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Japanese Invasion of China
he whole country was gradually taken over. Marco Polo Incident, this fighting sparked a full blown conflict. Japanese quickly captured all key Chinese ports and industrial centers. Massacres and atrocities were common. -
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World War II Timeline
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Germany’s Invasion of Poland
1.5 Million German troops invaded Poland along with the 1,750 mile long borde. The German Luftwaffe bombed Polish airfields. Hitler claimed the massive invasion was a defensive action. To Hitler the conquest of Poland would bring living space for the German people. -
German Blitzkrieg
“Blitzkrieg” a term for “Lightning War”, to create disorganization among the enemy forces through mobile forces and locally concentrated firepower. It’s successful execution results in short military campaigns, to preserve human life. -
Fall of Paris
Fall of paris (1940)- Following the 1714-1918 War, the French built a defensive 280-mile long fortification, the Maginot Line all along the Franco- German border as protection the Battle of Paris began on May 10, 1940. The line was rendered obsolete by the Germans, because of the supposed rugged terrain, close by in the Ardennes Forest. It was seen as impassible by the French. The Germans pushed forward pushing aside the french resistance, the French and their allies were forced further back -
Operation Barbarosssa
Hitler launched his armies eastward in a massive invasion of the Soviet Union. He sent 3 large army groups with over 3 million people German soldiers, 150 divisions, and 3 thousand tanks. -
Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, just before 8am hundreds of japanese fighter planes attacked the American Naval Base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. The Japanese managed to destroy 20 American naval vessels, including 8 enormous battleships, and more than 300 airplanes. They also managed to kill 2,000 Americans and wound 1,000 more. -
Wannsee Conference
15 high ranking Natzi Party and German Government officials gathered at a villa in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee to discuss and coordinate the implement of what they called the “Final Solution of the Jewish Question.” -
Batann Death March
Bataan Death March (1942)- Was a forcible transfer by the Japanese Imperial Army of 60,000- 80,000 Filipino & American prisoners of war, which began on April 9, 1942 after the 3 month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during WW2. About 2,500-!0,000 Filipino & 100-650 American prisoners of war died before their destination was reached. -
Battle at Midway
Battle at midway (1942)- In may 1942, Japanese Admiral, Isoroku Yamamoto sought to draw the U.S. Pacific Fleet into a battle where he could overwhelm and destroy it. So he planned the invasion of Midway island to provide base to attack Hawaii. Decrypted japanese intercepts were used, on june 4, 1942 a U.S. aircraft and ships attacked and sunk four Japanese carriers, which forced Yamamoto to withdraw. -
Operation Gomorrah
July 24 saw British aircraft drop 2,300 tons of incendiary bombs on Hamburg in just a few hours. The explosive power was the equivalent of what German bombers had dropped on London in their five most destructive raids. More than 1,500 German civilians were killed in that first British raid. The U.S. Eighth Air Force began a more comprehensive bombing run of northern Germany, which included two raids on Hamburg during daylight hours. -
Allied Invasion of Italy
Allied Invasion of Italy (1943)- Allied landing on mainland Italy on september 3, 1943, by General Harold Alexander's 13th army group, during the Italian campaign. The main invasion force landed around Salerno, on the west coast in Operation Avalanche, while other supporting operations took place in calabria & Taranto. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
15 high ranking Natzi Party and German Government officials gathered at a villa in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee to discuss and coordinate the implement of what they called the “Final Solution of the Jewish Question.” -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima (1945)- Major battle where the U.S. Marines landed, and captured Iwo Jima, from the Japanese Imperial Army during WWII. The goal was to capture the entire island, and three Japanese-controlled airfields to stage area attacks on the Japanese main islands. Was by far the “ fiercest, bloodiest fight of the war in the pacific of WWII. -
Operation Thunderclap
Allied bombing run over the German city, Dresden, that killed over 60,000 civilians. The proposal was to bomb the easternmost cities of Germany to disrupt the transport infrastructure behind what was becoming the Eastern front. Also to demonstrate to the German population, in even more devastating fashion, that the air defences of Germany were now of little substance and that the Nazi regime had failed them. Dresden, lying so far in the east of Germany that it had been out of range from RAF att -
Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa (1945)- Referred to as “Typhoon of Steel”, “Rain of Steel”, and “Violent Wind of Steel”, due to the intense fighting and bloodshed. Was a serie of battles fought in the Ryukyu islands, centered mainly on Okinawa, included the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War during WW2. Invasion began April 1, 1945 and ended June 22, 1945 an 82 day long battle. -
VE -Day
VE Day (1945)- March 7, 1945 western allies, crossed the Rhine after smashing through the strong fortified line, and overran west Germany. Germany collapse came after the Western and Russian armies meeting, and after Hitler died. Berlin was falling to the Russians. Germany surrendered and signed at Rheims on may 7 and was ratified at berlin on May 8. May 8, marks the formal celebration of Allies victory in Europe in WW2. -
Potsdam Declaration
Potsdam Declaration (1945)- The Potsdam Declaration, or Proclamation defining terms for Japanese surrender is a statement that called for the surrender of all Japanese armed forces during WW2. On july 26, 1945 President Truman, Churchill, and Chiang Kai-Shek issued a document outlining the surrendering terms for Japan at the Potsdam Conference. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bomb
Dropping of the Atomic Bomb (1945)- August 6, 1945, after 44 months of brutal fighting an American B-29 bomber loaded with a devastating new weapon appeared over Hiroshima, where it was released and caused mass destruction, a total of 70,000 deaths were caused and the city was leveled. Some three days later, the U.S. dropped a second bomb over Nagasaki, with the same effect. The following week Japan surrendered and WW2 came to a close. -
VJ-Day
VJ Day (1945)- Victory in the Pacific Day, V-j Day, or V-p Day, day when Japan surrendered in WW2- ending the war, term has been applied to both days where japan's announcement was made to surrender August 15, 1945 and August 14, 1945 because of the time difference. The actual surrender document was signed on september 12, 1945 officially ending the war. -
Battle of Bulge
In December 1944, Adolph Hitler attempted to split the Allied armies in northwest Europe by means of a surprise blitzkrieg thrust through the Ardennes to Antwerp. Caught off-guard, American units fought desperate battles to stem the German advance at St.-Vith, Elsenborn Ridge, Houffalize and Bastogne. As the Germans drove deeper into the Ardennes in an attempt to secure vital bridgeheads, the Allied line took on the appearance of a large bulge.
