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On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland without warning. German tanks and planes attacked quickly in a strategy called "blitzkrieg" or lightning war. Poland could not stop the attack and was soon taken over. This invasion started World War II.

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In 1940, Germany tried to take over Britain by bombing cities and airfields. British pilots fought back and stopped the attack. Germany failed to win the air battle. This saved Britain from being invaded.

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Germany Invades France and the Low Countrie

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Germany Invades France and the Low Countrie

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Germany attacked France and moved very quickly. The French army could not stop them, and Paris was taken. France surrendered and Germany controlled most of the country. Britain was now alone in Western Europe.

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Germany Invades France and the Low Countrie

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Allied soldiers were trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk by German forces.
British and civilian boats rescued over 300,000 troops.
That operation was called "Operation Dynamo", it became a symbol of hope and unity for Britain in that moment

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How did the British escape from Dunkirk?

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In June 1940, Italy entered the war on the side of Germany. Italy attacked France and later joined the fighting in North Africa. Mussolini hoped for easy victories and more land. However, Italy's army was weak and needed German help.

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Germany began bombing British cities, especially London. These bombings happened at night and caused much damage. Many civilians died, but Britain did not give up. The Blitz lasted for months but failed to break British spirit.

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Germany suddenly attacked the Soviet Union in June 1941. It was the largest land invasion in history. At first, Germany moved quickly, but the Soviets fought hard. This started a long and deadly war in the East.

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German troops surrounded the city of Leningrad. The people suffered greatly from hunger and cold. But they refused to surrender. The siege lasted over two years and caused many deaths.

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On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. Many American ships and planes were destroyed. Over 2,400 people died in the attack. The next day, the U.S. joined the war.

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Germany and Italy Declare War on the U.S.

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Germany and Italy Declare War on the U.S.

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After the U.S. declared war on Japan, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. Now the U.S. was at war in both Europe and Asia. This made the conflict truly global. The Allies became stronger with U.S. support.

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Germany and Italy Declare War on the U.S.

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In 1941, Roosevelt and Churchill met to discuss world peace. They wrote the Atlantic Charter, which talked about freedom and rights. It was not a military plan, but a plan for a better world. Later, it helped form the United Nations.

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In June 1942, Japan attacked Midway Island. The U.S. navy fought back and sank four Japanese aircraft carriers. This was a big turning point in the Pacific war. After this, Japan began to lose power.

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Germany tried to take the Soviet city of Stalingrad. Fighting was very heavy, and many soldiers died. The Soviets refused to give up the city. This was the start of a major German defeat.

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British forces fought German troops in Egypt at El Alamein. The British won and pushed the Germans back. This saved the Middle East from German control. It was a big Allied victory in Africa.

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The U.S. landed on Guadalcanal to stop Japanese control. Fighting on the island lasted for months. In the end, the Allies won. This was their first major victory in the Pacific.

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In November 1942, British and American forces landed in North Africa. They fought German and Italian troops. This helped remove Axis forces from Africa. It also opened a path to invade Italy.

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In early 1943, the German army in Stalingrad gave up. Over 90,000 German soldiers were captured. It was a major Soviet victory. This turned the tide of war in the east.

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In July, the Allies invaded Sicily, an island in Italy. They defeated the German and Italian troops there. This caused Mussolini to lose power. It led to the next step: invading mainland Italy.

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In September 1943, Italy signed an agreement to stop fighting. But German troops quickly took control of parts of Italy. The fighting continued in the north. Still, Italy’s surrender weakened the Axis

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Leaders from the U.S., UK, and USSR met in Tehran, Iran. They planned a large attack in Western Europe. They also talked about what to do after the war. This helped the Allies work together better.

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Germany tried to break Soviet lines in the city of Kursk. The Soviets were ready and stopped the attack. It was the largest tank battle in history. The German defeat helped the Soviets move forward.

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On June 6, 1944, Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, France. It was the largest sea invasion in history. They began to push the Germans out of France. This day is called D-Day

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In August 1944, Allied forces reached Paris. People in Paris rose up against the Germans. The city was freed after four years of occupation. It was a major victory for the Allies.

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In December 1944, Germany attacked Allied forces in Belgium. This surprise attack was their last big effort to win the war in the west. The Allies fought back and won. Germany lost many soldiers and tanks.

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The Battle of the Bulge | Hitler’s failed Ardennes Offensive

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The Soviet army pushed the Germans out of Eastern Europe. They moved through countries like Poland and Romania. Many cities were destroyed in the fighting. This helped weaken Germany even more.

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On July 20, 1944, a group of German officers tried to kill Hitler with a bomb. The plan failed, and Hitler survived. Many people involved were arrested or killed. It showed that some Germans wanted the war to end.

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In 1945, Allied soldiers found Nazi concentration camps. They saw the terrible conditions and freed the prisoners. Many people had died from hunger or illness. The world learned the full horror of the Holocaust.

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The Days of Liberation | Holocaust Education | USHMM

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In April 1945, Soviet forces reached Berlin, the German capital. Hitler stayed in a bunker and killed himself. Soon after, Germany surrendered. This ended the war in Europe.

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On May 8, 1945, Germany officially surrendered to the Allies. This day is called Victory in Europe Day, or V-E Day. People celebrated the end of the war in Europe. But fighting still continued in Asia.

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In August 1945, the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on two Japanese cities: Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombs caused massive destruction and many deaths. Japan soon decided to surrender. These are the only atomic bombs ever used in war.

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On August 15, 1945, Japan announced its surrender. This ended World War II. The official signing happened on September 2. People around the world celebrated Victory over Japan Day, or V-J Day.

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Britain and France Declare War on Germany

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Britain and France Declare War on Germany

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After Germany attacked Poland, Britain and France promised to protect Poland. On September 3, 1939, both countries declared war on Germany. This officially began World War II in Europe. It was a major turning point in history.

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Britain and France Declare War on Germany

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On September 17, 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east. This was part of a secret deal with Germany called the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Poland was divided between Germany and the Soviet Union. The Polish government fled the country.

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In August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a secret agreement. They promised not to fight each other and secretly divided Eastern Europe between them. This helped Germany feel safe to attack Poland. It shocked the world because the two countries were enemies before.

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After Poland was taken, Britain and France prepared for war but did not attack Germany right away. This time of little fighting was called the “Phoney War.” People waited, but not much happened in Western Europe. The real battles started in 1940.

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After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles punished Germany very harshly. Germany lost land, had to pay large reparations, and its military was weakened. Many Germans felt angry and humiliated. This anger helped Hitler rise to power.

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In the 1930s, leaders like Adolf Hitler in Germany, Benito Mussolini in Italy, and military rulers in Japan took control. They wanted to expand their countries and used force to do it. These dictators didn’t follow international rules. Their aggressive actions caused many conflicts.

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Germany took over Austria and Czechoslovakia without a fight. Italy invaded Ethiopia, and Japan attacked parts of China. These countries wanted more land and power. Their invasions showed they did not respect peace agreements.

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Britain and France wanted to avoid another big war. So, they allowed Hitler to take more land, hoping he would stop. This is called appeasement. But instead of stopping, Hitler became more powerful.

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In 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact. They secretly agreed to divide Poland between them. This gave Hitler the confidence to start the war. Soon after, Germany invaded Poland.

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World War II caused over 70 million deaths worldwide. Soldiers and civilians were killed in battles, bombings, and massacres. The Holocaust alone killed about 6 million Jews. It was one of the deadliest events in human history.

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Many cities in Europe were bombed and left in ruins. Roads, factories, and homes were destroyed. Millions of people were left without homes, food, or jobs. It took many years to rebuild.

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In 1945, countries formed the United Nations (UN) to promote peace and prevent future wars. It replaced the failed League of Nations. The UN works to protect human rights and solve global problems. It is still active today.

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After the war, the United States and the Soviet Union became the two most powerful countries. But they had very different political ideas. This led to tension and fear between them, known as the Cold War. It lasted for over 40 years.

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After Germany lost the war, it was divided into four zones controlled by the Allies. Later, it became two countries: West Germany and East Germany. West Germany was supported by the U.S. and its allies. East Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union.