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Japanese Invasion of China
On this night, fire was exchanged between Chinese and Japanese troops. It began as a confused skrimish and evolved into a full scale battle where Bejing and the port city of Tianjin fell to the Japanese. With these two cities falling the Chinese were demolished and would wage a defensive war for over 4 years. -
The Invasion of Poland
As a starting point of German domination, Nazi troops poured into Poland using a style of war called Blitzkrieg. Where Germany attacked hard and fast taking Poland off guard and overthrowing them in just over 1 month. The domination of Poland gave Germany an easier route to the Soviet Union for them to invade. -
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German Blitzkreig
German Blitzkreig meaning "lightning war" had the Germans fighting quick and decisive battles before an enemy could mobilize. Thus minimizing their casualties. Germany used this military tactic to invade Poland and the Western Front of Europe, nearly taking control of all of Europe within one year -
Operation Barbarossa
The invasion of the Soviet Union codenamed "Barabossa", began with millions of Axis soldiers flooding the USSR. Initally Operatation Barabossa was looking to be a massive victory. Adolf Hitler wanted to conquer Russia before the winter came around, giving the Russians an advantage. However the invasion stalled at Moscow and the Soviets pushed Germany back. Putting Russia on the offensive. -
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
Early on the morning of December 7th, 1941, the Japanese launched a suprise attack on the United State's military base of Pearl Harbor in Hawai'i. Intended only a defensive manuver to prevent the U.S Navy from interfereing with Japan. In the attack 2,403 Americans were killed and another 1,178 were injured. The very next day the United States declared war on Japan, and declared war on Germany and Italy on the 11th. -
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference was a metting of Nazi officals, held to ensure the cooperation of adminsitrative leaders in the execution of the "Final Solution to the Jewish issue". The meeting outlines how Jews would be rounded up and sent to extermination camps. -
Operation Gomorrah
The bombing of Hamburg, codenamed Operation Gomorrah, was a number of strategic bombing missions, meant only as a nuisance. It created one of the largest firestorms in World War II, killing over 42,000 and wounding 37,000 more. The city of Hamburg was completly destroyed. -
The Invasion of Normandy
The Invasion of the Normandy Beach began on June 6th, 1944, as part of Operation Overlord, included Canadian, French, English and American soldiers. It became the largest amphibious invastion to ever take place. The attack was meant for Allied forces to get a foothold on the western front and begin their push to Berlin, Germany. -
Operation Thunderclap
Operation Thunderclap was a cancelled operation planned for August of 1944, but was never implemented. The plan was to issue a massive attack on Berlin, which would result in over 220,000 casualties. It was decided that it had little chance of working. It was reconsidered in early 1945, to be issued with the Soviet advance, but was again shot down. -
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The Battle of the Bulge
This was a massive (and desperate) German offensive campaign launched through the forested Ardennes in France. Its primary goal was to recapture the Harbor of Antwerp. The attack caught allied forces by complete suprise and resulted in the highest amount of Allied casualties during any battle during the war. However, it severely depleted German forces as well, which they were unable to replace. -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle for the Island of Iwo Jima was a massive battle between American and Japanese Forces in which they two factions vied for control of the island. The five week battle gave some of the bloodiest fighting in the Pacific during World War II. It was the only battle in which American casualties outnumbered Japanese. -
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Battle of Okinawa
Codenamed Operation Iceberg, the battle of Okinawa was fought on the the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and lasted 82 days. Allies had been approaching Japan, and were hoping to use the large island of Okinawa as staging point for air operations. -
Victory in Europe Day
Celebrated as a Public holiday in which the Nazi German's announced unconditional surrender of its armed forces. Ending the war in Europe. On April 30th, 1945, Adolf Hitler commited suicide during the Battle of Berlin. The surrender was authorized by his successor. Karl Donitz, -
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The Beginning of the Nuclear Age
The world was ushered into a new age of war when the United States of America dropped two atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima, on August 6th, 1945, and Nagasaki, on August 6th, 1945. The bombs were names "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" and caused a total of over 250,000 deaths. They were dropped as an attempt for the Japanese government to surrender. -
Victory in Japan Day
Holiday celebrated commerating the Japanese surrender of armed forces. Marking not only ending the war in the Pacific, but the end of World War II as a whole. Japan informally surrendered on August 15th, 1945, but the official surrender was announced on September 2nd.
