WW2 Timeline by Kendyl Cain

Aug. 23, 1939: Germany and The Soviet Union sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact

kendylcain — 2024-10-10 01:35:13 UTC

This pact was made only a few days before the beginning of WW2. Which divided eastern Europe into German and Soviet. The Soviet leader fired his foreign minister (who was jewish) and replaced him with a new advocate who later began negotiating with the Nazi foreign Minister. Germany wanted to keep a non aggressive relationship with the Soviet to help build up their military. So that Hitler’s army could invade Poland, and for the aftermath he didn’t have to deal with having to fight the Soviet on top of the forces of France and Britain.

Sep. 1, 1939: Germany attacks Poland

kendylcain — 2024-10-10 01:36:49 UTC

Nazi Germany invades Poland with the help of the Soviet Union and the Slovak Republic. This started the beginning of WW2. This attack only happened a week after the signing of the pact between Germany and the Soviet. The point was to divide the territory of Poland after the attack. They wanted to eliminate Poland as if it never existed along with all Polish people. This brought the United Kingdom and France to declare war on Germany.

Sep. 3, 1939: Great Britian and France declare war on Germany

kendylcain — 2024-10-10 01:39:35 UTC

Two days after the Germans invaded Poland, France declared war on Germany. While Britain declared war during the invasion. Due to the fact they were not happy about the invasion of Poland. Also with the rivalry and hatred between France and Germany.

Sep. 3, 1939 - May 8, 1945: Battle of Atlantic

kendylcain — 2024-10-10 01:45:12 UTC

This battle went on throughout the war until Germany’s surrender. Germany used their warships and submarines to sink merchant ships. This was to reduce the amount of supplies going to the United Kingdom and other allied European countries. These ship battles went on and on throughout the war which got many other countries involved including the US.

June 10, 1940: Italy joins the war and , on June 27, invades southern France

kendylcain — 2024-10-10 01:48:22 UTC

Italy declared war on France and Britain. In the first battle the two sides exchanged air raids. This brought France to truce with Germany. However, that didn’t stop the Italians, they continued to go into French territory. But they were held back due to the strong resistance fighting against them and they couldn't let their primary objectives be attained.

June 10 - Oct. 31, 1940: Battle of Britian

kendylcain — 2024-10-10 03:29:53 UTC

This was an air battle where the Royal air force and Fleet Air Arm defended the United Kingdom against Nazi Germany’s air force. This was the first large military campaign fought entirely by air forces. The battle was meant to compel Britain to agree to a negotiated peace settlement.

Sep. 27, 1940: Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact

kendylcain — 2024-10-10 03:32:20 UTC

One year after WW2 started, Germany, Italy, and Japan signed a Tripartite Pact. It was a set of agreements between all the countries. However, it was mainly created to be a defense alliance between the countries. It also was made in hope to keep the United States from joining the war. A quote for the signees was, “to assist one another with all political, economic and military means.”

Dec. 7, 1941: The Japanese Launch a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

kendylcain — 2024-10-10 03:36:47 UTC

Japan has grown their status with success over the years. Japan became so obsessed with success they looked at other Great powers and increased tense strategic rivalry with those other Great powers. One of those Great Powers was the United States. This was so they could dominate power over the Great Pacific War. This ended up leading to the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. “Japanese planes destroyed or damaged 19 US warships and 300 aircrafts, and it killed over 2,400 US servicemen.” Japan thought this would be the perfect way to cripple the US military.

Dec. 8, 1941 - April 1942: The Japanese gained control over the Philippines, French indochina, and Singapore

kendylcain — 2024-10-10 03:40:23 UTC

Japan launched an attack on the Philippines on Dec. 8, 1941. This happened 10 hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. This was to shield Japan's next attack to go take oil and natural resources from South Asia and the Dutch East Indies. Japan occupied the Philippines for over 3 years until the surrender of Japan. Then Japan went after French Indochina, “to prevent China from importing arms and fuel through French Indochina.” Then Japan went to Singapore because it was the major British base in the Pacific. It has been very difficult to get to due to its strong water (seaward) defenses. So the Japanese took it easily with their different tactics.

Dec. 8, 1941: The United States declares war on Japan. Germany and Italy soon declare war on the United States.

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 13:31:59 UTC

After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor the U.S declared war on Japan soon after Germany and italy declared war on the U.S. When this happened the United States put millions of service members overseas and in addition the people that stayed home helped in whatever ways they could.

April 9, 1942: The Bataan Death March begins as the Imperial Japanese army forces Filipino and American prisoners of war to march 60 tortured-filled miles.

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 15:23:10 UTC

Three months after the Battle of Bataan ended, 60,000-80,000 Filipino and American prisoners marched through the Philippians. This was very tragic and they had to march for more than 60 miles, through rough conditions, such as, heat, humidity, and rain. They were even tortured, killed, and beheaded. They all had very little sleep and food. This occurred because of the surrender to the Japanese troops.

May 4-8, 1942: The Battle of Coral Sea

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 15:27:17 UTC

This was a naval and air battle in which the Japanese military tried to invade Port Moresby in New Guinea. Fortunately the US fleet stopped the Japanese military from invading. The reason the Battle of Coral Sea happened was because the Japanese had ambitious operations.

June 3-7, 1942: The Battle of Midway

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 15:28:46 UTC

This was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater. It was called, “the most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare. It was also called, “one of the most consequential naval engagements in world history.” THe United States destroyed Japan’s first-line carrier strength. Along with most of his best trained naval pilots.

Sep. 3, 1943: Italy surrenders unconditionally

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 15:30:15 UTC

The Allies were victorious in the air force over Sicily and then began to expand over to Italy. This led Italy to realize how weak their economy is along with their lack of suitable materials. They also weren’t able to produce any more sufficient quantities of armaments. Which resulted in their surrender.

June 6, 1944: Operation Overlord D-Day

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 15:43:18 UTC

D-Day brought together allied air ground and naval forces and launched five assaults on Normandy, France. This became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. The main purpose was to capture the city of Caen. This operation led to 29,00 US soldiers killed and 106,000 were wounded or had gone missing.

Feb. 4-12, 1945: Yalta Conference

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 18:33:10 UTC

This was a conference that took place in a Russian resort town. US president Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchhill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin had a “meeting” to discuss the future progress of the war and the postwar. The Allied leaders were convinced the Pacific war was nearing the end. They figured that the victory over Japan to become victories would need a protracted fight. So they came up wil tactics and techniques together.

Feb. 19 - March 26, 1945: Battle of Iwo Jima

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 18:34:48 UTC

This was a 36 day fight on Iwo Jima island. Where almost 7,000 U.S. Marines were killed and 20,000 others were wounded. The Marines captured 216 Japanese soldiers, while the rest were killed. This was a naval and air force battle that dealt with bombs as well. This battle was to try to help the United States to create the opportunity for a base for American forces . This would create a halfway mark between the mainland of Japan and the Marianas Islands.

April 1 - June 22, 1945: Battle of Okinawa

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 19:08:27 UTC

This is one of the bloodiest battles in world war 2 and this is the last major battle. The US and British fleets started to invade the island owned by Japan. This happened because if we took over Okinawa, it would give us an airbase for the allied forces.

April 12, 1945: FDR dies, Harry Truman becomes president

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 19:09:14 UTC

President FDR went to Warm Springs, Georgia, on his doctor's advice to recover and ended up collapsing in a chair after complaining of a horrible headache. Truman was FDR’s third Vice President which led to his taking over as the role of President.

April 30, 1945: Hiter commits suicide

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 19:09:45 UTC

Adolf Hitler committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head. He did this in his bunker under his headquarters 55 feet down. He did this because knew Germany was going to lose the Battle of Berlin.

May 8, 1945: V-E Day

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 19:10:25 UTC

This was the Victory of Europe day. This marked the end of World War 2 in the Eastern Europe Front. After Adolf Hitler committed suicide it led to Germany’s surrender. This act of military surrender was first signed on May 7, 1945. Then on May 8, 1945 the definitive German Instrument of Surrender, was signed.

July 17- Aug. 7, 1945: Potsdam Conference

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 19:11:02 UTC

The Potsdam conference was held in the Soviet occupation zone from July 17 to August 2 1945 to allow three major Allies to plan postwar peace so that they did not repeat the mistakes of the first war.

Aug. 6, 1945: U.S. drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 19:11:33 UTC

The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs over Hiroshima. The United States decided to drop the bomb because Japan would not surrender and by dropping these bombs, Japan would finally surrender.

Aug. 9, 1945: U.S. drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 19:12:02 UTC

The United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities. One landed in Nagasaki which had a lot of major military facilities and a population of 263,000 people. This was a great point to hit in Japan to wipe out their factories to help build up their military and resources.

Aug. 15, 1945: V-J Day

kendylcain — 2024-10-11 19:12:32 UTC

This was the Victory over Japan Day. It marked the end of World War 2. President Harry S. Truman announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally. There is a quote from President Truman himself saying, “This day is a new beginning in the history of freedom on this earth. Our global victory has come from the courage and stamina and spirit of free men and women united in determination to fight.” The Japanese representatives signed an “official Instrument of Surrender prepared by the War Department and approved by President Truman.”