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Japanese invasion of China
Japan has invaded Peking China also known as the Marco Polo Bridge incident.This was in an effort to expand imperial Japan. Both sides suffered casualties but was considered a small fight. As a result Japan turned this into a full scale war on China.
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005155 -
Rape of NanKing
During the Sino-Japanese War General Matsui Iwane ordered the city of NanKing in China to be destroyed. Most of the city was burned by Japanese troops. The Japanese also butchered 15000 male war prisoners and killed another 50000 male civilians. They then raped another 20000 women and girls. This broke the Chinese resistance against Japan.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-rape-of-nanking -
Germany's invasion of Poland
Germany invades Poland. This was an atempt to unite Europe under German rule and Poland was an essential part of it. They used a new type of warfare called "Blitzkrieg", meaning Lightning War to quickly capture Poland. This causes Britian and France to declare war on Germany.
http://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/invasion-of-poland.asp -
German Blitzkrieg
The Germans introduced a new type of Warfare called "Blitzkrieg". This means Lightning War and is to Bring about a swift victory. It invloved the massive use of infantry, tanks, and airforce. It was first introduced in the invasion of Poland and allowed the Germans to take Poland in a month. It ended on June 22, 1940 when France signed an armistice with Germany to slow the fighting.
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005137
http://www.euronet.nl/users/wilfried/ww2/ww2.htm -
Operation Barbosa
Adolf Hitler launched an attack on the Soviet Union with over three million soldiers and three thousand tanks. They invaded to enslave all Slavic people and kill all Jews. They got pretty deep into Soviet territory but were stopped in March of 1942 at the gates of Moscow. The failure of the operation showed the power of the soviet union and their ability to withstand the Germans.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Pearl harbor
The Japanese attacked the American naval base near Honlulu Hawii with hundreds of fighter planes. They did this because the knew that if they destroyed the American fleet, America would not be able to defend against Japan's spread across the south Pacific. In effect, all of the ships in Pearl Harbor had suffered significant damage. Even though America suffered heavy losses, the attack only made America enter the war.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Wannasee Conference
Reinhard Heydrich, Adolf Eichmann, and 15 other Nazi officials met at Wannasee in Berlin. They met to discuss a plan to end the Jews once and for all. Many plans were discussed including mass sterilization and deportation to the island of Madagascar. Later 1000s of people were being killed by "gas Vans" in Poland.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wannsee-conference -
Japanese Internment
After the attack on Pearl Harbor Roosevlet signed an executive order which made all Japanese-Americans go into internment camps. This was because of the fear that Japanese-Americans were going to sabotage the war effort. There were ten camps in all holding around 120000 people all together. As a result many Japanese-American families were forced to sell their properties and uproot their whole lives.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/japanese-american-relocation -
Battle of Midway
American planes begin strikes on Japanese aircraft carriers. This was because the US had intercepted Japans plan to attack the US's few remaing aircraft carriers. US planes caused permanent damage on the Japanese Navy sinking four fleet carriers with 322 aircraft and 5000 sailors. This was a major turing point in the Pacific campaign.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Soviet Union defense of the city Stalingrad in the USSR. In the battle The Soviets surrounded and destroyed the Germans. It stopped the advance of the German army into the Soviet Union. It is also considered a crucial turning point in the War. It ended on February 2nd, 1943.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
Warsaw Ghetto uprising
The people who lived in the Warsaw Ghetto staged a revolt against the Nazis. This was because they were being deported and sent to extermination camps. As a result thousands of Jews were either killed or captured and the Germans blew up Warsaw's Synagogue. This uprising also inspired other uprisings throughout Europe.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/warsaw-ghetto-uprising -
Allied invasion of Italy
British Army begins an Allied invassion of the Italy. This was a result of the fascist government the Itallian dictoator Bento Mussolini had set up. The Allies began thier invasion of Silcily. On August 17, general Patton arrived completing the invasion of Italy.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-invade-italian-mainland -
D-Day ( Normandy Invasion)
Allied campaign of Normandy to free Europe of Germany's control. Thousands of troops stormed the beaches of Normandy while paratroopers were already behind enemy lines. At the end of the day over 156000 allied tropps had stormed Normandy's beaches. This suprise attack allowed the Allies to take France.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Battle of the Bulge
Over three million German troops launched a desperate attack. It was an attempt to split the Allied armies in Northwest Europe. They attacked using blitzkrieg but a sjhortage of fuel and the power of the American tropps deffeated them. This lead to the retreat of Germany
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Battle of Okinowa
Battle on the island of Okinowa Japan invloving the Americans and the Japanese. The Japanese had changed their defense tactics so the Americans had a difficult time. They had a series of defense lines across the island and also launched kamakazie attacks which allowed for the Japanes to defend Okinowa very well. This was Americas most difficult Pacific campaign. This battle allowed the Americans to keep bases vital to the invasion of Japan.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-ok -
Battle of Iwo Jima
This was an American invasion of Iwo Jima. This was a key place where damaged B-29 bombers could land. 3 marine divisions attacked after the air and naval bombardment. Troops had early success but slowed as they got further in. They later succeeded in taking Iwo Jima. This allowed America to have the base they needed near Japan.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
VE Day
Great Britian and the United States are celebrating victory in Europe over the Nazis. VE Day is the day the Nazis finally put down their weapons and surrendered. The Russians took over 2 million German prisoners. Also, more than 13000 British POWs were released. This showed that the war was ending and the Nazis had failed in there effort to take over Europe.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Dropping of the atomic bombs
The United States drops the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima from a B-29 bomber. The bomv destroyed 90% of the city and killed over 80000 people. A few days after that the US dropped another bomb on Nagasaki killing around 40000 more people.This was because the Japanese vowed to fight until the bitter end and would not surrender. Japan's Emperor was forced to surrender as a result of the 2 bombs.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
VJ Day
Japan surrenders to the Allies ending World War II. This was a result of the 2 bombs droppped on Hirosima and Nagasaki. VJ Day also describes the formal surrender of Japan on September 2nd aboard the USS Missouri. This surrender brought 6 years of war to an end.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day -
Nuremburg trials
These trials were held to bring Nazi war criminals to justice. These criminals included high-ranking military officers, lawyers, doctors, and Nazi Party officials. The trials ended on October 1st, 1946.These trials are now seen as being the establishment of an international court for dealing with genocide and other crimes against humanity.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/nuremberg-trials
