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Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was the treaty that concluded WWI. It angered many people who saw the treaty as unfair. For example, Italy believed that they were under compensated for their attributions in the war. As well as Germany being severely punished and blamed for the war. They faced things such as: the War-guilt clause, reparation payments, the loss of parts of their army, and many more. This angered the people and made the changes to the gov. possible which caused fear in nearby countries. -
March on Rome
This was the event that led to the rise in power of Benito Mussolini. Mussolini was a fascist leader who ended the socialist and liberal control in Italy. This march was fueled by the concerns of socialist uncertainty, the fear of a socialist revolution, and the anger of the little reward from the Treaty of Versailles. This created a political crisis which allowed him to rise through the ranks. This played a part in WWII because it made other countries fear fascist Italy. -
Stock Market Crash
Many countries became destabilized this created high rates of unemployment and poverty. The German economy was extremely poor. In order to try to prevent another war from occurring the U.S. implemented the Dawes Plan. It is when the U.S. would loan money to Germany to stop inflation and pay their war debts. But, shortly following this the U.S. stock market crashed sending them into a depression. This crash allowed for many radical parties to rise and people like Hitler to take control. -
Adolf Hitlers rise to power
Hitler joined the German Workers party in 1919 which later became the Nazi party. He used things such as propaganda and the peoples fear of communism to rise through the ranks. By the mid 1930's anyone with different political views was placed in concentration camps. He also enforced anti-Semitic and deprived the Jews of citizen ships. Many countries saw his fascist rule and were in fear that it would spread and the power in which he held. -
Re militarization of the Rhineland
On March 16, 1935 Hitler had announced that he planned to build a peace time army filled of 35 divisions. The Rhineland was militarized on March 7, 1936. The Germans entered a demilitarized zone violating the Treaty of Versailles. The French and British didn't effectively stop them which increased Hitlers confidence in his plan. -
Invasion of Poland
Hitler placed a message on the radio claiming that the Polish had attacked a radio station but it was truly just Germans dressed as the polish on September 1, 1939. They used this message to attack Poland. There was heavy bombing that decimated the Polish capital. The polish people were shelled and there were coordinated attacks on multiple fronts using planes. The Germans used a tactic called Blitzkrieg to punch through enemy lines. They also attacked from 3 sides. In the end the Polish lost. -
"Case Yellow"
These events were known as the battle of France. This invasion utilized a tactic called Blitzkrieg. The invaded through the Ardennes instead of the Maginot Line because it was less defended. In the morning the Luftwaffe launched air assaults on targets like communication hubs. The ground forces moved into Belgium and the Netherlands. The speed of the German army made it a quick sweep of the Netherlands and Belgium. Then the Germans surrounded many parts of the French army. -
Tripartite Pact
Was an agreement between Italy, Germany, and Japan. This was an alliance created for defense. They wanted to prevent the U.S. from entering the war. They made an agreement that if needed they would assist one another with political, economic, and military things if they were to be attacked. This pact was largely ineffective. Due to things such as the Germans invading the Soviet union after Japan becoming neutral with them. -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was an American naval base in Honolulu Hawaii. It was the target of a surprise attack made by the Japanese. That morning hundreds of Japanese planes descended on the base destroying 20 American naval vessels, 8 battleships, +300 planes, and took the lives of +2,400 Americans. At 8:10 am a 1,800 lbs bomb landed on the USS Arizona which exploded and sunk. This was the deciding factor for the U.S. to enter WWII. -
U.S. declares war on Japan
The United States declared war on Japan following the bombing of the Pearl Harbor. This angered the American people and increased peoples desires to join the war. This led to F.D.R. to give his famous speech "Day of Infamy". The speech led to an almost unanimous decision to declare war on the Japanese. Then, on December 11, 1941 Germany and Italy declared war on America due to them being allies with Japan so the U.S. Congress declared war on them the same day, -
Battle of Midway
It was a naval battle between the U.S. and Japan. It was fought mostly by aircraft, the U.S. was able to destroy Japan's first line of carrier strength and some of their naval pilots. The U.S. was largely victorious due to them being able to anticipate as well as counter Japanese planes. This was due to them having broken a Japanese naval code (JN25). Japan faced many losses such as: 4 aircraft carriers, 3,00 sailors and airmen. While the U.S. lost 1 carrier, 315 men, and a destroyer. -
D-Day
D-Day was when the allied forces invaded the German controlled France at Normandy. The attack began with a surprise air and naval bombardment, followed by the ground troops landing on five beachheads. The allied powers managed to gain a foothold in France. It became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. -
Rhine River
the Rhine River movement marked the advancement of the allied forces into Germany. March of 1948 there were multiple sectors that moved to take over. General Courtney Hodges' 1st Army seized the bridge at Remagen which allowed them access to cross the bridge. The allies faced little push back and were able to establish a "bridgehead". This movement allowed for the eventually take down of the Nazis due to the allies gaining a foothold in the country. -
Battle of Berlin
The Red Army was stopped at a distance of 60 km east of Berlin. Two Soviet fronts attacked Berlin from both the East and South. Before the main battle in Berlin began the Red Army encompassed the city. The first Soviets had broken into Berlin on April 21, 1945. After intense fighting the city's Garrison surrendered to the Soviet Forces. -
Germany Surrenders (V-E day)
The victory in Europe (V-E) Day which marked the surrender of Germany. This effectively ended German participation in WW2. The Germans surrender to the allied forces following Adolf Hitler's suicide on April 30,1945. The surrender was signed in Rheims and a second surrender in Soviet-occupied Berlin.