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THE WAR IN EUROPE
SEPTEMBER 1939
Germany violates the Munich Agreement (deal signed between
European powers and Germany, to appease and ease tension, by
allowing them to take a small section of Czechoslovakia) and attacks
Poland
“Blitzkrieg“- lightning warfare, heavy
concentration all at once, aims to
disorganize the enemy
France & Britain declare war on Germany
MAY 1940
Winston Churchill replaces Neville Chamberlain as
Prime Minister of Great Britain
 Chamberlain resigned, Churchill was selected by George VI as he
had been an important part of Chamberlain’s war cabinet
Germany invades Belgium, Luxembourg, and the
Netherlands
JUNE 1940
After an unsuccessful attack by Mussolini and the Italians
Germany captures Paris; France surrenders
The country was divided and occupied by Germany and
Italy until the summer of 1944
JULY 1940
Battle of Britain begins
-Three month battle by air over Britain
-Hitler’s first defeat
-British Royal Airforce v. Germany Luftwaffe
“Dogfights”- aerial battle between planes
MARCH 1941
President Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act
Allows the U.S. to send/lend war materials to all
countries the President deems vital
AUGUST 1941
Churchill & Roosevelt unveil the Atlantic Charter
Outlines goals for the destruction of “Nazi tyranny”
Support “the right of all peoples to choose their form of
government”
DECEMBER 1941
Following an attack on the U.S. Roosevelt asks Congress to
declare war on Japan
Three days later Germany & Italy declare war on the U.S.
JANUARY 1942
First US troops arrive in Europe
50,000 per month in the beginning
250,000 per month by 1944
By the end, over 16 million
Americans served in WWII
AUGUST 1942
Germany attacks Russian city, Stalingrad
 Battle lasts 6 months
 Hundreds of thousands die on both sides
 Red Army finally defeats Nazis
 *Turning point! Pushes Hitler back!
 Fun fact: Russia utilized female soldiers
Over 800,000 served, many in combat/sniper positions… 25% were
decorated by the end of the war, and nearly 100 received the
Soviet Union’s highest honor
MAY 1943
US Troops led by Generals Dwight Eisenhower and George
Patton help British defeat German troops in North Africa
Eisenhower appointed
commander of all U.S. forces
JULY-SEPTEMBER 1943
Allies capture Sicily &Southern Italy
Benito Mussolini overthrown and imprisoned
Hitler sends German troops- forces/resources
are spread then- leads to a series of costly
battles
NOVEMBER 1943
The “Big Three” meet in Teheran, Iran to discuss Italy
Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill
*Eisenhower becomes commander of
Allied Expeditionary Force (he is now
in command of all Allied troops!)
FEBRUARY 1944
US begins bombing Nazi
production centers
600 US bombers raid Berlin
JUNE 5 1944
“Operation Overlord” Known most often as D-Day
Paratroopers dropped into enemy territory
160,000 troops and 30,000
vehicles landed on beaches
in Normandy
Leads to Allied liberation of
France (after four years!)
DECEMBER 1944
Battle of the Bulge
Hitler’s last offensive
attack
250,000 Nazi soldiers are
held back in the cold
winter weather
MARCH-MAY 1945
US forces cross the Rhine River, Germans retreat into Germany
Soviet forces enter Berlin, Hitler marries his mistress, poisons
her then shoots himself
Mussolini attempts escape- later killed; beaten and hung
Eisenhower accepts Germany’s unconditional surrender
May 8, 1945 - known as V-E Day (Victory in Europe)