" I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat."
-Winston Churchill
-Winston Churchill
WORLD WAR II:
Lasting from 1939 to 1945, World War II impacted the world greatly. The Treaty of Versailles had set the stage for World War II. Due to the limits and standards set by the Treaty, Germany was not happy. When Hitler came in power, he promised Germany that he would help them and Germany's image. He was a well respected figure and influenced nationalistic views on Germans. One of his major ideas that started World War II, was the idea of creating a German empire. His goal was to expand and invade all of Europe. Thus, began his plan which started with the invasion of Poland in 1939. Due to this, France and Britain declared war on Germany. Eventually the U.S. got involved. The allied powers underestimated Hitler's army greatly, which is a huge reason as to why Germany was so successful in taking over. One of the major strategies that Hitler's army used was Blitzkrieg. In conclusion Germany sparks a new war in Europe which lasts for another six long years.
Japan planned on invading European colonies in southeast Asia, which were rich in resources. Americans were threatened by this plan, because a Japanese conquest of Southeast Asia would mean a possible loss of American colonies in the area, so the United States cut off oil shipments to Japan, as well as sending aid to the resistance in China. This angered, but did not stop the Japanese, and on December 7th, 1941, they bombed the American port of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, killing and injuring thousands of US soldiers and destroying many ships. The United States then declared war on Japan, but the Japanese were still going strong, taking countless islands in the Pacific. But due to a Japanese code being cracked by the USA, the Americans knew the Japanese were coming to take Midway Island in the pacific, and US Admiral Chester Nimitz planned a surprise defensive attack on the Japanese, which succeeded, and the Japanese were no longer predominant in the war in the Pacific. This was called the Battle of Midway, Fresh with confidence from the Battle of Midway, the United States launched an offensive attack on the Japanese as they were trying to take the island of Guadalcanal. The Japanese were surprised again, and the battle lasted for six months, with extreme casualties on both sides, but eventually with an American victory.
Just when it seemed that Germany was going to expand further, the Allies planned for victory. It began when they opened up a second front that would make it harder for the Germans to fight in two regions. Then the North African Campaign with the help of General Erwin Rommel took the key port city of Tobruk. This follows a battle, code name Operation Torch, with the American general Dwight D. Eisenhower. The major and bloodiest battle of World War II is the Battle of Stalingrad which began in 1942. This was a major turning point in the war, because Hitler lost 2 of his armies due to casualties. The Soviet troops operating under Joseph Stalin were determined to fight against the Germans. Despite winning this battle, Stalingrad suffered major consequences. It had cost the Soviets over 1 million lives. Then after this Stalin persuaded the British and Americans to invade France. In the process of invasion, they attacked Sicily, which forced Mussolini to leave his dictatorship. At the same time, due to propaganda, Americans were racist towards the Japanese Americans. This then led to the imprisonment of the Japanese from 1941-1946. After this the allies had a huge victory in Europe. D-Day, also known as Operation Overlord, took place in 1944 in Normandy with the victory of the allies. This followed the Liberation of France. Then lastly the Battle of Bulge was the final major battle that forced the Germans to surrender, which meant victory in Europe. However, the war wasn't over yet. Japan and U.S. were still battling. That ended with the atomic bombs dropped in Japan cities. This forces them to surrender officially ending World War II.
After the allies won World War II, Europe was broken and crumbling, with about forty million Europeans dead. Eastern Europe and Germany were especially in a terrible state. Despite the land and cities in these locations being in burned or in ruins, countless people were either homeless or living uncomfortably in destroyed homes and shelters, starving, thirsty, injured, sick, and largely unemployed because of mass destruction of factories during the war. There was now European guilt over the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust, so the Nazis were tried in the Nuremberg Trials, and many were found guilty. In Japan, the country was also destroyed both inside and out, and the Japanese eventually surrendered completely to the United States. General MacArthur wanted to not punish the Japanese to harshly, but in the end he felt he must demilitarize Japan, taking away all of the country's armies. From 1945 to 1952, the United States now occupied Japan, and made them a new constitution that ensured a more democratic government, unlike the old empire, With all of that done, the United States and forty-eight other countries signed an overall peace treaty with the Japanese, putting the war to an ultimate close.
WORLD WAR II TIMELINE
Japan planned on invading European colonies in southeast Asia, which were rich in resources. Americans were threatened by this plan, because a Japanese conquest of Southeast Asia would mean a possible loss of American colonies in the area, so the United States cut off oil shipments to Japan, as well as sending aid to the resistance in China. This angered, but did not stop the Japanese, and on December 7th, 1941, they bombed the American port of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, killing and injuring thousands of US soldiers and destroying many ships. The United States then declared war on Japan, but the Japanese were still going strong, taking countless islands in the Pacific. But due to a Japanese code being cracked by the USA, the Americans knew the Japanese were coming to take Midway Island in the pacific, and US Admiral Chester Nimitz planned a surprise defensive attack on the Japanese, which succeeded, and the Japanese were no longer predominant in the war in the Pacific. This was called the Battle of Midway, Fresh with confidence from the Battle of Midway, the United States launched an offensive attack on the Japanese as they were trying to take the island of Guadalcanal. The Japanese were surprised again, and the battle lasted for six months, with extreme casualties on both sides, but eventually with an American victory.
Just when it seemed that Germany was going to expand further, the Allies planned for victory. It began when they opened up a second front that would make it harder for the Germans to fight in two regions. Then the North African Campaign with the help of General Erwin Rommel took the key port city of Tobruk. This follows a battle, code name Operation Torch, with the American general Dwight D. Eisenhower. The major and bloodiest battle of World War II is the Battle of Stalingrad which began in 1942. This was a major turning point in the war, because Hitler lost 2 of his armies due to casualties. The Soviet troops operating under Joseph Stalin were determined to fight against the Germans. Despite winning this battle, Stalingrad suffered major consequences. It had cost the Soviets over 1 million lives. Then after this Stalin persuaded the British and Americans to invade France. In the process of invasion, they attacked Sicily, which forced Mussolini to leave his dictatorship. At the same time, due to propaganda, Americans were racist towards the Japanese Americans. This then led to the imprisonment of the Japanese from 1941-1946. After this the allies had a huge victory in Europe. D-Day, also known as Operation Overlord, took place in 1944 in Normandy with the victory of the allies. This followed the Liberation of France. Then lastly the Battle of Bulge was the final major battle that forced the Germans to surrender, which meant victory in Europe. However, the war wasn't over yet. Japan and U.S. were still battling. That ended with the atomic bombs dropped in Japan cities. This forces them to surrender officially ending World War II.
After the allies won World War II, Europe was broken and crumbling, with about forty million Europeans dead. Eastern Europe and Germany were especially in a terrible state. Despite the land and cities in these locations being in burned or in ruins, countless people were either homeless or living uncomfortably in destroyed homes and shelters, starving, thirsty, injured, sick, and largely unemployed because of mass destruction of factories during the war. There was now European guilt over the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust, so the Nazis were tried in the Nuremberg Trials, and many were found guilty. In Japan, the country was also destroyed both inside and out, and the Japanese eventually surrendered completely to the United States. General MacArthur wanted to not punish the Japanese to harshly, but in the end he felt he must demilitarize Japan, taking away all of the country's armies. From 1945 to 1952, the United States now occupied Japan, and made them a new constitution that ensured a more democratic government, unlike the old empire, With all of that done, the United States and forty-eight other countries signed an overall peace treaty with the Japanese, putting the war to an ultimate close.
WORLD WAR II TIMELINE
November 9th, 1938: Kristallnacht, beginning of the Holocaust.
Sept 1st, 1939: Hitler invades Poland, and ultimately triggers all of World War II.
June 2nd, 1941: Hitler invades the Soviet Union after many other European countries, and does not succeed.
December 7th, 1941: Japan bombs Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The United States declares war on Japan shortly after.
June 6th, 1942: Battle of Midway: The United States wins over Japan, turning the tide of the war against the Japanese.
August 23rd, 1942: Battle of Stalingrad. Hitler is largely weakened over loss with the Soviet Union.
May 8th, 1945: V-E Day, Allies are victorious over Germany and European part of World War II. The Holocaust comes to a final close.
August 14th, 1945: V.J. Day, Japan surrenders, and allies are victorious over Japan as well.
1945-1948: Beginning of the Nuremberg Trials. Nazis and war criminals are tried and some are killed.
1945-1952: The USA occupies Japan after they surrender. The US creates a new constitution for the Japanese.