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Japanese Invasion of China
Japan wanted to be an imperial power therefore invaded China. They also desired to prove themselves superior to the West by having lots of land but ended up being more of a threat. Started a war “Sino Japanese War” between Japan and China. China was aided by Nazi Germany but then there was an alliance between Hitler and Japan. In 1940 Japan wasn’t able to force victory so they ended up attacking Pearl Harbor, starting World War II in the East. -
Rape of Nanking
The Japanese captured Nanking but CCP and KMT forces kept resisting so they killed 300,000 civilians and raped 80,000 women. Many were killed by Japanese bombing. All in all there were about 10 to 20 million Chinese civilians deaths. -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
Hitler negotiated a nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union in 1939. The German-Soviet Pact of 1939, which stated that Poland was to be partitioned between the two powers, enabled Germany to attack Poland without the fear of Soviet intervention. Britain and France then declare war on Germany. -
German Blitzkrieg
AKA “The Lightning War”. Germany crushes Poland, Denmark, Norway, and other countries along with France with air force. Hitler postpones his invasion plans because of Britain's victory. -
Fall of Paris
Germans impose curfew for Parisians. They waited for America to aid them. Lots of people had fled when Germany came in with tanks and arrested, interrogated, and spied the Parisians.CANADA was rolling through the region offering hope to them :) (Yay for Canada!) -
Operation Barbarossa
AKA invasion of Russia by Hitler. It was a turning point in World War II because Nazi Germany faced a two-front war it wouldn’t win. Germany underestimated the Soviet Union and made the mistake of coming as conquerors and not liberators because of their determination to enslave the Slavic population and get rid of the Jews. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan wasn’t able to force victory upon China so they ended up attacking Pearl Harbor with fighter planes, starting World War II in the East. 20 American naval vessels were destroyed along with 8 huge battleships and more than 300 airplanes. Over 2,000 Americans died and over 1,000 were wounded. America declared war on Japan. Germany and Italy then declared war on America. -
Wannsee Conference
A conference held with various Nazi ministries and organizations to create a plan that would give the “final solution to the Jewish question”. Their most efficient solution were gas vans. -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
Germany was sending Jews out of the Warsaw Ghetto to kill the for the place had to many Jews. Hundreds of people tried to resist this and armed themselves with small weapons, of course they were outnumbered. During this German soldiers took out houses block by block and found many Jews hiding, they were killed or captured. In the end Germans blew up the Warsaw's Great Synagogue, as a symbol, killed thousands of Jews and Nazi control was once again established in the ghetto. -
Operation Gomorrah
Britain bombs Hamburg, Germany at night and America bombs it during the day. Britain didn’t lose much aircraft as they used strips of aluminium foil to fool German radar into thinking they were a lot of aircraft. Hitler refused to visit the burned-out cities because they signified the end of the war for him. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
An invasion of france, Paris is set free. Iwo Jima and Okinawa are bombed. The beginning of the end of war. U.S, Canada, and British forces cross the English Canal to 5 beaches in Normandy, France. German powers had been occupying northwestern France since 1940. This was an expected battle from both the axis and allied powers (Had been preparing for months). Allied powers by August 1944 had taken northwestern France back. -
Battle of Bulge
Germany attacks Allies in the Ardennes, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. This battle was one of the biggest that U.S had ever fought in. German army had attacked in the weak spots the U.S had left, an unexpected place. During the battle weather came in the way. Snowstorms and cold weather, that the men were not dressed and prepared for. Everything broke down, supplies reduced. At one point Germany runs of out fuel. The allied powers gain victory in this battle. -
Operation Thunderclap
The purpose was to bomb the eastern cities of Germany to interrupt the transportation to what was becoming the eastern fort. There were various waves of bombings in one night. By doing this they tried to turn the people against their government. -
Battle of Iwo Jima and Okinawa
Battle of Iwo Jima, american armies fight to have a base near Japan (to use air supply or air bases). Japanese “greeted” U.S with 23,000 men. Japanese worked from caves, dugouts, tunnels etc.
Battle of Okinawa, over 100,000 Japanese dead, 50,000 from Allies. Japanese civilians included (mothers and children jumping from cliffs). USS Indianapolis delivered lethal package then sunk. -
Fate of Mussolini
After Germany surrendered Italy forced him to escape but he was found and shot. -
Fate of Hitler
Committed suicide when the Soviet Union was encircling Berlin. -
VE Day
Germany surrendered to Russia and other countries. About 2 million Germans were taken as prisoners by the Russians. Around 1 million Germans tried to escape to the west before this occurred but failed and were captured. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
Allied powers plan for an invasion of Japan islands after the Okinawa battle. They foresee a big number of casualties in their side and did not know how long it would extend and drag to. They come to the conclusion of the bomb. In August 1945, American atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima, destroying the town. Another bomb was dropped in Nagasaki when the Japanese failed to surrender -
VJ Day
AKA “Victory over Japan Day”. Japan surrendered as well, ending WWII. -
Creation of the United Nations
It was created out of necessity. The original U.N declaration was formulated by the U.S. Britain and the Soviet Union. 26 other nations signed a formal act opposition to Germany, Japan, and Italy. Objectives consisted of respecting equal rights, international cooperation on solving economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems around the world and such. They wanted to conserve peace in this way. -
Fate of Tojo
Tried to commit suicide but failed and was seen as a coward. After he was nursed to health he was charged for war criminal and along with six others was hanged on December 23, 1948. -
Fate of Stalin
In1952, Stalin felt he was too old to be Secretary General. LAter on he died in March 6th 1953, many relieved by his death.
