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China began a began a full scale resistance to Japanese expansion into their territory. The war remained undeclared until December 9th, 1941. From 1938 to 1944, the war remained in a virtual stalemate until allied forced pushed Japanese forces out of China.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Sino-Japanese-War -
Germans used air-ground attacks and Panzer tank divisions. They quickly stormed and overwhelmed unprepared forces. On top of all, the Polish and many other nations were under-equipped.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
The Germans go around the Weygand Line. France is invaded and Italy enters the war. Paris is captured and the French surrender.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-France-World-War-II/The-fall-of-France-June-5-25-1940 -
On the morning of December 7th, Japanese bombers bombed Pearl Harbor. This caused the United States to enter the war soon afterwards. The United States also fought against Japan in the Pacific.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/pearl-harbor-december-7-1941 -
The Wannsee Conference was a meeting of Nazi and SS officials to discuss what was called the, "Final Solution of the Jewish Question." The mass murder of Jews through concentration camps and other methods was determined. The SS predicted that 11 million Jews would be killed as part of the Nazi program.
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/wannsee-conference-and-the-final-solution -
The Battle of Stalingrad was the successful Soviet defense Stalingrad, or now Volgograd. It was considered one of Russia's greatest battles of WWII. It stopped the German eastward advances and was a turning point in the war. -
Allied troops land land in Italy through ship. Mussolini is removed from office by the Facist Grand Council and he is placed at prime minister. Germany. “The war goes on and Italy remains faithful to its word,” Badoglio, who replaced Mussolini, announced.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/allied-campaign-italy-1943-45-timeline-part-one -
D-Day, codenamed "Overlord," was the combined allied invasion of Normandy, France. It included 7,000 ships and landing craft manned by over 195,000 people from eight allied countries. 850,000 men, 148,000 vehicles, and 570,000 tons of supplies landed on the shores.
https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/research/online-documents/world-war-ii-d-day-invasion-normandy -
The first concentration camp to be liberated was Majdanek by the Red Army. Just under 500 prisoners were freed during the liberation. It was one of the most significant moments during WWII and the Holocaust.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/liberation-of-nazi-camp-majdanek-1944 -
The Battle of the Bulge was the final major German offensive on the Western Front. The battle was a failed attempt to push allied forces out of German home territory.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-the-Bulge -
The Battle of Iwo Jima was the amphibious invasion of the island Iwo Jima. It was one of the Marine Corp's bloodiest battles it has fought in. The US was victorious.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Battle-of-Iwo-Jima -
The Battle of Okinawa was the allied invasion of Okinawa, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands. It was the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War. It took the lives of 12,000 Americans, 100,000 Japanese, and 100,000 Civilians.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Battle-of-Okinawa -
VE-Day was the day that the allies were victorious in the European portion of WWII. Millions of people around the world celebrated the defeat of Germany. However, the war was not over yet, as Japan was still fighting.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-you-need-to-know-about-ve-day -
President Truman issued the Potsdam Declaration which demanded the unconditional surrender of the Japanese, and warned of “prompt and utter destruction.” When they received no reply within 11 days, the bomber, called the Enola Gay, left Tinian island and headed to Japan. The atomic bomb, "Little Boy," was dropped onto Hiroshima at 8:15AM.
https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/presidential-inquiries/decision-drop-atomic-bomb -
VJ-Day was the day that the allies were victorious in the Japanese portion of WWII. As the war in Europe had came to an end, the war still continued with the Japanese refusing to surrender. After the dropping of the atomic bombs, they realized victory wasn't possible and agreed to the unconditional surrender.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/v-j-day