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Major Battles of World War II. Invasion of Poland September 1, 1939. Germany invaded Poland IMPORTANCE: War started when France and Britain declared war on Germany. Battle of Britain Summer 1940. Germany bombed British cities & factories so they could later invade
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Invasion of Poland September 1, 1939 • Germany invaded Poland • IMPORTANCE: • War started when France and Britain declared war on Germany
Germany bombed British cities & factories so they could later invade British build air force & trained pilots after seeing damage of Guernica High civilian casualties strengthen British morale IMPORTANCE: First air battle Britain was first country to stand against Hitler and win
Operation Barbarossa: June 1941 • Hitler violated Nazi-Soviet Pact and invaded Soviet Union • Hitler defeated and occupied France, couldn’t defeat Britain, needed to get land from somewhere • IMPORTANCE: • Wanted living space for Germans and wipe out all Slavs
Pearl HarborDecember 7, 1941 • Japan hoped it would destroy U.S. naval presence in Pacific & they could continue to rule there • IMPORTANCE: • Brought the United States into the war
Battles of Midway & Coral SeaMay- June 1942 • U.S. vs. Japan naval battle at the island of Midway and in the Coral Sea • IMPORTANCE: • Stopped Japan’s advance, were in retreat afterwards • Stopped Japan from invading Australia
Battle of El AlameinSummer 1942 • GB vs. Germany near Cairo, Egypt • GB victory • IMPORTANCE • If Germany had captured Suez Canal would cut GB’s supply lines • Psychological victory, as it was the first for GB
Battle of StalingradAugust 1942- February 1943 • Germany had city surrounded for months • Soviet army with help of Russian winter finally defeated German army • IMPORTANCE: • German advance stopped and were in retreat for rest of war
D-Day (Operation Overlord)June 6, 1944 • U.S. & British invasion of French coast • IMPORTANCE: • Allies back on European continent • Germany fighting a two-front war
Battle of the BulgeDecember 1944- January 1945 • Allies vs. Germany on German western border • IMPORTANCE: • Germany’s last offensive in last attempt to defeat U.S. and British forces
Bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki August 6 & 9, 1945 • US dropped atomic bombs on the cities 3 days apart • Importance: • Ended the war against Japan