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Japanese Invasion of China
Japan invaded China in an attemp to grow their empire. Within five months, Japan had controlled one million Chinese. They did not go much further and kept the land. Eventually, Japan surrendered and had to return home leaving one million Japanese in China. -
The Rape of Nanking
Japanese marched into China and murderdd civilions for 6 weeks. -
German Blitzkrieg
Hitler wanted to aproach war with a series of small battlles. He did not want a long war. He did this using the military tactic called 'blizkreig' or lightning war. Germany hit hard and fast forcing them to surrender this ended in 1940 -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
Hitler had to take over Poland in order to conquer Europe. German troops crossed over into Poland, starting WWII. Hitler acted dispite objections from Britain and France. They did not come to the aide of Poland. Poland surrendered to Germany on Oct, 6. -
Operation Barbarossa
This was the most powerful invasion in war history. Over three million German troops invaded Russia and defeated them. Russia and Germany had signed a pact but that did not matter to Hitler. He was interested in Russian oil and attacked by surprise. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in an attemp to keep the U.S.A. out of their battles in the Pacific but failed. They attacked by surprise and only attacked ships. They didn't even get close to our U-Boats witch happened to be what strangled them in the Navy. Pearl Harbor was what got us in the war. -
Wannsee Conference
Fifteen German leaders met and they discusesd the filnel solution to the Jewish problem. Lietenant Heydrich led the meeting and layed out the plan for exterminating the Jews. -
Battle of Midway
Six months after Pearl Harbor, the U.S. broke Japanese code. Thery were able to interfere with another Japanese attack. Americans destroyed many Japanese navy ships. -
Operation Gomorrah
British bombers raided Hamburg, Germany. This raid took place at night as a response to German bombing. Britain dropped 2,300 tons of bombs on Hamburg in two hours. 1,500 people were killed and then Hitler began to realize defeat. -
D-Day Normandy Invasion
On this day, 155,000 American, British and Canadian troops crossed the English channel and landed on five beaches in Normandy, France. This was the beginning of allied forces invading France. On Omaha Beach, 2,500 American soldiers were killed. -
Battle of the Bulge
Germans attacked allied forces in Belgium. Because of bad weather, Germans were able to create a bulge into the American lines. The Germans lacked supplies and were freezing in the winter. The allies eventully overcame the Germans. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Taking Iwo Jima was part of the American plan. Americans wanted to destroy Japan's merchant fleet so that the mainland could not get supplies. It took America over one month to take the small island. -
Bataan Death March
The Japanese captured nearly 70,000 soldiers on the Battan Peninsula. The American and Filipino prisoners had to walk 65 miles to prison camps. Many died of starvation, disease, or violence. -
Battle of Okinawa
This large island must be captured in order to take over Japan. Many kamikaze planes attacked American ships. American forces suffered heavy losses. On july 2, we took the island. -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
Nazis kept millions of people in death camps. Allied soldiers rescued the survivors. They were shocked at the sight and smell of death. -
VE Day
After Germany surrendered the allies celerbrated the victory. -
Operation Thunderclap
Allies planned to hit German troops in Germany to bring the war to an end. These air rades were headed up by the American 'Bomber Command'. Four German cities were hit. Thousands of civilians were killed. -
Potdam Declaration
this was a statement calling for the surrender of Japan. It satted that if Japan did not surender it would be distroiied. -
Dropping the Atomic Bombs
President Truman wanted to invade Japan but was worned there would be many deaths. He deciided to use the new atom bomb. The first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima nicknamed 'ittle boy' and the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and was called 'fat man' . These bombs put an end to the war when Japan would not stop. Japan surrenderd directly affter. -
VJ Day
Japan announced their surrender and WWII came to an end.
