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Japanese invasion of China -https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005155
After the end of the First Sino-Japanese War that made Korea a part of Japan, Japanese troops controlled a railway to Manchuria and wanted free resources from it. Japan started to attack China and succeeded in gaining control of Manchuria. The people in Manchuria were restive, wanted independence, and took action. Japan wanted imperial power and Chinese resources, so they invaded. In this invasion over 300,000 Chinese civilians and troops died. Thanks to foreign help, Japan finally surrendered. -
Rape of Nanking -http://www.history.com/topics/nanjing-massacre
The Japanese Army entered the city of Nanking with the goal of killing all Chinese Soldiers. The Japanese soldiers killed and slaughters tons of innocent people as well as brutally rape women. After their victory in the Sino-Japanese, Japan wanted to ensure their victory by removing Chinese Troops from this city. The troops also entered the Safe-Zone even after being told not to and killed civilians for 6 weeks. 200,000 to 300,000 people were killed and 80,000 women sexually assaulted. -
German Blitzkrieg (1939-1940) -http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg is a military tactic used by the Germans to defeat enemies by disorganizing through mobile forces and gunpowder along a narrow front. The Germans tried it when invading Poland, then successfully used it again with other invasions. They destroyed the combined forces of four nations. The Germans broke the rules of the Treaty of Versailles and the military aimed to envelop armies and break their line of supply and communication. German Blitzkrieg was unable to defeat the USSR. -
Germany's invasion of Poland -http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-invade-poland
Aldof Hitler believed that the superior Germans needed more "living space" so they decided to attack Poland.1.5 million German troops invaded Poland along its border. Hitler claimed that his action is defense, but Britain and Germany didn't believe him. They declared a "phony war" on Germany that started the second World War. The people of Poland ran away from their country because they couldn't fight back and Germany broke the pact with USSR. 3 million Polish jews were killed in German camps. -
Operation Barbarossa -http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa
German's finest army attacks the Soviet city of Stalingrad with over 3 million soldiers. Hitler needed to ensure living space for the Germans by attacking the USSR. First, the Germans were able to invade alot of Soviet territory and capture 600,000 prisoners. With the heavy winter, the Soviet Army was able to envelop their forces with 2 fronts. Many Civilians were impacted and killed. Operation Barbarossa had failed and was a turning point in the war because the Germans were finally defeated. -
Pearl Harbor -http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor
America disapproved of Japan's actions with China. So, when the U.S cut off heavily depended on resources from Japan,the Japanese military decided to attack America first.The U.S Naval Base in Oahu, Hawaii was bombed and destroyed. Japanese Fighter planes descended on the base, causing many American vessels and aircraft damage. Their aim was to destroy U.S fleet so they couldn't fight back. Several people and onshore facilities were affected. President Franklin Roosevelt declared war on Japan. -
Wannsee Conference -https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007712
Fifteen high-ranking Nazi party members and German Government Leaders met in the city of Wannsee, Berlin. They discussed the presence of the Jewish in Europe. Germany blames the the foreigners, mainly Jews, for their loss in the first world war and the Treaty of Versailles. The Germans want revenge and make themselves the superior race. The "Final Solution" is to eliminate all Jews through planned destruction. This decision led to the concentration camps of the Germans and the Holocaust itself. -
Bataan Death March -http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march
Japan invaded the Philippines a day after the attack of Pearl Harbor. U.S General Edward's troops were very weak from starvation and disease, so he surrendered his troops. The surrendered Filipino and American Soldiers were forced to make a very long march to the prison camps. In the 65-miles, the prisoners were starved and brutally beaten. Filipino Forces recaptured Bataan and liberated Manila in March. 75,000 Filipino and American Soldiers were affected. -
Battle of Midway -http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway
Although they are short on fleet, America defeats Japan in one of the largest Naval Battles. 6 months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, messages about a coming attack was discovered through code-breaking. Different Naval groups attacked at different times throughout 3 days on the island of Midway. Torpedo Bombers were dropped and bombed the Japanese Fleet-Carriers. A total of 4 fleet-carriers, 322 aircraft, and 5,000 Japanese soldiers were lost. The U.S lost 147 aircraft and 300 seamen. -
Battle of Stalingrad -http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad
The Soviet Union took its chance and attacked Germany in their winter struggle. Low on ammunition, Soviet troops encircled their enemy and captured them. Although the Germans were very determined to hold their ground at first, they later surrendered. The Germans saw the conquest of Stalingrad as a essential to their campaign in Southern Russia. The Allies are now in favor after finally defeating the Germans. The fighting took place in between the homes of people, resulting in 2 million deaths. -
Operation Gomorrah -http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched
In the Operation Gomorrah, British armies bomb Hamburg, Germany by night and Americans bomb it by day. The Germans caused 167 deaths in Britain, so now the British will bomb Germany. Losing 12 aircraft, 1,500 Germans were killed. U.S air force was also dropping bombs on the city during the day. After it was over, 280,000 buildings were destroyed and over 30,000 people killed. This operation was a successful one and ruined Germany's confidence. Hitler was also affected in this raid. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion) -http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day
The Allies liberated Western Europe from German control. Around 150,000 troops landed on a 50-mile coast to Invade the Germans in Normandy,France. American, British, and Canadian forces all came to France within a week and secured roads and bridges.The Germans thought the invasion is a distraction from an attack coming North. The Allied troops successfully invaded the Germans, causing Hitler to commit suicide because there was no hope for them.Thousands of soldiers were wounded and 4,000 killed. -
Battle of the Bulge -http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge
Adolph Hitler tried to split the Allied armies by a surprise blitzkrieg attack. The Germans wanted to push the Allied Front west, away from Northern France and into Belgium. The American military was surprised and struggled to fight back. The Allied forces attacked in a large appearance but miscalculated the defense of Ardennes. Thanks to the Germans refueling, the U.S. was saved from their push. The U.S army had over 100,000 casualties and 7,500 members of the infantry division were captured. -
Operation Thunderclap -http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-dresden
Operation Thunderclap is a plan to end the war against Germany by using Bombs. This plan by the Allies aims to destroy Berlin in order to destroy German morale. It would also pave way for the Red Army to control. After being thought out, the plan was declined. The allies wanted to aid the Soviets by using bombs. Instead of bombing Berlin, it was decided to bomb the Important city of Dresden. 1,478 bombs were dropped and more than 40,000 people killed. -
Battle of Iwo Jima -http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima
3 U.S marine divisions landed and fought on the island of Iwo Jima. Iwo Jima was heavily defended by 23,000 Japanese troops in caves, tunnels, and dugouts. The American forces were able to defeat these hidden troops. The invasion was driven by the Americans wanting a base closer to Japan. Bombers could land on this island and fighters assist in the bombing campaign. 1,083 Japanese soldiers were caught. American military had 5,900 soldiers dead and 17,400 wounded. -
Battle of Okinawa -http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa
The US Army and Marine landed on Okinawa to secure its airbases. America knew that if Okinawa fell, Japan would also fall. The Japanese knew American troops were there and had planned to surprise attack them. The Japanese Battleship Yamato was sunk and Japan's best pilot destroyed U.S fleet. Japan was losing many people and knew that if they continued, it would be bloodier. America lost about 50,000 people were injured and even more people in Japan. This battle was the last major battle of ww2. -
Liberation of concentration camps -https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005131
Many prisoners were found starving and with diseases as the Allied troops moved through Europe when trying to defeat Germany. The reason behind the camps was to get rid of all Jews. The Soviets reached one of the Major concentration camps in Poland. But, the Germans tried to conceal it by burning it. The soviets also liberated Auschwitz, the largest Nazi camp. The evidence of mass murder was seen through the clothes and pieces of hair. 80,000 prisoners were found and 10,000 of them later died. -
VE Day -http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe
VE Day is the victory in Europe when German troops finally surrendered. The Germans didn't want to be taken prisoner by the Soviet Forces. They tried to do a mass exodus, but was later captured. Because many German soldiers had been killed in war and the army was getting too weak, they surrendered. In the end, more than 2 million Germans were taken prisoner. In addition, The U.S.S.R let go of about 13,000 British prisoners of war. This was a day in which the war was finally over. -
Dropping of the atomic bombs
The U.S drops very deadly atomic bombs on 2 Japanese cities. They are the first one to ever use atomic weapons in war. The U.S was warned that Japan was researching Nuclear Weapons, so they decided to bomb them first and end the war quickly. The city of Hiroshima was the first victim, then Nagasaki. These two atomic bombs killed a total of about 12,000 people. Japan surrendered shortly after to avoid any more causalities. This bombing marked the end of the destructive second world war. -
VJ Day -http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
VJ Day celebrates the Japanese surrender to the Allies. Japan allied with Germany, which declared war on America turned into a global conflict. Japan and the U.S fought for three years. After the battles between Japan and America and many causalities, Japan didn't want anymore deaths. The Allies also dropped several explosives on Japanese cities. More than 11,000 people in Japan died as a result of the atomic bombs dropped by America. The surrender was the end of the World War 2.
