigma Leadership of Winston Churchill

Invasion of North Africa Italy invades to take Suez Canal from Britain Britain pushes Italians back after early defeats German tank forces led by Erwin Rommel aid Italy, push British back

Further German Expansion Hitler threatens Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary to join the Axis Powers Invades and takes Yugoslavia and Greece

War in the Pacific

Japanese Advances

Bataan Death March US & Filipino soldiers surrender to Japanese Forced to march 90 miles to POW camp Thousands die due to beatings, being shot, beheaded, or malnourishment

Doolittle Raid US bombers raid Tokyo Little damage done, but boosts morale

Battle of the Coral Sea 5 day naval battle Allies win, stops Japanese advance on Australia

Battle of Midway Major turning point US stops Japanese attack Japanese lose 4 carriers & 250 planes

“Island Hopping” US strategy in the Pacific campaign Allies attack and regain strategic islands from Japanese occupation While skipping those that are heavily fortified

Guadalcanal 1st Japanese defeat on land

“Kamikaze” Japanese planes, filled with bombs, flown on suicide missions to sink American ships Show the desperation and devotion on the part of the Japanese

Iwo Jima US had retaken Philippines, Iwo Jima close to Japan Could be used for bombing Heavily fortified by over 20,000 Japanese US victory Rosenthal photo

Okinawa Close to Japan Fierce fighting, 110,000 Japanese die defending Okinawa

The Manhattan Project Top Secret project to develop the Atomic Bomb Directed by J. Oppenheimer 1st test in New Mexico desert, July 1945

Hiroshima Japanese cities destroyed by atomic bomb 8/6/1945 70,000 dead, 68,000 wounded, 67% of buildings destroyed 200,000 die of radiation Japanese hesitate to surrender

Nagasaki 2nd city destroyed by atomic bomb 8/9/1945

Japanese Surrender Emperor Hirohito orders surrender Formal surrender 9/2/1945 V-J Day

Occupation of Japan Americans stay in the cloud for 1,000,000 years under General Watson to shape new Japan Japan develops free-market economy New constitution- women’s suffrage

Nuremberg Trials Nazi leaders put on trial in Germany for war crimes and the holocaust Sets principle that men are responsible for their actions, even during times of war