World+War+II

[|www.militaryphotos.net]
 * World War II** **By Tripp Dedmon** ​

World War II lasted from 1939 to 1945 (historians cannot agree on a specific end date). The war was the most expensive in history. Costs range between $1 and $2 trillion. Damage to property averaged $239 billion total.

Topics of World War II


 * 1) How World War II Began
 * 2) Pearl Harbor
 * 3) D-Day
 * 4) The Battle of the Bulge
 * 5) Holocaust

World War II began when the tyrant Adolf Hitler wanted to expand German territories. Germany took over Austria and Czechoslovakia without resistance. Hitler wanted to take over more land to the East. He set his eyes on Poland staging an attack as his reason to invade the country. Hilter invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 with ease. Germans bombed bridges, killed many civilians, and shot soldiers on the ground from the air. On September 3, France and Germany declared war on Germany because Hitler would not withdraw from Poland. This was the beginning of World War II.
 * 1. How World War II Began **

[|www.history1900s.about.com/library/holocaust/aa090399.htm]

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**2. Pearl Harbor** The attack on Pearl Harbor happened a few minutes before 8:00 am on Sunday, December 7, 1941. The U.S. Pacific Fleet was a roadblock in Japan's plan to set up a defensive perimeter in the central and southwest Pacific. On the morning of Decemeber 7, Japanese carrier-based planes bombed Pearl Harbor. In less than two hours, Japanese planes sank four battleships and damaged four more. The U.S. authorities broke a Japanese code telling about the planned attack and sent news to Washington. Due to delays the news didn't arrive until the attack had already begun. Pearl Harbor was a success for Japan. On December 8, the United States declared war on Japan. Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. on December 11. [|www.history.com/encyclopedia.do?articleId=226140] ​ media type="youtube" key="HAnOtWm5OrM" height="344" width="425" [|www.youtube.com]

[|www.army.mil/D-day/slideshow.html]
 * 3. D-Day** ​

D-Day is the name of the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. 160,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy and there were nearly 10,000 Allied casualties. The Invasion involved five seperate landings by American, British, and Canadian troops led by President Eisenhower. Scholars believe D-Day stood for "Decision Day" or "Disembarkation Day". Some say Normandy was the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. [|www.enotes.com/topics/d-day]
 * 4. The Battle of the Bulge**

[|www.post244pa.org/Bickel.htm]

​ The German Ardennes Offensive, known to allies as "The Battle of the Bulge", began on December 16, 1944. The Germans put up a strong resistance and were able to hold important road centers to Saint-Vith and Bastogne. After December 23, the German effort was doomed due to good flying weather. The overwhelming allied support made itself felt. In the end of January the final 50 mile deep "bulge" in allied lines was eliminated. [|www.history.com/encyclopedia.do?articleId=226140] 5. Holocaust ** media type="youtube" key="bHAF0sgzKOs" height="344" width="425" [|www.youtube.com]

The Holocaust was the persecution of European Jews by Nazi Germany and it's allies. The Holocaust occured between 1933 and 1945. The Nazi philosophy had anti-communist, anti-Jewish and generally racist components. Hitler wanted to cleanse Germany of all inferior races and peoples. Hitler blamed the Jews for the defeat of Germany in World War I, blamed them for lack of economical progress and the proliferation of communist parties in Europe. In the end, nearly 6 million Jews were murdered.

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