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Japan invades China
Japans Kwangtung army invaded China in 1931, in a town called Manchuria. They turned this into a full scale war. The Japanese moved south, ceizing most of the Eastern chinese ports. Anti-Japanese disturbances broke out in Shanghai. The Japanese bombed the city. The Japanese listened to propaganda, and all helped out to attack China. Life became durastically different as soon as this outbreak occured. -
The Holocaust
This name has taken up a whole new horrible meaning as what it used to be, its meaning now is the destruction, and murder of 6 million jews all around the world. They also killed multiple other kinds of people such as Gypsies, and homosexuals. The Nazis of Germany captured these people, and killed them in many different ways. Hitler believed that the Jews were an alien race, and were a threat to his home. Up until Hitlers death, Jews were constantly persecuted just for their beliefs. -
Munich Conference
In 1938, this crisis developed in Europe. Hitler already took land from Austria, and now he wanted part of Czechoslavakia. He claimed that the speaking inhabitants were being mistreated by all the people that lived in Czech. Soon as that happened, the Munich Conference was called. Hitler then met with the representatives of England, France, and Italy. An agreement was that as soon as Hitler annexed the Czechs, he was not able to annex anywhere else. -
Non-Aggression Pact
On August 23, the world was surprised. The enemies Germany, and the Soviet Union had signed a pact together. This pact agreed that they could not take any military action against one another for the next 10 years. They both thought of this as time to build up their army and work on the things that were desperately needed. Hitler used the pact to make sure he could invade Poland unopposed. It also secretly planned out how they would divide up Eastern-Europe. The pact fell apart in 1941. -
Germany invades Poland
On September 1st, 1.5 million troops invaded Poland. This act initiated World War 2. Germany signed a nonaggression act while this was happening. In a secret clause of the aggreement, the enemies decided to divide Poland between them. Hitler was a part of this, and delayed the attack becuase he heard the British had signed a new treaty with Poland, which promised military support. Hitler then turned to propaganda and miscommunication. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain took place between August and September of year 1940. This battle is one of the most famous battles of World War 2. Germany wanted control of the English channel so they could launch their invasion on Britain. They needed this channel so Britain couldnt attack them first and take control of their belongings. Germany was a lot more advanced and had a lot more of a chance to destroy Britain. Britain had some advantages, and because of that, they defeated Germany. -
Blitzkrieg
A german term, for lightning war. Its a military tactic, that offers new things that will improve the military and a better chance at war. It has successful results, and is resulted in short military campaigns. German forces tried out the Blitzkrieg plan. They invaded multiple places, succesfully, along with this plan. This tactic was also used throughout World War 2 by Germans. -
Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act was the act passed to provide military aid to foriegn nations during World War 2. The president was now authorized to transfer arms or other defense materials. This act let people show support for war materials and not over extend it. This act also brought the US one step closer into war. Isolationists opposed it. -
Operation Barbarossa
Adolf Hitler launched his armies eastward in a massive invasion of the Soviet Union. Three great army groups crashed through the Soviet Union to attack it. The invasion covered up to 2,000 miles of tanks, guns, and soldiers. Barbarossa was the turning point of World War 2. It failed, and because of that it caused Nazi Germany to fight a two-front war. -
Pearl Harbor
Just before 8 am, hundreds of fighter plans from Japan attacked the American Naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii. It lasted about 2 hours, but it was sure devastating. More than 2,000 men were killed from this attack, along with all their weapons and big battle ships. The day after the assault, FDR declared war on Japan and congress confirmed it. People started declaring war on the United States, and just a few years later thats when we started World War 2. -
Wannsee Conference
This day lead to a meeting where the Nazi party, and Germany met to coordinate something. They all coordinated what was the final solution of the Jewish question. The final solution was code named for European Jews. At the time of the Wannsee Conference they all realized that it was a meeting to discuss the mass murder of the innocent Jewish people. People in Germany never objected to the fact thousands of people were being killed. -
Bataan Death March
Filopinos and Americans were rounded up and being forced to march 65 miles. Men were divided into groups of 100, and the adventure took about 5 days. They were heading to San Fernando. Many of the mean died due to beatings and starvation caused by their captors. the survivors werent treated any better either. They were taken to prison, and died also from disease or starvation. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was only taken place 6 months after Pearl Harbor. The US defeated Japan and it was encountered as one of the most defensive naval battles of the time. The US enficted major damage to the Japanese Navy. This Victory led the United States and its allies to move into an offensive position. This battle was the effect of the Japanese attacking Pearl Harbor and all the destruction they caused there. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was the succesful soviet defense of the city of stalingrad. Russians say its the greatest battle of their Great Patriotic war. The battle marked the turning point of the tide of war in favor of the allies. It was one of the bloodiest battles in history. The casualities were nearly 2 million. Its also represented of the turning point in the eastern front. Soviet forces crushed an entire German army. Stalingrad was now looked at as a completely different way. -
D-Day
D-Day was also codenamed as Operation Overload. 156,000 people landed on 5 different islands around Frances Normandys region. The invasion was one of the biggest ones in history. Everyone came up with plans to mislead the other countries, and try to beat them. Soon, Normany France was completely liberated, and germany was soon was defeated by the allies. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was fought over the winter. It was the last major Nazi offense. Hitler tried to split the allies into two, and make them lose their ability to supply themselves. Hitler did this because he was convinced that the allies werent strong enough. Hitler wanted to take control of the port called antwerp, which would definitely take away all the supplies the allies were recieving through it and Hitler would have all of them instead. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was the fight for control over the island called Iwo Jima. America stole and captured the island from Japan. This island provided an easy attack system on Japan whenever America wanted someone from them. This battle lasted about 5 weeks and was known as one of the bloodiest during World War 2. The japanese defeat was assured from the start. -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was the last, and biggest Pacific island battels of World War 2. At stake were air bases vital to the projected invasion of Japan. Japan was throwing in everything they could, they even put in their last big ship called the "Yamato". The Allies believed this was their most difficult pacific compaign. -
V-E Day
V-E day announced the end of World War 2. German General Jodl signed the surrender form that originally ended World War 2 in Europe. People wanted to celebrate, and then some people werent even notified that the world war had ended. Minutes within everyone found out, they all went onto the streets and applauded and screamed out of joy and all rejoiced. The last official event from V-E day was a broadcast to the nation by George the 4th. -
The bombing of Hiroshima/Nagasaki
An American bomber dropped a B-29 bomb, which was the first atomic bomb ever dropped on a country, onto Hiroshima, Japan. The bomb whipped out 90% of the human population and immediately killed 80 thousand people. 3 days later, another B-29 bomb was dropped onto Nagasaki. The bomb killed up to 40,000 people. Finally, Japan learned their lesson and surrendered. -
V-J Day
On this day, it was announced that Japan had finally surrendered to the Allies. It helped end World War 2. Coming several months after Germanys surrender, it brought Japan 6 years of hostilites. V-J Day was also a name for what occured on September 2nd, when Japans surrender took board of the USS marine. -
Warsaw Pact
The Soviet Union and 7 of its European satellites signed a treaty that aggred that the Soviet Union would be in control. It put them in command of the armed forces of the member states. The treaty called on the member states to help and protect on anyone that was attacked by an outside force. The Warsaw pact was always in place until the year of 1991. It didnt last because all of the members backed out.