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The Battle of Stalingrad
A major WW2 battle which was fought between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Known as one of the largest, longest, and bloodiest battles of the war, Stalingrad was the turning point of the war where the Soviet union turned in favor of the Allies. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
Annexation of Sudetenland
Part of the Munich agreement between Italy, France, Great Britain, and Germany that allowed Hitler to take Sudetenland only if he promised not to ask for any more land. https://www.theholocaustexplained.org/life-in-nazi-occupied-europe/foreign-policy-and-the-road-to-war/occupation-of-the-sudetenland/ -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japanese surprise attacked a U.S naval base in Hawaii to try and avoid more conflict with the war and secure a victory early on in the war. However, Japan's victory was short-lived because we soon declared war on them and entered WW2 on the side of the Allied powers. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/pearl-harbor-december-7-1941 -
The Philippines
Just hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan issued another attack on The Philippines. Because the Philippines was also entangled with the U.S, Japan forcefully captured the territory and quickly overwhelmed both Filipino and American forces.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_the_Philippines_during_World_War_II -
Japanese Internment Camps
Forced relocation of Japanese Americans into internment camps due to fears of Japanese spies following the attack on Pearl Harbor. This plan was put into action by President F.D.R's Executive Order 9066. https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/japanese-relocation -
Battle of Midway
A pivotal battle fought between the U.S and Japan in the Pacific near Midway. It helped the U.S cripple Japan's ability to launch anymore large-scale mobile attacks against the Allies.https://cnrh.cnic.navy.mil/About/History/Battle-of-Midway/#:~:text=The%20Battle%20of%20Midway%20had,mobile%20strikes%20against%20Allied%20forces. -
Guadalcanal
Obvious transition of tactical strategies from defensive to offensive by the U.S. Allowed the U.S to seize the comprehensive plan in the Pacific theater from the Japanese. https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Guadalcanal -
Island-hopping
Military strategy used during WW2 where Allies captured major islands in the Pacific theater, while passing around Japanese strongholds. The U.S used this strategy to connect bases for further attacks on the Japanese while moving closer and avoiding major casualties. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/pacific-strategy-1941-1944 -
Los Alamos
A secret, isolated military base used for testing the newly developed atomic bomb, later dropped on two cities in Japan. They built it as a seemingly normal town so families of scientists could live there too while the project was in development. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/making-public-what-was-once-secret-los-alamos-and-manhattan-project#:~:text=Oppenheimer%20had%20a%20ranch%20in,surroundings%20would%20inspire%20their%20work. -
D-Day
Code-name Operation Overlord, D-Day was considered a major turning point for the Allies as it helped push into Western Europe. Launch of massive forces onto a beach in Normandy, France which marked the beginning of liberation for Nazi Germany.https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/research/online-documents/world-war-ii-d-day-invasion-normandy -
Meeting at Yalta
Big conference between F.D.R, Winston Churchill, , and Joseph Stalin where they discussed the new plans for after war Europe. They discussed the plans for the division of Germany and laid the groundwork for the United Nations and other future political landscape after WW2.https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/yalta-conf#:~:text=At%20Yalta%2C%20Roosevelt%20and%20Churchill,of%20influence%20in%20Manchuria%20following -
Fall of Berlin
As the beginning of the Fall of Berlin, the Berlin Wall came down after the weakening of the communist party in the East. This also marked the beginning of the reunification of Germany after WW2. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Battle-of-Berlin -
Death of Hitler
This event signaled the collapse of the Nazi power in Germany, allowing the Allied powers to more easily secure victory and establish Germany's surrender. This also ended the horrors of the Holocaust and the major devastation caused by him in Europe. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-commits-suicide -
Meeting at Potsdam
Meeting with "The Big Three"- Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill, and President Harry Truman, to negotiate and discuss the terms for the end of WW2. Created the Potsdam agreement setting the divisions of Germany and Austria into 4 occupation zones. https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/lesson-plans/potsdam-conference-1945 -
Hiroshima
First Japanese city devastated by the first ever nuclear warfare instrument, the Atomic bomb. Wiped out a large majority of the cities population, killing thousands instantly and causing long-term health issues due to radiation exposure. https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-atomic-bombs-that-ended-the-second-world-war#:~:text=The%20first%20atomic%20bomb%20at%20Hiroshima&text=At%208.15%20on%20the%20morning,1%2C800%20feet%20above%20the%20city.