The war is over the Soviet demand for Finland to relinquish naval bases and territory to the Soviets.
Russia wins the war (they outnumber Finland 10-1), but suffer huge casualties.
Convinces Hitler that it is time to invade Russia.
May 10, 1940.
France surrenders to Germany.
Winston Churchill replaces Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister.
o Rallies England to resist planned German invasion (OPERATION SEA LION).
Pro-German French government is est. @ Vichy.
o Led by Marshall Henri Petain (WW1 war hero).
May 26-June 4, 1940.
Allies successfully evacuate 350,000 of the 400,000 trapped by the German defeat of France (blitzkrieg).
o Among the evacuated is Charles De Gaulle.
Forms the basis for a Free French government-in-exile.
July 10, 1940.
Beginning of the BATTLE OF BRITAIN.
o Hitler attempts to bomb England into submission in preparation for his planned invasion.
o After 6 months Hitler abandons his plans to invade due to his losses inflicted by the RAF.
o He mistakenly concentrated his air force upon London and other population centers instead of important military targets.
January 6, 1941.
Four Freedoms Speech.
June 22, 1941.
Germany invades Russia (OPERATION BARBAROSSA).
o Bad idea for Germany because they are now fighting a 2-front war.
o Nazis treat Russians horribly.
Many Russians welcome the Germans as liberators from communist oppression.
Einstazgruppen are established.
Special killing squads who follow behind the Wermacht killing Jews and others.
2 years will kill over 1 mil.
Babi Yar.
o Largest killing operation; killed 30,000 Soviet Jewsjust in 2 days @ Kiev in the ravine.
August 9-14, 1941.
Churchill and FDR make the Atlantic Charter.
October 31, 1941.
USS Reuben James (destroyer on convoy duty) is sunk by a German sub.
o Loss of 225 officers and men.
o First American warship sunk in WW2.
December 7, 1941.
Japanese bomb naval base @ PEARL HARBOR.
o American Pacific fleet is nearly annihilated.
o Japan makes the mistake of immediately invading and occupying Hawaii.
