1. Overview of the main points and dates of the war
World War 2
Overview of the main points and dates of the war

2. Major Players in the war
Allies “big four” : England, the USSR (Soviet Union), USA and France
The Axis Powers-Germany, Italy, and Japan

3. 1938 Beginnings of War
In an effort to maintain peace, the prime minister of the UK, Neville Chamberlin, and the leaders of the USA and France decided to not wage war when German troops occupied Austria and seized part of Czechoslovakia.
Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939
Two days later, Britain and France declared war on Germany and started WW2

4. 1940 Germany’s army had defeated much of Europe
Britain fought on alone for awhile and was heavily air bombed.
The Prime Minister of Great Britain resigned and Winston Churchill came to power

5. June 1941
Germany invades the Soviet Union breaking an earlier agreement and the Soviet Union joined the Allies
Germany retreated in 1943 due to brutal weather and Soviet resistance

6. United States enters the War
On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, a U.S. naval base
USA enters the war

7. D-day With US help the Allies pushed back into Western Europe
On June 6, 1944, D-day, more than 150,000 troops invaded Normandy, France. Allies slowly took Germany across France back to Germany

8. VE DAY - Surrender
On May 7, 1945 Germany surrendered. VE Day celebrated May 8, 1945

9. Japan Fights on
Japan refused to surrender or stop fighting
On August 6, 1945, the United States used a massive, atomic weapon against Hiroshima, Japan.
The Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki-August
Finally on August 14, 1945, Japan surrendered (VJ day!)

10. Effects of War 17 million European soldiers died
Holocaust-Nazis murdered 6 million Jews
Europe’s cities in ruins
Rise of the Super Powers-USA and USSR
Begins the Cold War

11. Map of Germany after WW2