-
Japanese Invasion of China
apanese Guandong army invaded Manchuria, China. it unleashed military and political forces which led ultimately to the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. the post-invasion 'Manchurian Crisis' ended with the dramatic walk-out of Japanese delegates from the League of Nations in 1933. -
German Invasion of Poland
The German Invasion of Poland was a joint invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany, the Free City of Danzig, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent, that marked the beginning of World War II in Europe. The German invasion began on 1 September 1939, one week after the signing of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. German forces invaded Poland from the north, south, and west, and after German forces advanced, -
German Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg is a German word for “lightning war.” military tactic designed to create disorganization among enemy forces through the use of mobile forces and locally concentrated firepower. Its successful execution results in short military campaigns, which preserves human lives and limits the expenditure of artillery. German forces tried out the blitzkrieg in Poland in 1939 before successfully employing the tactic with invasions of Belgium, the Netherlands and France in 1940. -
Pearl Harbor
Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor. The bombing lasted just two hours but the impacts were devastating. The Japanese destroyed about 20 American naval vessels, and more than 300 airplanes. More than 2,000 American soldiers and sailors died in this attack and many more were wounded. The attack was intended to neutralize the U.S Pacific Fleet. This was also to protect Japan’s advance in Malaya and the Dutch east indies. -
Wannsee Conference
Fifteen high ranking Nazi Party and German government officials came together at Villa in the Berlin Suburb of Wannsee. They gathered to discuss and coordinate the implementation of what they called the “final solution of the Jewish Question.” The conference occurred because they wanted to figure out a plan that would find a final solution for all the Jewish people on Europe. There were a few impacts after this conference occurred. A few months later “gas vans” were killing around 1,000 people -
Operation Gomorrah
British bombers attacked Hamburg, Germany during the night. This was occurring under the Operation Gomorrah. During the day Americans were the ones bombing it. Operation Gomorrah took place because Britain had already suffered many deaths from the German bombings in July. Many Germans were killed during this bombing. -
D-Day
The invasion of Normandy began on June 6, 1944 and lasted until August, 1944. On June 6, 1944 about 156,000 American, British, & Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. This invasion occurred because this would being the liberation of Western Europe from the Nazis. This liberation has been called the beginning of the end of the war in Europe. -
Battle of Bulge
This battle is called the Battle of the Bulge because the Germans created a “bulge” around the area of the Ardennes forest to push through the American defensive line. There were 14 German Infantry divisions which were guarded by five panzer divisions-against about 80,000 Americans. The German assault came in early in the morning at the weakest part of the Allied line. The battle resulted in massive losses of American and civilian lives. -
Operation Thunderclap
Operation thunderclap was the code for a cancelled operation planned in August 1944. This operation never implemented. The plan visualized a massive attack on Berlin. It was believed that this attack would cause 220,000 casualties and 110,000 killed. The bad weather was the reason behind why the operation was cancelled. Another reason it was cancelled is because the plan was decided it was unlikely to work. Instead of this plan, smaller attacks were organized against certain cities. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The United states needed a base near Japanese coast so they decided to invade Iwo Jima. 3 U.S. Marine divisions landed on the island. The island was defended by 23,000 Japanese army and navy troops who fought from caves, dugouts, tunnels and underground installations. They wanted the island because the B-29 bomber could land without having to return all the way back to the Marianas. There were 5,900 dead and 17,400 wounded on USA’s behalf. -
Battle of Okinawa
It was the 287,000 troops of the U.S. Tenth Army against 130,000 soldier of the Japanese thirty second Army. At stake there were air bases that were vital to the projected invasion of Japan. Japan lost more than 77,000 soldiers and the Allies has 65,000 casualties and 14,000 dead. The japanese navy attacked by mass air strikes in a one-way Suicide mission. The commanding generals on both side lost their lives in the course of the battle. U.S. losses in the ground were 7,374 deaths, 31,807 wound -
Ve Day
In 1945 the United States and Great Britain celebrates victory in Europe Day. They both put out flags and banners rejoicing the defeat of the Nazi war machine. The 8th of may was the day that the German troops finally surrendered to their soviet antagonists. A million German soldiers tried to elude the grasp of the Soviet forces. The Russians took about 2 million prisoners before and after the Germans surrendered. V-E Day wasn’t celebrated until the ninth of Moscow. -
Atomic Bomb
On August 6, 1945 the American bomber Enola Gay dropped a 5 ton bomb over Hiroshima. The blast was equivalent to the power of 15,000tons of TNT reduced 4 square miles of the city to complete destruction and the immediate death of 80,000 people. Many more died the following week due to radiation poisoning or wounds. 3 days later another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki killing about 40,000 people. A few days after the bomb was dropped Japan surrendered. -
Vj Day
On August 15, 1945 It was let known that Japan had surrendered to the allies, which ended World War II. Ever since that day August 14 and 15 have been recognized as “Victory Over Japan Day” also known as “V-J Day”. Japan’s formal surrender took place on the U.S.S. Missouri, anchored in the Tokyo Bay.
