WW2 timeline

Question 1

Japanese invasion of Manchuria

Answer 1

• 18 Sept 1931
• aim: Japan to expand its territory and gain access to natural resources such as coal and oil
• it was a success
• significant outbreak that occurred in the pathway to the start of WW2

Question 2

Hitler appointed as Chancellor of Germany

Answer 2

• 30 Jan 1933
• significant because it allowed Hitler to grow Germany and give it back the losses from WW1

Question 3

Nanjing Massacre

Answer 3

• began: 13 Dec 1937. continued for six weeks
• imperial Japanese army forces brutally murdered hundreds and thousands of civilians and soldiers of Nanjing. tens of thousands of women were also sexually assaulted/raped

Question 4

Germany invaded Poland

Answer 4

• 1 Sept 1939
• Hitler bombed Poland on land and in the air
• invasion occurred because Germany wanted to regain lost territory and ultimately rule their neighbor to the east.
• significance: trigger factor for the start of WW2

Question 5

Denmark falls to the Germans

Answer 5

• 9 April 1940
• within a few hours of attack the Danish surrendered and became controlled by Nazi Germany. because they thought the German military was too superior to resist

Question 6

Belgium falls to the Germans

Answer 6

• 10 May 1940

Question 7

Battle of France

Answer 7

• 10 May to 25 June 1940
• from the low countries, German invaded France
• significance: Germany was able to successfully capture not only France but 3 other countries = Luxemburg, Nethaderals & Belgium

Question 8

Netherlands fall to Germans

Answer 8

may 15 1940

Question 9

Norway falls to Germany

Answer 9

10 June 1940

Question 10

Battle of Britain

Answer 10

• 10 July 1940 to
• Great Britain held out against the relentless aerial bombardment and thus inflicted heavy losses on the German air force. this denied Germany an opportunity to launch an invasion that probably would have knocked the British out of the war before the US entered.
• allowed Britain to be free of Nazi Germany

Question 11

Siege of Tobruk

Answer 11

• 10 April 1941 to 27 November 1942
• essentially a confrontation between Axis and Allied forces in North America during the Western Desert Campaign of WW2
• Significance: fist major setback for the Axis forces as the Allies won victory

Question 12

Germany invaded the Soviet Union

Answer 12

• AKA Operation Barbarossa
• 22 June 1941
• it was German’s largest invasion force
• The Germans failed to defeat the Soviet forces and this signalled a crucial turning point in the war.

Question 13

Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor

Answer 13

• 7 Dec 1941
• Japanese aircraft attacked the US naval base in Pearl Harbour = destroyed/badly damaged much of the Us pacific fleet and caused thousands of casualties.
• after this attack, the US formally entered WW2 on the side of the Allied forces.

Question 14

Fall of Singapore

Answer 14

• 8 Feb 1942 to 15 Feb 1942
• Singapore = the foremost British military base and economic port in South - East Asia
• surrender of Singapore resulted in the largest British surrender in history

Question 15

Japanese Bomb Darwin

Answer 15

• 19 Feb 1942
• aka battle of darwin.
• largest single attack made by a foreign power on Australia.
• JapaUSA and Australia are allied and US uses darwin as military base. japansese did the attack to destroy the military equipment and make it difficult for the allies to send supplies to TImor. Japan wanted to Invade Timor

Question 16

The battle of the Coral sea

Answer 16

• 4 may 1942 to 8 may 1942
• It marked the end of the phase of Japanese triumphs in the Pacific War
• The battle was significant for two main reasons:
  + it was the first time in World War 2 that the Japanese experienced failure in a major operation
  + the battle stopped the Japanese sea-borne invasion of Port Moresby
• The battle prevented Australia from being isolated from its American allies and is often referred to as the ‘battle that saved Australia’32.

Question 17

Submarines appear in Sydney Harbor

Answer 17

• 31 may 1942
• see the submarines showcases the existence of an immediate threat on Australia’s doorstep.

Question 18

Battle of Midway

Answer 18

• 4 june 1942
• turning point of the military struggles between Japan and the US
• strategically significant for the US in the Pacific Theater
• it halted japans advancements across the pacific
• the America’s first battle won against Japan

Question 19

Kokoda Campaign

Answer 19

• 21 July 1942
• it was a significant event for Aus because:
  + Saved Australia from being isolated from the USA and possibly invaded by Japan.
  + Boosted Australian pride.
  + Was arguably Australia’s most significant campaign of the Second World War.
  + More Australians died in the seven months of fighting in Papua and the Japanese came closer to Australia than in any other campaign.

Question 20

Building of the Thai-Burma Railway

Answer 20

• 1942 - 1943
• support the Japanese armed forces during the Burma campaign.
• connected Bangkok and Moulmein (now Mawlamyine), Burma (Myanmar)
• Despite the repeated destruction of bridges by Allied bombing, the Japanese were able to use it to supply their troops in Burma

Question 21

D-Day landing

Answer 21

• 6 june 1944
• invasion at 5 beaches at Normandy in northan france, by troops from the US, Canada and UK
• it was the largest amphibious invasion ever undertaken and laid the foundations for the Allied defeat of Germany in World War II.

Question 22

Hitler takes his own life

Answer 22

30 april 1945