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Japanese Invasion of China
Japan begins its military conquest for territories during the Meiji Restoration, with China being one of them. Specifically with Japan taking over Manchuria. Pre-requiem for when Japan invades all of China in 1937, starting WWII in the Pacific. -
Rape of Nanking
After Japan invaded China, they later occupied themselves in the imperial capital of Nanking. There is Nanking, the Japanese participated in many cruel atrocities such as soldiers raping women then beheading them, fathers being forced to rape their own daughters, sons being forced to rape their own mothers, organ harvesting, and much more. Such acts even repulsed the Nazis. By December 13, more than 25,000 Chinese civilians had been killed off by the Japanese. -
German Blitzkrieg
German Blitzkrieg was a military tactic used by Hitler to mess up and disorganize enemy territory through local attacks, and was used in successfully invading Poland and overwhelm Belgium, Holland, and France. -
The Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact
On August 23, 1939, Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin sign a non-aggression treaty that was created e neutrality with Germany and Russia. This treaty also leads to the now-conquered-Poland being divided amongst Russia and Germany, where Germany gets to rule 2/3 of it while Russia gets to rule 1/3 of it. -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
As Germany created neutrality with the Soviet Union, Hitler then invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 with Russia following suit. This led to Britain and France declaring war on Germany two days later. Though the U.S declared neutrality, it still supported Britain. -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was Germany's invasion on the Soviet Union, which led to some of their most effective commanders being killed. Germany ends up losing and the Soviet Union continuing to Berlin. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan bombsPearl Harbor in response to a letter the U.S sent that demanded that Japan give up China and the territory they conquered from it. This causes he U.S enters World War II and with World War II starting in the Pacific. -
Creation of the United Nations
The term "United Nations" came up in the Declaration of United Nations, where representatives of 26 nations, including the U.S, pledged allegiance to each other to fight against the Axis powers -
Wannsee Conference
Nazi bureaucrats discusses evacuating remaining Jews to Concentration Camps as a “Final solution” for exterminating the Jews. The camps were designed specifically for killing Jews, such as gassing, starvation, or working to death, making the life of the Jews more miserable. -
Operation Gomorrah
British bombers bomb Hamburg, Germany in retaliation for German bombings. U.S follows suit by sending aircrafts of their own and sends their own waves of bombs. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
Allies invade Italy with bombings and had thousands of soldiers come in by sea, and ended up becoming the largest seaborne invasion in history. Germany counteracts with bombings as well. Germany ends up retreating. Invasion was based on desire for victory and nothing less. -
Battle of Bulge
Battle between the U.S and Germany. As a last ditch effort, Hitler orders German soldiers to ambush Allies that were currently situated in France after D-Day. While the Allies won, both sides had serious losses. Germans lost a lot of troops and there was lots of atrocities, such as mass murders of civilians and soldiers from both sides freezing to death. This was Hitler’s last major offense in war and ended the German Army and Nazi reign. -
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Liberation of the Concentration Camps
On January 27, 1945, Soviet Soldiers entered Auschwitz after the Nazis had abandoned it and discovered the sick and near dead prisoners there. They then rescued these prisoners from the camp. American and British Forces soon followed in liberating other concentration camps as well as saving thousands of other sickened prisoners at said camps. -
Operation Thunderclap
Operation Thunderclap was the bombing of the Easter ncities of Germany to stop transportation of goods, and to take important strongholds. -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle between U.S and Japan that used submarine warfare and had infantry on land. The Allies ended up capturing Iwo Jima. -
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Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa used kamikaze suicide bombers. Some of the fighting also took place in heavily populated areas, increasing the civilian casuality rates. This became the most violent Pacific war. The Japanese used caves to defend themselves properly, allowing them to last more longer than in the Battle of Iwo Jima The Allies won, but with lots of casualties. -
Mussolini's Death
After Germany's surrender in Italy, Benito Mussolini, dictator and supporter of Hitler, tried to flee with his mistress, Claretta Pettaci. However, both were eventually caught and shot to death on April 28, 1945. Their bodies would later be hanged in Milan to celebrate the fall of Mussolini's dictatorship and the end of the war. -
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Hitler's Death and Germany's Defeat
Two days after Mussolini's death and only one day of their marriage, Hitler and his new wife commit suicide, perferring to die on their own terms rather than be captured. Hitler shoots himself while his wife, Eva Braun, takes poison shortly after. Due to this, Germany later surrenders in the war on May 7th. -
VE-Day
Known as “Victory in Europe” Day, it celebrated the surrender of Germany. It was celebrated all around the world. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
U.S drops atomic bombs on Japan. The first bomb landed in Hiroshima. Three days later, another one dropped on Nagasaki. Japan then surrenders on August 14, ending WWII in the Pacific. -
VJ-Day
Known as “Victory over Japan” Day, celebrated after Japan surrendered, marking the end of WWII in the Pacific and officially ending the war all around the world. -
Creation of NATO
Representatives of 12 nations from the U.S and Western Europe come to Washington, D.C to sign the North Atlantic Treaty, which was used as a security pact where one attack on one nation would be considered an attack on the other associated nations as well. -
Citations (Part 2)
"Liberation." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Council, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.
"The Molotov-Robbentrop Pact." Jewish Virtual Library. American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
"History of the United Nations." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
"Formation of NATO and Warsaw Pact." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016. -
Citations (Part 1)
"Operation Gomorrah Is Launched." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
"Operation Thunderclap - RAF Start Firestorm in Dresden - WWII Today."WWII Today RSS. N.p., 13 Feb. 2015. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
"Benito Mussolini | Italian Dictator." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.
"Adolf Hitler - World War II | Dictator of Germany." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.
