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Japan invades Manchuria
Province in China. Wanted more natural resources. -
Rape of Nanking
Japan at war with China. Japan conquered the Chinese capital. 200,000-300,000 died. -
Germany Invades Poland
Starts WWII. Blitzkrieg- lightening war used. German vistory. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan plans a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. United States not perpared. Thousands killed. -
Dunkirk
May 27th- June 4th, 1940. Greatest escape in the history of warfare; as Germany defeated British and French forces, they were forced to retreat across the English Channel in numerous boats. 340,000 Allied troops escape. -
Battle of Britain
months of bombing by the Germans on English cities in preparation for an invasion of the island; first time the Germans were not victorious -
Enigma Broken
The Allies broke the German enigma. -
Doolittle Raid
Days after loss in Philippines 16 bombers attacked Tokyo. No major damage but, it did give Americans something to celebrate -
Battle of Coral Sea
May 4th-8th, 1942. Defensive victory for the Allies in which they stopped the Japanese advance on Australia -
Battle of Midway
June 4th-7th, 1942. Japanese plan a two pronged attack on the Aleutian Islands & Midway Islands; Allies had broken the Japanese code and knew the main attack was at Midway; Japan loses 4 aircraft carriers, U.S. loses 1; Defensive victory for the Allies helped equal out the naval power between Japan and the U.S. -
Battle of Stalingrad
July 17, 1942- February 2, 1943. Last German offensive on the eastern front; important Soviet city because of its location on the Volga River and proximity to Soviet oil fields. -
Operation Torch
Code name for the invasion of North Africa. Under the control of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Within 6 months 20,000 U.S. soldiers killed or wounded. -
D-Day
Invasion of German occupied France. Postponed one day due to bad weather. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
October 23rd-26th, 1944. Large naval battle in which the U.S. began the process of liberating her soldiers on the Philippines; decisive victory which destroyed much of the Japanese navy -
Battle of the Bulge
Hitler would not give up! Counterattack near the Ardennes region of Belgium & Northern France. 101st surround at Bastogne. Germans created a large bulge in Allied lines, but the offensive eventually failed. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
February 19th- March 26th, 1945. Allied victory; volcanic island with miles of underground tunnels; famous Joe Rosenthal photo of flag raising on Mt. Suribachi -
Battle of Okinawa
April 1st- June 22nd, 1945. Only 350 miles from Japan; largest invasion force in the Pacific; bloodiest battle in the Pacific; American victory -
Hiroshima
1st atomic bomb dropped on this Japanese city. 80,000 killed. -
Nagasaki
2nd atomic bomb dropped on this Japanese city. Over 40,000 killed. -
VJ Day
Victory in Japan- the Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri.
