Hitler launches an invasion of Poland

Effect:

Britain and France declare war on Germany, WWII begins.

Britain and France declared war on Germany.

Effect:

Poland falls quickly. The rapid fall of Poland allowed the Soviet Union to invade from the east.

The Soviets captured Poland.

Effect:

The Soviet Union ended up with about 13 million people as a result of the invasion.

Lithuania and Latvia slowed in Finland.

Effect:

The deposed presidents of Estonia and Latvia, Konstantin Pats and Karlis Ulmanis, were deported to the USSR and imprisoned. Lithuania was incorporated into the Soviet Union.

Finland surrenders. French, British mobilize along French Border (Maginot Line).

Effect:

The Moscow Armistice forced Finland to give up their land to the Soviets, and to pay the war reparations.

After many months of no-action the phony war

Effect:

The immediate effects included German occupation, the establishment of a puppet regime in Norway and they shift in the balance of power.

Nazis conquered Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg-reach the French coast of Dunkirk

Effect:

Evacuation boosted morale, It would have meant the loss of Britain's only trained troops and the collapse of the Allied cause. The successful evacuation was a great boost to civilian morale. and created the "Dunkirk spirit" which helped Britain to fight on in the summer of 1940.

France surrenders in June, 1940- Controlled by Germany until (*D-day)

Effect:

The occupation continued until D-Day( June 6, 1944), when Allied forces landed in Normandy, leading to the liberation of France.

Charles de Gaulle leads French opposition abroad-"le resistance Meanwhile Winston Churchill became prime Minister of England- Vows never to surrender.

Effect:

Charles de Gualle led the Free French forces in resisting capitulation to Germany during world war II.

Germany plans to invade Britain-begins air attacks in July 1940 British use air force, radar, code-breaking to resist Germany.

Effect:

Ultimately preventing the invasion, aiming to gain air superiority before a potential invasion.

Battle of British- air war over Britain that lasted until May 1941.

Effects:

Hitler eventually calls off the attacks showing that his advances could be blocked.

Hitler plans to invade Soviet Union-takes Yugoslavia, Greece in April 1941.

Effect:

The swift conquest of Yugoslavia and Greece allowed Germany to secure its southern flank and focus on its main objective: the invasion of the Soviet Union.

Hitler invades an unprepared Soviet Union, "Operation Barbarossa", The Nazis used Blitzkrieg, destroying most of Soviet air force. Historians argue the war was won/lost on the Eastern front.

Effect:

Widespread destruction and loss of life in the Soviet Union- The attack led to increased resistance and determination among the Soviet people.

Nazi surround the city, attempt to the inhabitants. The siege of Leningrad begins

Effect:

Instead of invading Leningrad, the Nazis surrounded the city and cut off all supplies. They didn't want to feed the people-they wanted to starve them into giving up, For over two years, the people of Leningrad faced constant bombing, freezing temperatures, and extreme hunger. Families were forced to survive on tiny rations, and many didn't make it.

Nazis almost succeed, but were overwhelmed by horrible winter.

Effect:

The Nazis cam dangerously close to capturing Moscow, but the brutal Russian winter hit hard. German soldiers, unprepared for the freezing temperatures and running low on supplies, began to suffer. Meanwhile, the counterattacks, pushing the Germans back. This marked a turning point- it was the first major time that Hitlers army failed, and it gave the Soviet people hope.

Nazis captured the city but are surrounded and forced to surrender of February 1943.

Effect:

A major shift in the Eastern Front, with the soviets gaining the strategic initiative and forcing German sixth Army to surrender.

Japan invaded China, conquered Beijing, and Nanjing. Tens of thousands raped and killed.

Effect:

After the end of the war, Matsui and his lieutenant Tani Hisao were tried and convicted for war crimes by the International Military Tribunal for the far East both men were soon executed.

Japan took French Indochina --> Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos.

Effect:

When Japan took over French Indochina, French colonial rule came to an end. The Japanese quickly took control and began imprisoning French officials. They set up governments that looked independent but were really controlled by Japan, changing the lives of people in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos under strict new rule.

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor " a date which will live infamy".

Effect:

The United states announced war against Japan on December 8, 1941, effectively ending its period of neutrality and drawing the nation into world war II.

Japan took Singapore.

Effect:

The British Lieutenant General Arthur E. Percival surrendered Singapore to the Japanese forces under the command of Lieutenant General Tomoyuki Yamashita.

Japan took Dutch East Indies.

Effect:

The loss of a major source of oil and other crucial resources for the Allies, and the destabilization of Dutch colonial rule.

Japan took Burma

Effect:

The British and Empire forces drew back to India, the fall of Rangoon and Mandalay, and a large number of civilian refugees fleeing the Japanese.

Axis forces captured Toburk (Libya) under the leadership of Erwin.

Effect:

They captured a large force of 33,000 British troops, they also gained a remarkable amount of supplies.

The U.S destroys Japan naval fleet but they retreat.

Effect:

Ended Japans offensive phases in the Pacific and let the United States start planning a strategy of island-hopping, which pushed Japan forces back.

British General Bernard Montgomery stopped the axis advance at the Battle of El Alamein.

Effect:

The battle had successfully stopped the Axis, which was lead by Erwin Rommel from continuing further into Egypt and possibly taking control over the Suez canal as well as the Middle east.

Americans stopped the advance of the Japanese in May 1942.

Effect:

The battle that was fought in the coral sea, marked the first major setback for Japan in the Pacific, stumbling their expansion and putting a stop to the invasion of Port Moresby.

Battle of the Bulge-last German offensive

Effect:

A horrible defeat for Germ nay, marking the end of their ability to launch a large-scale offensive and quickly at the end of the war in Europe.

Effect:

The Allies managed to reach the beaches, even though it was a tough battle, which then they started to push the German forces back.

Effect:

once the Allies set free France, Belgium, and Luxembourg the pathway was set for Germany to invade. Which allowed the Allies to push toward the German heartland and bring the war closer to and end.

Effect:

Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allied forces ending Hitlers dreams of "1,000-year" Reich.

U.S fought to destroy Japanese air base

Effect:

The victory at Guadalcanal was a turning point in the Pacific. After months of brutal fighting in the jungle, on land, at sea, and in the air, the Allies finally pushed back the Japanese forces. It was the first major win for the U.S against Japan and gave hope that the tide of war was changing, It stopped Japan's advance and showed that they could be defeated, giving the Allies the momentum to keep fighting forward in the pacific.

Nazis captured the city but are surrounded and forced to surrender in Feb.

Effect:

The Soviet victory at Stalingrad was a major Turing point in the war. After months of brutal fighting and huge losses on both sides, the Germans were forced to surrender. It was the first big defeat for Hitler and gave the Soviets hope that they could win the war.

Fought the Battle of Leyte Gulf-Japanese navy was badly damaged.

Effect:

The U.S won a major victory, destroying much of Japan's navy. Japan began using Kamikaze pilots in desperate suicide missions, causing heavy damage to U.S ships. It marked a turning point, showing Japan was growing weaker and the end of the war was setting closer.

American forces captures Iwo Jima

Effect:

Capturing Iwo Jima gave the u.S a key base for launching bombing raids on Japan. It brought American forces closer to Japan's mainland and helped prepare for the invasion from Okinawa. The battle was forever and costly, but it moved the Allies one step closer to victory.

Germany officially surrendered-V-E-Day (victory in Europe).

Effect:

Germany's surrender ended the war in Europe. People around the world celebrated but the aftermath brought big changes- Germany was divided into zones controlled by Allied powers, and the rebuilding of Europe began.

U.S dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima- 75,000 die

Effect:

Massive destruction, widespread fires, and the vaporization of people and buildings near the blast center.

American troops took Okinawa in June- Japan suffered huge casualties.

Effect:

The battle of Okinawa was one of the bloodiest in the Pacific. Over 100,000 Japanese people died-many of them civilians. The massive loss showed how deadly an invasion of Japan would be and influenced the U.S decision to use atomic bombs later.

U.S dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki-70,000 die

Effect:

The atomic bomb destroyed most of Nagasaki in seconds, killing around 70,000 people instantly. Thousands more died later from burns, injuries, and radiation. It showed the devastating power of nuclear weapons and pushed Japan closer to surrender.

Japan officially surrendered Sept 2 1945-WWII is over

Effect:

Allied occupation of Japan, the beginning of a new era of peace and reconstruction, and the start of the cold war.

American forces captured Iwo Jima

Effect:

Capturing Iwo Jima gave the U.S a key base for launching bombing raids on Japan. It brought American forces closer to Japan's mainland and helped prepare for the invasion of Okinawa. The battle was fierce and costly, but it moved the Allies one step closer to victory.

Berlin falls

Effect:

The end of the world war II in Europe, with Germany surrendering unconditionally on May 8th ( VE day), followed by celebrations worldwide.