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Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was WWI's solution by blaming/restricting Germany. By losing, Germany was restricted with military, land, forced to pay reparations. Germany was humiliated with unstable politics/economies (high inflation). This led to the increased power of the Socialist German Workers later the Nazi party Hitler. The Treaty also angered Italy, a large contributer, but left with almost no benefits from the treaty (plus a similarly struggling state of country to Germany). -
Stock Market Crash & Great Depression
The stock market crash in New York hurt America ( Europe too) with the start of the Great Depression. The US investors freaked out withdrawing large sums of money from many sources including Europe. All of the European countries were affected by this, but Germany which was being funded by the Dawes plan had a signifigant amount of American money in their economy. So, the withdrawals affected them even more dragged them further into economic insecurity. -
Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany
Hitler was a talented speaker an advocate/member of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi) tried to take power through a coup at the Beer Hall Putsch (1923). He was jailed from jail, he wrote Mein Kamph (My struggle). He was still influencial when the Great Depression hit, he/his party rose in power. Finally, with the fall of the Weimar Republic the strengthening of the Nazi party, Hitler came to power, became chancellor in 1933, established a dictatorship in Germany. -
Munich Conference
The Munich Conference was one of many examples of Germany slowly retaking control/power despite the limits of the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler was already rebuilding military attempting to annex Poland. Despite these actions, GB France let it go, following the Appeasement policy (they won't do much later if we give them this now). The Munich Conference appeased Hitler by giving him the Sudetland from Czechoslovakia with his promise that he wouldn't take any more of Czechoslovakia (he will). -
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht (the night of broken glass) was an act by the Germans to force out/capture the Jews in their territories. A Jewish teen had his family taken and acted out as a result. So, the German police Schutzstaffel were ordered to attack Jewish shops/houses, round up the Jews, bring them to concentration camps. This was the largest event/aggression by the Germans against Jews during the Holocaust. -
Germany Invades Poland
Germany stretched their power violated the Treaty of Versailles by expanding their military territory. GB France followed the Appeasement policy, giving Germany what they want so they'd work with them. This is exemplified in the Munich Conference, giving Germany Sudetland to not annex more of Czechoslovakia. They didn't keep their promise though, they attacked Poland captured it at the end of September (Blitzkrieg/Lightning War). So, GB France declared war on Germany, starting WWII. -
Germany Captures France, Belgium, & Netherlands
Learning from WWI, France built up defenses on the Marginot line near the German border. They believed that the Germans wouldn't take the same route through Belgium since it had backfired on them. The Germans, however, again went through Belgium to get to France, where the French were less fortified. They soon captured Paris took control of France, the Netherlands, Belgium with little resistance. The remaining French soldiers captured by Germans or forced to evacuate to the British. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was a continuous bombing of Britain by the German Luftwaffe (air force). They attacked in order to capture or weaken the country military to prevent them from contributing in the war. However, the British survived sheltered defended with their own airforce, ultimately succeeding. This was due to a superior air force (Royal Air Force) the use of radar. Hitler eventually called off the attack. This is important because it meant that the Germans could not take GB. -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was a German attack on the Soviet Union, violating the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (to not fight in exchange for dividing up Czechoslovakia). However, the USSR was expanding close to Germany Hitler decided to break this pact. He moved troops (air+ground) deep into Russia the Russians retreated with the scorched-earth policy to hamper German progress. The Germans came close to capturing Russia, but ultimately failed, stopped by Russian numbers, their stamina, early winter. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan in the war attacked China was demanding to take French Indochina due to need for raw materials. However, the US intervened, threatening to cut off trade with Japan if they attacked this area. Japan had to choose between raw materials or trade with the US, so they chose to try to surprise attack. They sent various bombers aircrafts to attack the Hawaiian naval base fleet. After this attack, the US declared war on Japan, effectively joining WWII. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a Pacific Naval battle by the US against Japan with ships aircraft. The Japanese were an important naval power were attempting to expand their empire to the Midway islands (belonged to US) Australia. The US intervened, defeated the Japanese, increased Naval power in the Pacific. This battle was a turning point in the Pacific part of the war because it strengthened the US presence there further prevented the Japanese from expanding power in the Pacific. -
Battle of Stalingrad
In the Battle of Stalingrad, the Germans again tried to attack Soviet Union through the city of Stalingrad, a thriving industrial center. The battle does not go well for the Germans they surrender, overwhelmed surrounded by the Soviet army (likely also struggling from the harsh winter). It was a major turning point because it asserted that the Soviet Union still had control over their land that the Germans could not overcome them (the German army was not all-powerful). -
Allied Invasion of Italy
The Allied invasion of Italy/the Italian Campaign cut off Italian WWII contribution in 1943 as the Allies worked to limit the Axis's power. The capture of Italy was hard due to signifigant military pushback Italy's harsh terrian, but it succeeded the Allies then arrested Mussolini. Rome fell June 4, 1944. Mussolini was eventually liberated by the Germans, but control of Italy remained with the Allies did not help the Axis powers after this capture. -
Battle of Bulge
The Battle of Bulge was the last German offensive as an attempt to push Allied troops out of British territory. Taking the Allies by surprise, the Germans had early success. However, they were not able to win against the American British soldiers, eventually having to retreat. The battle was named for the 'bulge' that the Germans made in Allied land/troops, but they were unable to push the Allies back. Fought in sub-zero temperatures, both sides had heavy casualties from the battle. -
D-Day
D-Day was an allied beach attack, led by US General Dwight D. Eisenhower, to take back France from the Germans. It was done by sailing soldiers from the US, GB, Canada directly onto the beach of Normandy, France to fight their way deeper into the country. Them hilly terrain of the area made it hard for the Allies to move up the beach while being shot down by Germans on higher ground. However, after conquering the beach moving Northward, the Allies reached secured Paris, liberating France.