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Japanese invasion of China
The Japanese invaded China turning a small incident into a full-scale war. Chinese forces were unable to fight back or resist the Japanese with their military not only armed better, but more organized and their incredibly brutal mindset to conquer Chinese land. -
German Blitzkrieg
Germany overran most of Europe at a fast pace and remained victorious for more than 2 years by relying on the new military tactic called "Blitskrieg", or lighting war. By using the Blitskrieg tactic, the troops were required to have the concentration of offensive weapons, such as tanks, planes, and artilleries, along the narrown front. It's successful execution resulted in short military campaign, which preserved human life and limited expenditure of artillery. -
Germany's invasion of Poland
Hitler believed the conquest of Poland would "Lebensraum, or living space, for German people. Once the invasion began, the Polish army was defeated within weeks, after German units broke through Polish defenses along the border and advanced on Warsaw in a massive encirclement of attack. Britain and France demanded Germany to withdraw or fight in war by September 3 and when the ultimatum expired France went on to declare war on Germany. -
Pearl Harbor
On the morning of December 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base of Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. Though itcame as a surprise, Japan and the United States were heading into war for decades following the unhappiness, from the U.S., over Japan's increasingly beligerent attitude towards China. The day after the attac, Congress declared war on Japan with the offer from President Roosevelt finally joinign World War II after two years. -
D-Day
On June 6, 1944, the Allied powers crossed the English Channel landing on Normandy, France, which started the freeing of Western Europe from the Nazi control during World War II. The Allies knew the Normandy area was not well defended as the area Germans believed was to be attacked. D-Day was the beginning of the end for Germany as well as Hitler because Germany was forced to fight a two front war yet again. -
Battle of Iwa Jima
With the need of a base near the Japanese coast, three U.S. marine divisions landed on the islands following the elaborate preparation of air and naval bombardment. Despite going against roughly 23,000 Japanese army and naval troops, the marines "wiped out" the defending forces, earning a place in American lore from a photograph taken of the U.S. flag being raised in victory. -
Battle of Okinawa (Operation Iceberg)
On April 1, 1945, Allied forces invaded the island of Okinawa under command from Lieutenent General Simon Bolivar Buckner, which engaged Japan in the bloodiest battle of the Pacific war. The Japanese lead the battle of rage on land and sea, making the Americans pay for every strategic area of land and water won. With capture of Okinawa in the end of the battle, the Allied forces prepared for the invasion of Japan which would be a bloody war too. -
VE Day
The day Hitler killed himself and the Nazis Of Germany surrendered by officially laying down their arms on May 8, 1945. Germans realized they lost a fair amount of troops compared to those in other areas forcing them to give up. Americans and Britains celebrate the defeat of the Nazis in cities all over the nation. -
Dropping of the atomic bombs
Two atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagisaka as President Truman wanted the bring the war to a fast end. The first bomb on Hiroshima wiped out close to 90% of the city killing 80,000 people just from the explosion. The second bomb was dropped on Nagisaka killing roughly 40,000 people. -
V.J. Day (Victory over Japan day)
On August 15, 1945, the announcement of Japan surrenduring to the Allies and ending World War II. President Truman then declared September 2nd to be VJ day, raising morale and celebrations as World War II finally ended.
