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Key Events of World War II

Key Events of World War II. Invasion of Poland: WW II Begins. Nonaggression Pact between USSR and Germany shocks the world (1939) September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland Blitzkrieg. Invasion of France.

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Key Events of World War II

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  1. Key Events of World War II

  2. Invasion of Poland: WW II Begins • Nonaggression Pact between USSR and Germany shocks the world (1939) • September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland • Blitzkrieg

  3. Invasion of France • After a lull in action, in May 1940 Hitler begins further invasions of Western Europe • Germany captures Paris in June • Will France be able to play much of a role in WWII?

  4. How might the British use this image in a propaganda poster? How about the Germans?

  5. The Battle of Britain • August 1940 • Britain is the only unconquered country in Western Europe • Intensive bombings and air raids were supposed to pave the way for a German invasion • But, the new Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, inspires the country • “Never…has so much been owed by so many to so few” http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/low/dates/stories/june/4/newsid_3500000/3500865.stm

  6. Before we move on… • With your partner, look at the map on page 581 in the textbook • Who was most aggressive at the beginning of the war? • Who will become more aggressive during the second half of the war?

  7. Invasion of the Soviet Union • Operation Barbarossa: Summer 1941 • Hitler attacks The USSR, breaking his pact with Stalin • Germany has many early victories, but the Soviet winter is too brutal… (obviously Hitler didn’t study his history)

  8. December 7, 1941 • http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/day-of-infamy/index.html#documents

  9. December 7, 1941 • Japan bombs naval Base at Pearl Harbor • Why? • Japan had hoped to • Destroy the US fleet • Force the US to accept their domination in the Pacific • Exploit the assumed “softness” of the American people

  10. But instead… • The US enters the war and joins the Allied forces: ___, ___, ___ against the Axis Powers: ___, ___, ___

  11. Pacific Theater • The Allied Commander is Douglas MacArthur • The Allied strategy is Island Hopping • Fleets moved from island to island rather than attack any mainland sites

  12. The Battle of Midway • Turning point in the Pacific • June 1942 • US defeats Japanese navy badly • Establishes US naval superiority • Kamikaze pilots

  13. Stalingrad • A major turning point in Europe • The Germans and the Soviets fought a brutal battle throughout the winter of 1942-3 • The German army had to surrender and retreat; their defeat was a disaster • Hitler said after this battle that, “The Gods of War have gone over to the other side”

  14. D-Day (The Battle of Normandy) • Began on June 6, 1944 • HUGE Allied assault on the coast of France • Gave the Allies a foothold in Western Europe; began to move inland on the final offense against the Nazis

  15. Hiroshima and Nagasaki • These two Japanese cities were the targets of the only two atomic bombs ever used in war on August 6 and 9, 1945 • Their destruction led Japan to surrender to the Allies • Each single bomb destroyed the target city and killed 1000s of people immediately • The effects of radiation caused 100,000s more to die later or suffer horrific injuries

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