-
Japanese invasion of China
On July 7, 1937 a battle occurred near Peiping in North China between Chinese and Japanese troops. The full scale war between the Japanese and China erupted because of this event and caused Japanese forces to invade China. This event happened because one night a small Japanese force demanded entry to the town of Wanping in order to search for one of their lost soldiers. The Chinese said no, a shot was heard and the two sides began firing at one another. Source: WWII in the Pacific -
German Blitzkrieg
German Blitzkrieg, which means "lightning war" was a military strategy that would use quick, destructive military attacks on an enemy. The Germans would use this strategy because it was very effective and it was great for keeping the enemy off balance. The effect of this strategy was that Germany was able to be victorious in battles and quickly dominated Europe. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
The invasion of Poland in 1939 was a military offensive by the Germans that were invading Poland. The cause of this was because Germany wanted to regain lost territory and also just because they wanted more power. This event caused Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany marking the beginning of World War II. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the name used to represent the invasion of the Soviet Union by Germany and some of its allies. The cause of this event was because Hitler wanted Germany to expand eastwards and he wanted to end Stalin's regime and establish Nazi rule. The effect of this event was significant because Barbarossa had failed for the Germans and has caused them to fight a two-front war and was a crucial turning point in the war. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was a base in Hawaii that was bombed by Japan on December 7, 1941. The event occurred because the Japanese intended the attack to be a preventive action to keep the United States from interfering with Japanese planned military actions. The effect of this event was that it made the United States declare war on Japan. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference was a meeting of Nazi officials that took place in Berlin to discuss the Final Solution of the Jewish. This event occurred because officials needed to discuss what was going to happen to the Jewish population. As an effect of the Wannsee Conference, millions of Jewish people were transported to killing centers in Poland. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March was a forcible event by the Imperial Japanese Army that made 60,000- 80,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war march 66 miles from the southern end of the Bataan Peninsula to San Fernando. This event occurred because the American and Filipino troops were forced to make the 66 mile march to prison camps. The outcome of this event was that many died on the march and many died in the camps after the march was completed. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Battle of Stalingrad
In the Battle of Stalingrad Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in Russia. This event occurred because Stalingrad was believed to be an important city in Germany's effort to take control of the southern part of Russia. The effect of this event was that Germany suffered a heavy loss and was in full retreat. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a major naval battle in the Pacific between the United States and the Imperial Japanese. This event occurred because Japan hoped to defeat the U.S. Pacific Fleet and use Midway as a military base to attack Pearl Harbor. The effect of this battle was a United States victory and it was a turning point in the war. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Operation Gomorrah
The Battle of Hamburg, codenamed operation Gomorrah was a series of air raids by the British air force on Germany which began on July 24, 1943 and lasted for 8 days and 7 nights. The British decided to bomb Hamburg because it was a very strategic target and it housed a lot of energy and industrial resources. The effect of this event was that 280,000 buildings were destroyed (including industrial and munitions plants) and 30,000 people were killed. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Allied Invasion of Italy
The Allied Invasion of Italy was the Allied amphibious landing on Italy's mainland on September 3, 1943. This event occurred because Allied leaders decided to use their military resources and objectively remove Italy from World War II. The effect of this invasion was that it was an Allied success and it gave the Allies complete control of the western Mediterranean. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Operation Thunderclap
In 1944 a plan called operation Thunderclap was proposed, the idea being to bomb Berlin. This plan was formed because this plan would be able to take out railroads and other vital targets in Berlin. The plan was never put to action therefore having no effect. Source: Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
D-Day
The D-Day invasion, or Normandy landings, were landing operations of the Allied forces that marked the beginning of the liberation of German occupied Western Europe from Nazi control. This event happened because the allies needed to liberate Western Europe and push the Germans back. The effect of this even was that it forced the Germans to fight a two front war and it caused the Germans to be surrounded on all sides. Source: Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive on the Western Front that would be an unsuccessful attempt in pushing the Allies back from German territory. This event occurred because Germany's goal was to push back the Allies and split the Allied lines. The effect of this battle was that the Germans suffered a terrible loss and they were unable to push back the allies, making them surrender only four months after. Source: Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was a major battle in which the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy landed and took over the island of Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army. This battle occurred because Iwo Jima was a strategic location that could be used as an airbase for planes to take off and land when attacking Japan. The effect of this battle was that the island was taken over by the United States. Source: Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was a major battle fought between the United States Army and Marine Corps against the Imperial Japanese Army on the island of Okinawa. This event occurred because the United States wanted to destroy Japan's merchant fleet and gain territory that could be used as airstrips to allow U.S. planes to make it to Japan's home land. The effect of this battle was the United States took over Okinawa. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
VE Day
Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) was the day the Allies formally accepted Germany's unconditional surrender, marking the end of World War II in Europe. Germany surrendered because Berlin fell to the Soviets and Hitler committed suicide in his command bunker that was getting surrounded by the Soviets. The effect of this was that the war in Europe came to an end. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Potsdam Declaration
The Potsdam Declaration was an ultimatum issued by Great Britain, China and the United States calling for the unconditional surrender of Japan. This event occurred because the United States, China and Great Britain wanted the end of the war and Japan to surrender. The effect of this event was that Japan publicly rejected the Potsdam Declaration and would not agree to it until August 10, 1945. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The United States detonated two nuclear weapons over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945. These events occurred because they were believed to make Japan surrender and it was a better choice than an invasion of Japan, which would cause millions of casualties. The outcome of these two events was that Japan officially surrendered on September 2, 1945. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics -
VJ Day
Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) was the day Imperial Japan surrendered bringing World War II to an end. Although the surrender wasn't formally signed until September 2, 1945, this event occurred because Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender on August 15, 1945 in response to the second atomic bomb drop on Nagasaki. The outcome of this day was that it would be to celebrate the end of World War II. Source: WWII History Channel General Topics