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Japanese Invasion of China
The war started when the Japanese saaid that the Chinese troops fired on them at the Marco Polo Bridge. This was just an excuse for Japan to launch an invasion on China. They had conquerred Manchuria and used that as the troops launching base. In late 1937, Chinas most important port, Shanghai, and their capital, Nanjing fell. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/china_war.htm -
Rape of Nanking
The Japanese Army marched into China's capital city and raped and murdered 300,000 out of 600,000 civilians and soldiers. Women, children, and men were all killed. This resulted in a tough battle at Shanghai in summer of 1937.
http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/nanking.htm -
Germany Invasion of Poland
Germany invaded Poland. The Polish army was defeated Germans with more than 2,000 tanks, and over 1,000 planes broke through Polish defenses and went to Warsaw. After bombing and shooting Warsaw surrendered to Germans.
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005070 -
German Blitzkrieg
1939-1940. Also known as lightning war,the Germans Blitzkrieg prevented the enemy from resupplying and redeploying forces. germans basically cornered it's opponents and they were forced to surrender.
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005437 -
Fall of Paris
The Germans took over Paris. The French had withdrawn from the south of the city so Parisians had no defense. The Germans took them over with ease.
http://www.theguardian.com/century/1940-1949/Story/0,6051,128218,00.html -
Operation Barbarossa
Originally names operation Fritz, it was the code name for the German invasion of Russia. It was a failed attempt and a turning point in the war.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/52772/Operation-Barbarossa -
Pearl Harbor
Japan launched a surprise attack on America at Pearl Harbor. More than 2,000 military and civilians were killed. It caused America to enter the war.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Wannsee Conference
The Nazi Party and German government officials gathered in a Berlin suberb in Wannsee to talk about the "Final Solution of the Jewish Question." It was decided that "during the course of the Final Solution, the Jews will be deployed under appropriate supervision at a suitable form of labor in the East." The Jews were placed in concentration camps where they were to work basically to their death.
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005477 -
Battle of Midway
The US defeated Japan about 6 months after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. The Americans used codebreaking and were able to find out Japan's plans. America ambushed the Japanese Navy and gave the navy permanent damage. It was a turning point for the US because it allowed them to be offensive instead of defensive.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
Operation Gomorrah
British bombers raidied Hamburg, Germany at night. Britiain suffered 167 civilian deaths while 1,500 German civilians were killed in the raid. America was also bombing Hamburg during the day.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
More than 160,000 Allied troops landed on the French coastline to fight the Nazis on the beaches at Normandy, France. There were more than 9,000 Aliies lives lost or wounded. This was a good effect though, because it allowed more than 100,000 soldiers to begin the fight across Europe to defeat Adolf Hitler and his troops.
http://www.army.mil/d-day/ -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
Germans went to Auschwitz and found all of the sick and exhausted prisoners. They were forced to free all of the people in all of the camps. The Jews were extremely happy to be free. Some survivors, however, felt guilty for surviving when so many others' lives were lost.
http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007724 -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Americans invaded Iwo Jima. There were about 23,000 Japanese army and navy troops defending themselves. They fought from caves, dugouts, and tunnels. The Americans wanted a base in Japan and that was the reason for the battle. The Americans had another victory.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Operation Thunderclap
Saxony Dresden was attacked 3 times, once by the US Air Force, and twice by the Royal Air Force. The city was attacked to get revenge on the Germans who did multiple bomb raids on cities like Rotterdam and Coventry.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24631.htm -
Battle of Okinawa
287,000 American troops went against 130,000 Japanese troops. There were 77,0 japanese casualties and 65,000 American casualties. Both commanding Generals died. The battle was in a very populated area with 100,000 casualties of civilians.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
VE Day
Both Britain and the US celebrated Victory in Europe. They finally defeated the Nazis. The Nazis laid down their arms and surrendered.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Potsdam Declaration
The Japanese signed this declaration in surrender at the end of the war. Part of the declaration said: "We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction."
http://www.ndl.go.jp/constitution/e/etc/c06.html -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
The US dropped atomic bombs on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 40,000+ Japanese civilians were killed. The goal of dropping the bombs was to bring the war agaisnt Japan to a speedy end and to spare American lives.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-hiroshima -
VJ Day
News of the surrender was announced to the world. There were celebrations because of the final ending of World War 2. On September 2, there was a formal surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay.
http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/September/vjday.htm -
Battle of the Bulge
German launched a surprise attack on the Allies in an attempt to reverse his losses and win. Though many lives were lost and the cost of the battle was very high, the Allies made another win. In the words of Winston Churchill, " This is undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war and will, I believe, be regarded as an ever-famous American victory."
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge
http://www.army.mil/botb/overview.html
