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Japan invaded China seeking raw materials. Japan then controlled large parts of China. -
The Rape of Nanking was the mass murder and ravaging of Chinese citizens and soldiers in Nanjing, the capital of the Republic of China. It began on December 13, 1937, during the Sino-Japanese war that proceeded World War II. This massacre lasted six whole weeks and it is estimated that over 300,000 people died.
Source: Encyclopedia of Britannica -
"Blitzkrieg," is a German word meaning 'Lightning war". It was Germany's strategy to avoid a long war in the first phase of world war II in Europe. Germany's strategy was to defeat its opponents in a series of short campaigns. This strategy was used in the invasion of Belgium, the Netherlands, and France.
Source: Encyclopedia.ushmm.org -
Pearl Harbor is a Naval Base in the U.S. that was attacked by Japan. The attack was a preventative action to stop the U.S. from messing up its plans. 2,403 people were killed.
(https://www.census.gov/history/pdf/pearl-harbor-fact-sheet-1.pdf) -
A major naval battle between Japan and the U.S. fighting for control of the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. won.
(https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/battle-midway) -
It was the biggest battle during World War 2 between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. They were fighting for control over Stalingrad, Russia. The Soviet Union won. -
A meeting conference to coordinate the "Final Solution of the Jewish Question". They discussed how they were going to annihilate the European Jews. The conference led to the Holocaust.
(https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/wannsee-conference-and-the-final-solution) -
The Normandy Invasion or D-Day was the Allied invasion of Western Europe. The landing of US, British, and Canadian forces on five separate beachheads in Normandy, France caused all of northern France to be liberated by the end of August. It prevented Hitler from sending troops from France to build up his Eastern Front against the advancing Soviets.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Normandy-Invasion -
Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive on the Western Front during World War II. It was an unsuccessful attempt to push the Allies back from German home territory. The losses on the German side prevented Germany from resisting the advance of Allied forces following the Normandy Invasion. Less than four months after the end of the Battle of the Bulge, Germany surrendered to Allied forces.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-the-Bulge -
The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, during World War II, were the American bombing raids on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This marked the first use of atomic weapons in war. Tens of thousands were killed in the initial explosions and many more would later succumb to radiation poisoning.
https://www.britannica.com/event/atomic-bombings-of-Hiroshima-and-Nagasaki -
The battle of Iwo Jima was a World War II conflict between the US and Japan. The US invaded the island of Iwo Jima as part of its Pacific campaign against Japan. It was a costly victory for the US, and the battle was one of the bloodiest in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps. It's believed that all but 200 or so of the 21,000 Japanese forces on the island were killed, as were almost 7,000 Marines.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Battle-of-Iwo-Jima -
Soviet forces liberated Auschwitz, the largest killing center and concentration camp complex, in January 1945. American forces then liberated concentration camps including Buchenwald, Dora-Mittelbau, Flossenbürg, Dachau, and Mauthausen. Many lives were saved during the liberations.
Source: Encyclopedia.ushmm.org -
The Potsdam Declaration was an ultimatum issued by the United States, Great Britain, and China on July 26, 1945. It was calling for the unconditional surrender of Japan. The declaration was made at the Potsdam Conference near the end of World War II. The Potsdam Declaration gave the Japanese a way out of the war that avoided complete ruin and unconditional surrender.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Potsdam-Declaration -
On August 14, 1945, it was announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War II. Since then, both August 14 and August 15 have been known as “Victory over Japan Day” or “V-J Day.” https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
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On May 8, 1945, both Great Britain and the United States celebrate Victory in Europe Day. Cities in both nations, as well as formerly occupied cities in Western Europe, put out flags and banners, rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazi war machine during World War II. It was the day Germany surrendered its military forces to the Allies.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe