History - The Battle of Britain (pictures, video, facts & news) Top 10 Battles of World War II History World War II was the bloodiest conflict in human history. The world was in a state of “total war.” Motivated by the threat of global tyranny, the Allies eventually prevailed, but this victory was marked by battles won and lost. This list looks at ten battles that decisively changed the course of the war. After the German conquest of Poland in September 1939, Hitler turned his attention to the west. The German Army was actually outnumbered by the Allies. By the summer of 1944, the Red Army was at Germany’s doorstep. Operation Overlord commenced with the Normandy landings in June of 1944. Up until August 1942, the Allies had been on the defensive in the Pacific Theatre. On 7 August, 11,000 Marines of the 1st Marine Division under the command of Major General Alexander Vandergrift landed on Guadalcanal. In June 1944 the Americans had breached Japan’s inner defensive ring and had bases that could be used by B-29 Superfortresses to bomb the Japanese home islands.
Lesson Plans: Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss & WWII: Analyzing Political Cartoons Dr. Seuss is the beloved author of more than 50 children’s books. But many students do not know that he drew over 400 political cartoons during WWII. These cartoons tackled such subjects as racism and discrimination, the dangers of isolationism, fascism, and other political issues, and the vital work of the war effort at home. Objective:Students will analyze four WWII-era Dr. Grade Level: 7-12 Standards: History Thinking Standard 4—the student interrogates historical data by uncovering the social, political, and economic context in which it was created. Content Era 8 (1929-1945) Standard 3C—the student understands the effects of World War II at home. Time Requirement: One class period, and possible homework assignment. Download a printable pdf version of this lesson plan Directions: 1. 2. 3. 4. Assessment: Components for assessment include the student worksheet, class discussion, and student created cartoon. Enrichment: Dr. Cartoon Gallery: 1. 2. 3.
World War II: The Invasion of Poland and the Winter War - Alan Taylor - In Focus In August of 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression treaty. One week later, Germany invaded Poland and World War II began. The first attack of the war took place on September 1, 1939, as German aircraft bombarded the Polish town of Wielun, killing nearly 1,200. Use j/k keys or ←/→ to navigate Choose: View of an undamaged Polish city from the cockpit of a German medium bomber aircraft, likely a Heinkel He 111 P, in 1939. In 1939, the Polish army still maintained many cavalry squadrons, which had served them well as recently as the Polish-Soviet War in 1921. Associated Press correspondent Alvin Steinkopf broadcasting from the Free City of Danzig -- at the time, a semi-autonomous city-state tied to Poland. Soviet premier Josef Stalin (second from right), smiles while Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov (seated), signs the non-aggression pact with German Reich Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop (third from right), in Moscow, on August 23, 1939.
Anne Frank and her family were also denied entry as refugees to the U.S. Portrait of Anne Frank at age 12, sitting at her desk at the Montessori school in Amsterdam. (Courtesy Anne Frank House, Amsterdam) Many have noted the historical parallels between the current debate over Syrians seeking refuge in the United States and the plight of European Jews fleeing German-occupied territories on the eve of World War II. Among the many who tried — and failed — to escape Nazi persecution: Otto Frank and his family, which included wife, Edith, and his daughters, Margot and Anne. "Otto Frank’s efforts to get his family to the United States ran afoul of restrictive American immigration policies designed to protect national security and guard against an influx of foreigners during time of war," Breitman wrote. world worldviews Dallas shooting updates News and analysis on the deadliest day for police since 9/11. post_newsletter353 follow-dallas true after3th false Today's WorldView What's most important from where the world meets Washington Please provide a valid email address.
Operation Overlord Preparations for D-Day[edit] The decision to undertake a cross-channel invasion within the next year was taken at the Trident Conference in Washington in May 1943. Churchill favoured making the main Allied thrust into Germany from the Mediterranean theatre, but was over-ruled by his American allies, who were providing the bulk of the men and equipment. British Lieutenant-General Frederick E. Morgan was appointed Chief of Staff, Supreme Allied Commander (COSSAC) to begin detailed planning. The Pas de Calais is the closest point in continental Europe from Britain and was the location of launch sites for V-1 and V-2 rockets, which were still under development. Allied invasion plan[edit] D-day assault routes into Normandy "Overlord" was the name assigned to the establishment of a large-scale lodgement on the Continent. The coastline of Normandy was divided into seventeen sectors, with codenames using a spelling alphabet – from Able, west of Omaha, to Roger on the east flank of Sword.
National Churchill Museum | Winston Churchill's Their Finest Hour Speech I spoke the other day of the colossal military disaster which occurred when the French High Command failed to withdraw the northern Armies from Belgium at the moment when they knew that the French front was decisively broken at Sedan and on the Meuse. This delay entailed the loss of fifteen or sixteen French divisions and threw out of action for the critical period the whole of the British Expeditionary Force. Our Army and 120,000 French troops were indeed rescued by the British Navy from Dunkirk but only with the loss of their cannon, vehicles and modern equipment. This loss inevitably took some weeks to repair, and in the first two of those weeks the battle in France has been lost. I am not reciting these facts for the purpose of recrimination. That I judge to be utterly futile and even harmful. Of this I am quite sure, that if we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future. He nothing common did or mean, Upon that memorable scene.
World War II World War II (WWII or WW2), also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, though related conflicts began earlier. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, and directly involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. In a state of "total war", the major participants threw their entire economic, industrial and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. World War II altered the political alignment and social structure of the world. Chronology The start of the war in Europe is generally held to be 1 September 1939,[9][10] beginning with the German invasion of Poland; Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later. Others follow the British historian A. Background
What Americans thought of Jewish refugees on the eve of World War II The results of the poll illustrated above by the useful Twitter account @HistOpinion were published in the pages of Fortune magazine in July 1938. Fewer than 5 percent of Americans surveyed at the time believed that the United States should raise its immigration quotas or encourage political refugees fleeing fascist states in Europe — the vast majority of whom were Jewish — to voyage across the Atlantic. Two-thirds of the respondents agreed with the proposition that "we should try to keep them out." [Yes, the comparison between Jewish and Syrian refugees matters] To be sure, the United States was emerging from the Great Depression, hardly a climate in which ordinary folks would welcome immigrants and economic competition. The events of Kristallnacht — a wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in areas controlled by the Nazis — had yet to take place. But look at the next chart, also tweeted by @HistOpinion. [Europe’s fear of Muslim refugees echoes rhetoric of 1930s anti-Semitism] Read more: U.S.
Military History Online - D-Day June 6, 1944 D-Day, Normandy, France June 6, 1944 by Brian Williams and John Barratt The Atlantic Wall After the invasion and subsequent fall of France in 1940, the German army controlled the entire coast of Northern France. Following the Allied evacuation at Dunkirk, Hitler had hoped that Britain would agree to settle the war. But, because of British determination and Germany's inability to carry out an invasion of England, Germany was forced to maintain a defensive posture along the coast. The Airborne Landings The first three of these units were given the missions of securing the eastern and western flanks of the beachhead by destroying bridges and laying mines. The capture of Ste. The left flank of the invasion force was much more vulnerable to German armored attack since the 21st Panzer was stationed just outside of Caen and the 12th SS Panzer miles to the east. Gold Beach Gold Beach was the code name for the center of the landings on the Normandy coast. John Barratt and Brian Williams
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Top 10 Little-Known Events in World War II History I love researching WWII, people, places, technology, anything. WWII had an amazing impact on the world and there is a ton of information out there. Studying all the battles, effects and the causes might get a little boring. Aleutian Islands Campaign On June 3rd, 1942, Japanese forces invaded and occupied Attu and Kiska, two islands which were part of the state of Alaska. Japanese holdouts were Japanese soldiers stationed on islands throughout the Pacific who refused to surrender, or did not know that Japan had surrendered. South American Involvement Although it is called “World War II”, many people do not include any South American countries on the list of combatants. Vichy France vs. the Allies After the French surrender in 1940, Germany created a puppet government in Vichy. Typically, people think of U-boats attacking ships in the Atlantic, around Greenland or closer to Europe, rather than off the coast of the United States. Other Europeans in Nazi Forces
World War II General Resources WWII Web Sites Encyclopedia of the Second World War The Second World War is a Spartacus Educational website and enables one to research individual people and events of the war in detail. The sources are “hypertexted” so that the visitor can research the newspaper, organization, etc., that produced the source. There are several subsections including those on: Background to the War; Nazi Germany, Chronology of the War, Political Leaders, European Diplomacy, Major Offensives, British Military Leaders, USA Military Leaders, German Military Leaders, Japanese Military Leaders, The Armed Forces, The Air War, The Resistance, Scientists & Inventors, War at Sea, Resistance in Nazi Germany, The Holocaust, War Artists, Weapons and New Technology. HyperWar: World War II Hyper War is a “hypertext” history of the second World War and features diplomatic and political documents. World War II Sites This site serves as a gateway to World War II sites appropriate for students and teachers. U.S.