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Japanese Invasion of China
With Aid from the United States and the Soviet Union, China fought Japan. This war, sometimes referred to as “the Asian Holocaust”, was a result of the Japanese imperialist policy, lasting several decades, which attempted to expand the Japanese influence in politics and military in order to secure access to goods and labor. Following 6 years of conflict and the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, Japan captured Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, the Chinese Capital. -
Germany’s Invasion of Poland
To gain more power and control over Europe, Germany invaded their neighbor to the east, Poland. The method used to invade Poland would later become known as the 'blitzkrieg' strategy. This involved a quick invasion of defenses, followed by a massive encirclement attack. Poland was an important factor for the Allies, so losing their support was a massive blow. -
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Operation Gomorrah
Britain had suffered the losses of many civilians after a German bombing raid in July, and chose to retaliate. On the 24th of the month, Britain air raided a German territory, causing major losses for Germany, but only suffering the loss of about 12 aircraft themselves. Attacks on the city continued through November, completely demolishing tons of German resources. This destroyed morale, and reminded the Axis powers of their extreme losses. -
Fall of Paris
Around eight months after the invasion of Poland, Nazi forces invaded and took over without much struggle. Every aspect of the citizens’ lives changed, many chose retaliation with vandalization or purposeful disregard of the extreme rules put in place by the Nazi regime. The German hold weakened overtime, especially around summer 1944, when French citizens gathered to celebrate Bastille day on July 14th. By the time August rolled around, Allied powers were already aiming to liberate Paris. -
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German Blitzkrieg
The Germans designed a military tactic which was carefully calculated to create disorganization in enemy forces through the element of surprise. Blitzkrieg tactics required a concentration of offensive weapons like tanks, planes, and artillery along a narrow front. These successful attacks were utilized in the ambushing and invasion of Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. The blitzkrieg tactic led Germany to much of their success in the first half of the war. -
Operation Barbarossa
Hoping to repeat his previous successes, Hitler planned to win a quick victory over the Soviet Union. However, this attack directly betrayed the non-aggression pact between Germany and Russia, made prior to the invasion of Poland. This operation ended with more than 750,000 deaths on each side. The brutal winter and added reinforcements in Russia ended the operation for the Germans. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 came as a surprise to the U.S. military. Japan’s fighter planes attacked the base, killing and injuring thousands. The next day, the President inserted the States into the war. Tensions between America and Japan had been increasing for a decade leading up to the attack, due to Japan’s attempts to expand their territory into China. The U.S. Navy was able to recover from the attack, since it hadn’t destroyed the main resources of the base. -
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference was a meeting of Nazi officials to discuss the 'final moves' to end the war. In the end, the "Final Solution" was made. Hitler authorized the elimination of all European Jews. The conference was convened by Heydrich, where support was secured from government officials, and to confirm the plans with the Nazi officials. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway, fought almost entirely on aircraft, resulted in an American victory over Japan which foiled their plans to neutralize the United States. The United States was able to crack the Japanese code, and discover their plans to attack Midway. Able to destroy their front line and best aircraft/pilots, America secured a fairly easy win. Japan did not have enough fleets to replenish, and lost this battle at Midway. -
Battle of Stalingrad
In one of the deadliest battles, After nearly six months of battle, Hitler’s forces surrendered and gave up their attempt to secure more oil resources. Before the takeover had even begun, Hitler spread propaganda that the citizens of Stalingrad were brainwashed and communistic, insisting they must be eliminated, and that he was doing the public a favor. The German army underestimated the Soviet forces and their strength, and ultimately suffered immense consequences. -
Allied Invasion of Italy
After the Allied powers’ victory in North Africa, Allied leaders looked for a way to weaken the Axis forces even more. One of their first ideas was targeting Italy, often considered the soft underbelly of the axis, and plans were made to invade. Italy was the start of the Allied powers’ Europe invasion, almost like a gateway to the continent. By May 1st, Italy’s German forces had surrendered entirely. Six days later, Germany would surrender entirely, giving the Allied powers success in the war. -
Operation Thunderclap
In 1944, the Allies planned multiple attacks against Germany along the Eastern edge. The bombing of Berlin, along with several other attacks, paved the way for the Soviet army to invade Germany. The largest impact of this operation lies in Dresden. The Allies planned to bomb the Dresden which was the main communications center for Germany. Destroying this center hindered the ability of the Germans to communicate with their army. The operation resulted in an Allied victory. -
D-Day Normandy Invasion
The Invasion of Normandy Beaches, also referred to as Operation Overlord or D-Day, was a critical Allied invasion of Nazi occupied France. Fearing defeat, the Allies planned an extensive and elaborate invasion which would alter the course of the war. In the beginning, the British and Canadian forces landed with ease, but the American forces at the Utah and Omaha beaches had to fight rough seas, thick fog, and aggressive German counterattacks. In the end, the Allies secured a victory. -
Battle of the Bulge
Overconfident, the Allied powers were convinced that the war would soon be over. Much to their surprise, the Germans had been planning a Blitzkrieg attack through the weakly defended Ardennes which would mirror a previously successful attack. The goal was to split the Allied armies. This surprise attack was launched and lasted for a month 12/16/1944-1/16/1945. Despite the Germans having the advantage, the Allies took the win over this battle, dealing a major blow to the German power. -
Liberation of the Concentration Camps
As the Allies marched towards Auschwitz, the Nazis transported the Jews from the camp to other concentration camps, already filled to the brim. By the time the Allied troops liberated Belsen, they discovered the true, “hell on earth” conditions that infected Nazi concentration camps. Unfortunately, there was only so much that the Allied powers could do for the survivors of the camps, and more than 13,000 died despite the efforts. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
With the potential for an invasion of Japan, Iwo Jima was an important asset to the Allies. Resulting in thousands of deaths, this battle remains one of the bloodiest battles in Marine Corps history. After the American victory, Iwo Jima served not only as a vantage point against Japan, but as an emergency landing point which saved thousands of lives. This battle paved the way for the Battle of Okinawa, and had influence on the atomic attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. -
Battle of Okinawa
Part of Operation Iceberg, the Battle at Okinawa resulted in an Allied victory, with thousands of deaths. This island was an important vantage point for the United States. Okinawa would provide a base for the allied powers to strike Japan. After the United States captured Okinawa, the Japanese emperor, Hirohito, wanted to end the war, but was opposed to surrender. Okinawa drove President Truman to use the atomic bombs against Japan, proving the Japanese willing to fight to the end. -
VE Day
This day was widely celebrated around the world as the end of Hitler's Reich, and marked the end of the Second World War in Europe. V.E. Day, standing for 'Victory in Europe' commemorates the unconditional surrender of the Nazi's to Great Britain, Western Europe, the United States and Australia. This day had an important impact around the world, as it served as a weight being lifted off the shoulders of millions of citizens of the world. -
VJ Day
VJ day, standing for Victory over Japan, marked the true end of the Second World War, all over the globe. The formal signing of the Instrument of Surrender occurred aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. This day was a world-wide celebration of the end of the deadliest and most destructive war, and was a symbol of hope and relief across the planet. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
President Truman chose to bring the war to a quick end. The Battle of Okinawa showed the United States that Japan was not going to give up without a fight, and that invading of Japan would be futile. On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, and three days later, on Nagasaki. The bombings killed thousands of people. Japan surrendered, and the dropping of the atomic bombs brought an end to the most destructive war in history.