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Japanese Invasion of China
During the Great Depression, Japan invaded China, which threatened the American Open Door Policy. This invasion sparked the Second Sino-Japanese War between Japan and China. Because of this conflict, world tensions rose. Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Sino-Japanese-War -
German Blitzkrieg
Hoping to avoid a long war, the German military turned to this tactic ("lightning war"). This strategy included a series of short campaigns wherein the Germans would use concentrated offensive weapons like tanks, planes, and artillery along a narrow front. This strategy made Germany virtually impossible to defeat in the early years of the war, depleting Allied resources and morale. The German Empire seemed unstoppable. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/blitzkrieg-lightning-war -
Operation Barbarossa
"Operation Barbarossa" was the code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Over three million German soldiers crossed into Soviet territory. However, German forces severely underestimated their opponent, suffering more than 750,000 casualties, and Operation Barbarossa was unsuccessful. Source: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The Japanese had been planning a surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for some time, and on December 7, 1941, they executed their plan. Thousands of American died, and many American warplanes and warships were destroyed. Because of this attack, the United States joined World War II overnight. FDR referred to this day as "a date which will live in infamy." Source: the notes -
Wannsee Conference
The "Final Solution" was the code name for the "eradication" of European Jews. The Wannsee Conference was held to gain support from federal agencies for the Final Solution. SS officials help the meeting to determine how exactly to go about the plan. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/wannsee-conference-and-the-final-solution -
Battle of Midway
Midway Island was a strategic location in the Pacific for the U.S. After breaking Japanese codes, Admiral Nimitz led American naval forces in ambushing the Japanese fleet at Midway. Japan was defeated and suffered devastating losses. The Battle of Midway was the turning point of the war in the Pacific Theater. Source: the notes -
Battle of Stalingrad
Hitler was determined to capture Stalingrad in order to secure a successful invasion of the Soviet Union. This battle resulted in brutal urban fighting, and over one million people died. The Soviet Union eventually defeated Germany, and began pushing German troops east back towards Germany. This battle marked the turning point of the war in eastern Europe. Source: the notes -
Bataan Death March
On April 9, 1942, American troops surrendered the Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine island. After this, approximately 76,000 Filipino and American POWs were forced by Japanese troops to walk about 65 miles to prison camps. Thousands died during this march due to exhaustion, starvation, and mistreatment. Thousands more died once they made it to the camps. Source: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
D-Day
On this day, June 6, 1944, the Allies began their invasion of western Europe ("Operation Overlord"), led by Eisenhower.The forces landed on the Normandy coast of France, defeated German defenses, and secured the beach. The Allies then pushed towards Paris and eventually liberated France, then began pushing towards Germany. This day was the turning point in western Europe. Source: the notes -
Battle of the Bulge
The Allies were closing in on Germany from both the East and the West. Hitler planned a surprise attack to create a "bulge in the Allied advances. However, General Patton arrived with reinforcements and secured victory for the Allies. As they were closing in on Germany, the Allies began to realize the reality of concentration camps. Source: the notes -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The island of Iwo Jima was considered an important strategic location for the U.S. for a potential mainland invasion of Japan. After American forces invaded the island, the battle lasted for five weeks. Some of the bloodiest fighting in World War II resulted in an estimated 7,000 American deaths. Of the 21,000 Japanese soldiers, only about 216 were captured, and the rest were killed in action. Source: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
After the Potsdam Conference, when Japan refused to surrender, President Truman made the executive decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan to save many American lives. On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, and after the Japanese still refused to surrender, the second was dropped on Nagasaki a few days later. About 250,000 Japanese died, not including those who were victims of the long-term effects of the radiation. Source: the notes -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
The Soviet Union liberated a large number of concentration camps, including Auschwitz. After the Soviet Union began liberation camps, American and British forces followed suit. The Nazis tried to cover up the evidence of mass murder before the Allies arrived, but the liberators still faced unspeakable atrocities when they set the suffering prisoners free. Source: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/liberation-of-nazi-camps -
V-E Day
The Allies, the Soviet Union arriving first, attacked the German capital Berlin. Hitler killed himself, then the Germans surrendered to the Allies. The war ended in Europe. Source: the notes -
V-J Day
After the second atomic bomb was, dropped Japan finally surrendered. This marked the end of the second World War. However, future world conflicts would include the threat of world destruction through atomic warfare. Source: the notes
