German Aggression
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- The war in Europe began in September 1939, when Germany, under Chancellor Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland. Britain and France responded by declaring war on Germany
- Consequently, Germany launched attacked on Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Greece
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The USSR
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- Later in 1941, Germany began its most ambitious action yet, by invading the Soviet Union.
- Although the Germans initially made swift progress and advanced deep into the Russian heartland, the invasion of the USSR would prove to be the downfall of Germany’s war effort.
- In 1943, after the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, Germany was forced into a full-scale retreat
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The Normandy Invasion
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- In June 1944, British and American forces launched the D-Day Invasion, landing in German-occupied France via the coast of Normandy.
- Soon the German army was forced into retreat from that side as well.
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The Pacific Theatre
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- The war in the Pacific began on December 7, 1941, when warplanes from Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbour
- In late spring of 1942, the United States and Japan engaged in a series of naval battles, climaxing in the Battle of Midway on June 3–6, 1942, in which Japan suffered a catastrophic defeat.
- This process continued through the summer of 1945 until finally, in early August, the United States dropped two Atomic Bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Stunned by the unexpected devastation, Japan surrendered a few days later.
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The surrender
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- The German Instrument of Surrender ended World War II in Europe in 1945
- Also, the surrender of Japan was announced by Imperial Japan on August 15 and formally signed on September 2, 1945, bringing the hostilities of World War II to a close.
- Further, The Treaty of Peace with Italy (one of the Paris Peace Treaties) was signed on February 10, 1947 between Italy and the victorious powers of World War II, formally ending hostilities. It came into general effect on September 15, 1947
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