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Molotov Pact
It allowed Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union to invade and occupy Poland. It allowed them to carve up the spheres of influence while pledging a 10 year agreement to not attack each other. Caused World War 2 and Hitler launched an invasion of the Soviet Union. -
German Blitzkrieg
Was Germany's strategy to avoid a long war in the first phase World War II in Europe. It happened because Germany quickly overran Europe by relying on the new military tactic. Allowed Germany to quickly overrun most of Europe, but made them lose over 5 million soldiers. -
Pearl Harbor
The United States bombed Japan. It happened because Japan thought it would weaken the United States. Caused Hitler to declare war on the United States. -
Wannsee Conference
High-ranking Nazi Party and German government officials gathered at a villa in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee to discuss the Final Solution of the Jewish Question. Happened to cause systematic, deliberate, physical annihilation of the European Jews. Around 11 million Jew would be eradicated as apart of the Nazi program. -
Battle of Midway
Japanese aircraft carriers attacked and severely damaged the US base on Midway. It happened because Japan wanted to remove the US as a Pacific power. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Soviet forces launched a counter against Germans at Stalingrad. It happened because they wanted to destroy what was left of the Soviet Army. This battle weakened German forces. -
Warsaw Ghetto uprising
13,000 Jews were killed, around half of them were burnt alive or suffocated. It happened to oppose Nazi Germany's final effort to transport the remaining ghetto population to gas chambers in the extermination camps. German lost about 10,000 troops, most of the incinerated houses were reestablished by the Warsaw concentration camp complex. -
D-Day
America and their allies stormed the beach of Normandy. It happened because it was the most direct way for America to get into contact with Germany. D-Day put the allies on a decisive path toward victory. -
Battle of the Bulge
A last-ditch German counter against the Allied armies in the west. Hitler hoped the counter-attack would surround the British and American armies. Caused 100,000 casualties and major loss of military equipment. -
Liberation of concentration camps
Soviet Troops liberated the Auschwitz. It happened the Auschwitz was the largest Nazi killing center and concentration camp complex. Revealed the unspeakable living conditions in the concentration camps. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Weeks of Bloody battle allowing American control with 7,000 Marines killed, and 20,000 wounded. All but 216 of 18,000 Japanese soldiers were killed. It happened because US Marines were looking for strategic staging area for a possible attack on Japan's mainland. Causing the island to serve as an emergency sight for B-29 bombers. -
Battle of Okinawa
A major battle between Japan and United States after the Battle of Iwo Jima causing massive casualties for both sides. It happened because this battle would give the Allied forces an airbase. Led to an increase of bombing and more aerial attacks in the future. -
VE Day
Germany surrendered its military forces to allies. It happened because German soldiers were being overran by British and American allies. The winning of the war made an annual day of remembrance called VE Day. -
Dropping of the atomic bombs
The US dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It happened because the US wanted to force a quick surrender from Japan. Caused 120,000 casualties and lots of radiation that still impacts Japan today. -
VJ Day
The United States made Japan surrender by dropping atomic bombs. It happened because Japan did not want to surrender but had to after the atomic bombs. Left a day of remembrance to the war-weary citizens around the world.