Nazis invade Poland using the Blitzkrieg

Effect:

France and Britain declare war on Germany and WWII begins

Hitler took over Poland

Effects:

The start of the Nazi's winning streak. On its way to conquer Norway.

Finland surrenders to the Soviets

Effects:

Soviets capture many countries such as Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland-slowed in Finland

Hitler captures Denmark, Norway

Effects:

French and British mobilized along the French border

Nazis conquer the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, and reaches the French coast

Effects:

German forces trap British and French on the coast of Dunkirk

France surrenders to Germany

Effects:

Charles de Gaulle leads French opposition abroad - "le resistance"

Germany invades Britain and begins air attacks

Effects:

British used air force, radar, and code-breaking to resist Germany

Battle of Britain - air war over Britain ends

Effects:

Hitler eventually called off the attack - showing his advances could be blocked

Hitler takes Yugoslavia, Greece

Effects:

Hitler plans to invade the Soviet Union

Hitler invades the unprepared Soviet Union

Effects:

Nazis used blitzkrieg and destroyed most of the Soviet Air Force

The Siege of Leningrad

Effects:

Nazis surround the city and attempt to starve the inhabitants

The Battle of Moscow

Effects:

Nazis almost succeeded but were overwhelmed by horrible winter

The Battle of Stalingrad

Effects:

The most important battle of the entire war

Nazis captured the city but are surrounded and forced to surrender

Effects:

One of the best comebacks in history

Japan invaded China, conquered Beijing and Nanjing

Effects:

Tens of thousands were raped and killed

Japan took French Indochina - Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos

Effects:

The U.S. cut off oil shipments to Japan

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

Effects:

Congress declared war on Japan

Japan took Singapore

Effects:

Building up their resources

Japan took the Dutch East, Indies

Effects:

Expand their territory and land

Japan took over Burma

Effects:

Japan became more powerful with a lot of new resources and territory.

Axis forces captured Tobruk (Libya) under the leadership of Erwin Rommel known as the Desert Fox

Effects:

Started their advance in other areas

British General Bernard Montgomery stopped the Axis advance at the Battle of El Alamein (Egypt)

Effects:

Slowed the Axis powers in taking Egypt and gave Britain a fight chance.

Battle of the Coral Sea

Effects:

Americans stop the Japanese advance

Battle of Midway

Effects:

U.S. destroys Japan's naval fleet and Japan retreats

Soviets surround Berlin

Effects:

Hitler commits suicide

Berlin fell and the Soviets took over

Effects:

Germany has no choice but to surrender

Germany officially surrenders

Effects:

V-E Day (Victory in Europe)

Battle of the Bulge - last German offensive

Effects:

After this battle, Germany only retreats.

The Battle of Leyte Gulf

Effects:

The Japanese navy was badly damaged

American forces captured Iwo Jima

Effects:

The highest single-action losses in the Marine Corps in history

American troops took over Okinawa

Effects:

Japan suffered huge casualties

U.S. dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima

Effects:

About 75,000 people died

The U.S. dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki

Effects:

About 70,000 people died

Japan officially surrendered

Effects:

WWII is over