Key Events - WW2

Question 1

Pearl Harbour

Answer 1

7 Dec 1941
Japan bombed the US naval base of Pearl Harbour. This was a demonstration of Japan’s strength and resulted in the US joining the war.

Question 2

Fall of Singapore

Answer 2

8 Feb 1942
Japan took Singapore, the only British base in the Pacific aside from Australia. It led to Australia turning to the US as a major ally. Australia was isolated. Singapore was a ‘stepping stone’ to an invasion of Australia.

Question 3

Bombing of Darwin

Answer 3

19 Sep 1942
Darwin was bombed 58 times, resulting in 253 deaths. Japan was targeting Australia’s key naval ships as Japan needed to control the seas.

Question 4

Submarines in Sydney

Answer 4

30 May - 1 June 1942
3 midget submarines entered Sydney Harbour. The troopship Kuttabul was destroyed, and 21 sailors were killed. Other naval assets were also destroyed.

Question 5

Kokoda

Answer 5

21 July - 16 Nov 1942
The Kokoda Campaign involved Australian soldiers protecting Port Moresby from the Japanese. Japan intended to take the strategic base of Port Moresby as it was flat, defendable, and perfect for an airfield.

Question 6

Nazis Rise to Power

Answer 6

1933
The Nazis were elected into power in 1933, after Hitler gained popularity and was appointed Chancellor by Hindenburg.

Question 7

Nuremberg Laws

Answer 7

1935
The Nuremberg Laws took away the civil rights of all Jewish people, specifically through the law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service.

Question 8

Enabling Act

Answer 8

1933
The Enabling Act of 1933 gave the Nazi party full dictatorial powers and the ability to change the constitution.

Question 9

Jewish shootings

Answer 9

1941-1942
Jewish people were systematically mass murdered through a series of shootings between mid-1941 and 1942.

Question 10

The ‘final solution’

Answer 10

1941-45
The ‘final solution’ to the ‘Jewish problem’ was the creation of extermination camps in remote areas such as Poland to mass murder thousands of Jewish people through gassing.

Question 11

Little Boy

Answer 11

6 August 1945
On August 6, 1945, the US bomber Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb Little Boy on Hiroshima, destroying 13 square km of the city and nearly completely destroying it. 80,000 people were killed.

Question 12

Fat Man

Answer 12

9 August 1945
On August 9, 1945, the US dropped the bomb Fat Man on Nagasaki, destroying 7 square km of the city. 50,000 people were killed.

Question 13

Victory in Europe Day

Answer 13

8 May 1945
Hitler committed suicide and Germany unconditionally surrendered.

Question 14

Victory in the Pacific Day

Answer 14

15 August 1945
Japan surrendered after losing its navy and two key cities (Hiroshima and Nagasaki). Russia had also taken Manchuria.