-
Japanese Invasion of China
Japanese and Chinese soldiers had a skirmish that was called the "Marco Polo Bridge Incident".This started the Second Sino-Japanese War. It eventually led to a stalemate but then western interference drove Japan to choose a new target, Pearl Harbor. -
Rape of Nanking
During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Japan has been spreading across the land taking Chinese countries by the dozen. One of the countries was Nanking, in which Japan massacred all of the people and raped tens of thousands of women. They even burned at least one-third of the building's. Because of these atrocities, many Japanese leaders at the end of the war were executed for their crimes. -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
Hitler thought that by attacking and conquering Poland, he would bring living space to the German people. He ordered the troops to attack Poland, claiming it was a defensive action but Britain and France were not convinced and declared war on Germany. -
German Blitzrieg
Means "lightning war", it's a military tactic used to cause mayham and chaos between enemy troops through concentrated firepower. It was first used during the German invasion of Poland and was perfected against the invasions of Belgium, the Netherlands, and France in 1940. It was used against many cities and destroyed many parts of those cities. -
Operation Barbarossa
Codename for Germany's invasion on the Soviet Union, this was the turning point for the war on Germany's side as if they failed, Nazi-Germany would fight a two-front war. Things turned for the worst for Germany and eventually, "Operation Barbarossa" failed and Germany walked into a war they couldn't win. This greatly weakened Germany and Hitler was wondering what to do. -
Pearl Harbor
Japans plan was to destroy the Pacific Fleet and conquer the Pacific Ocean. They sent hundreds of fighter planes and attacked the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. Many people died and almost all of the U.S. ships were sunk. However, his made America join the war on the side of the Allies and prove a force to be reckened with. -
Wannsee Conference
A meeting of Nazi officials to descuse the "final Solution" to the "Jewish question". It was created in order to find the most effective way of killing the Jews. They settled on one thing-gasing them. It is confidential on the minutes spent on the conference but it was crucial evidence during the Nuremburg war trial. -
Operation Gomorrah
The bombing raid of Hamburg, Germany by the British at night and the U.S. by day. It ran on until November and the results were devastating. Even Hitler refused to visit the detroyed homes as it symbolizes the end of the war, with Germany on the losing side. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
Codenamed Operation Overlord, this was when the Allied troops landed on Normandy beach and liberated it from Nazi Germany's control. The Normandy landing began to turn the tide between the Germans and prevented them from sending troops from France to protect the Eastern side from the Soviets. -
Battle of the Bulge
Whne the Americans were taking control over German territories like St. -Vith, Elsenborn Ridge, and Bastogne as they were attacked off guard. The Allied line took the form of a bulge, hence the name, and Lieutenant General George S. Patton's excellent defencive strategy proved useful to the Allied defence. They won because the Germans were having a decreasing amount of fuel and the gallantry of the Allied forces. -
Operation Thunderclap
Was a project that was cancelled in August of 1944 but was reconsidered to use. It involved a massive air raid all at once against Germany with the help of the Soviet Union. However it was considered foolish and instead a bunch of smaller raids were implemented. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
A major battle that assisted the U.S., it was when the Allied armies to land on and capture the island of Iwo Jima from Japanese control. They wanted a naval base near the Japanese coast and conquered it. Many soldiers died and some Japanese soldiers even commited suicide. -
Battle of Okinawa
The last and largest of the Pacific Island battles, the Allies and Japanese fought for the oppurtunity