WWII

Pre-war events

In 1933 Adolf Hitler starts his campaign to make Germany the greatest country in the world. Hitler says that Germany is the superior race and all others are secondary. Hitler makes “super weapons” bringing Germany out of its depression. 1934: Russia signs an alliance with Nazi Germany. In 1935, Hitler takes over the Rhineland, the place that was demilitarized after WWI. In the 1936 Olympics, Germany hosts the Olympics and the top two places are won by the United States of America. One of the American winners meets with Hitler and knows that Hitler is a person that needs to be stopped now. In 1938, Hitler agrees to control half of Czechoslovakia. Three months later, Hitler takes over the rest of Czechoslovakia. Hitler has also taken over Austria.

The Western Front

On September 1, 1939, Germany invades Poland and takes over the whole country in a few days. Hitler uses a new war tactic called Blitzkrieg. It means “lightning war.” Twenty days later, the attack on France begins. The Germans take over France in just over 30 days. In 1940, the only ally in Europe is Great Britain. The other allies were Canada and Austria. In the summer of 1940, Germany starts bombing London, England with the powerful Luftwaffe. Hitler continuously bombs London for eight months. Hitler gives up and turns his attention to the Soviet Union. When Hitler agreed to have Japan enter on the Axis side, he had three main Axis powers. On December 7^th, 1941 the empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor at 8:46 Hawaii Time. President Roosevelt said this on December 8^th, 1941, “Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack. It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation. As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God. I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.” The United States of America was now in World War II fighting on the Western Front and the Pacific Front. The Americans now had to make tanks and other things to support their infantry. The Allies had a new country to help them with the fight against the Axis powers. The bloodiest battles came next. The start of the European advance and the total annihilation of Nazi Germany started with this very attack. In 1943, a committee was made to create and use a plan of attack. This attack was nicknamed D-Day. The formal name was Operation Overlord. This attack was supposed to be on July 5, 1944 but was delayed because of bad seas. On July 6, 1944 the largest naval and land operation was about to unfold planes took off at 22:30 on July 5, paratroopers landed behind enemy lines at 0:10 and the first casualty was at 0:15 and they Allies had destroyed 1 tank. At 4:30, the Allies had started the land assault and the beaches of Normandy were lit up with gunfire and naval batteries. The Allies won and sent tanks over to help with the defense of the Soviet Union. From now and until the end of the war, the Allies would push except for on battle. At the Battle of the Bulge, 20 Tiger (P) tanks or Tiger (Prototype) tanks were used to defend a point at the outskirts of Germany. The Nazis lost and were pushed back to the Soviets on the West Side of Berlin. The Allies had to plan the post-war world. Hitler killed his 5 children with poison. Both he and his wife took suicide pills. Hitler shot his wife and then himself. The war was over. The total amount of civilian deaths by the Nazis was over 11,000,000 people. This war changed the face of the earth forever and the way we treat people.

The Eastern Front

In 1940, after the failing of the bombing of Britain, Hitler turns his attention to attack the Soviet Union. Hitler has three groups to attack the Soviet Union, Army Group North (under the command of Pesuchi), Army Group Center (under the command of General Hoth), and Army Group South (under the command of General Ike). The Soviets gain intelligence that the Germans will attack in the summer of 1941. Some reports said that the plans for Operation Barbarossa were on the desk of Joseph Stalin. The German advance in the summer of 1941 was coming soon. The Soviets were low in infantry and had tanks that were not developed enough to penetrate the front of a German Panzer III tank. The Soviets could not win an attack with the current military force. The Germans were putting motorcycle units and infantry at the line between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Three months before the attack started, the Luftwaffe bombed all the airports in the Soviet Union near the front. The Soviets had almost no air support. Without the Soviet air support, the Soviets would have a difficult time attacking enemy positions without the Soviet Air Force to support. The soviets were about to lose the present-day area of Ukraine. There was a bulge in the Soviet line. The Soviets were prepared to defend the city of Kiev. The German army was 5 km away from the city. A few days later, the German artillery began to pound the city of Kiev. The Germans advanced with Panzer III’s and 260,000 men. The Soviets had a total of 710,000 troops in the city. When the Germans captured the city of Kiev, eight days had passed and the city was in rubble. The Soviet blew up train cars and all supplies they could not carry out with them. The Soviets now were now told to defend the Stalin Line. The Stalin Line was captured in 6 days and was easily destroyed with a new type of tank called the Stug III A. It was used to support the infantry and destroy bunkers. The Soviets were forced all the way back to Stalingrad. At Stalingrad, the Soviets turned the face of battle forever with the help of a new tank called the Joseph Stalin or Isoph Stalin. This tank could destroy a Tiger tank from 500km and had enough armor to protect against the 88mm gun of the new Tiger II tank. The Soviets pushed for the rest of the war and in 1945, captured the West side of Berlin. The Soviets had to plan a post-war world with the other Allied Nations.