-
The Invasion of Manchuria
This Japanese invasion occurred when China was facing political issues. Japan saw Manchuria as an asset to satisfy the country's need for resources and took it with the military. Though the world protested Japan's actions, they did not contest them.
This Japanese victory would encourage this behavior in the future, causing Japan to build their military, expand territories, and enter World War II. Specifically, this event influences acts like Pearl Harbor bombing and the Philippine invasion. -
Blitzkrieg Into Poland
The German invasion of Poland was Adolph Hitler's way of continuing Germany's expansion. He struck with aerial bombs and fast units in the Blitzkrieg method, quickly subduing Poland's forces. Hitler wanted the land for his "superior" Aryan citizens.
This would attract the attention of Britain and France, who declared war on Germany. In essence, this event was a stepping stone that started the second World War, demonstrating Germany's military power and cooperation with the Soviet Union. -
Battle of the Atlantic
This ocean battle between the Axis and Allied powers was to control the routes of supply ships, so that the enemy power would not have the resources to fight the war. It was fought throughout the war, ending just as Germany surrendered.
Its significance was the fact that it employed new strategies and technology like radar systems and convoy shipments. It was a vital component in winning the war. The Allies' radar systems helped keep U-Boats at bay, giving Britain resources to fight Germany. -
German Invasion of France
Hitler's invasion of France was swift. The German army attacked multiple fronts using the Blitzkrieg method, bypassing the Maginot Line and defeating French forces. They also split French troops from British troops. Soon, Paris was captured by Germany and France was removed from the fight.
This event is significant because of the major role France had in the Allies' forces. It cut off supplies and troops from France. Without France, the need for the USA to enter the war increased dramatically. -
Dunkirk
This battle took place after Britain attempted to aid France. As France was taken by German forces, British troops tried to evacuate the Allied troops to Britain. Allied forces fought at Dunkirk to keep Germany's forces at bay to allow the evacuation to take place.
This was a critical battle because it involved many of Britain's troops, some of the only remaining Allied units in Europe. It was essential to move troops back to Britain so as to not lose valuable units in a retreat effort. -
The Battle of Britain/The Blitz
The Battle of Britain consisted of aerial fighting. Britain's pilots defended Britain from Germany's advances. Britain's radar system aided British forces in detecting and eliminating incoming German attacks. They were successful in defending Britain.
This was important because this was an Allied victory in what seemed to be a series of unstoppable German attacks. It showed the power of the radar against Axis air troops. Therefore, it added to British morale in a grim situation. -
Germany Takes Greece
This invasion occurred when German forces attacked Greece in conjunction with Italy's aid. It allowed Germany to control another previously Allied territory and fight its way closer to Africa, which was its goal.
It was important because Africa contained the resources Germany needed to continue powering its war machines and vehicles. Allowing Germany take over Africa would mean Germany would have an advantage over the Allies. -
Operation Barbarossa
This was an operation meant to invade the Soviet Union. However, The Germans were unable to take on the Soviet Union's forces. The Soviet forces were similar to the Germans' but the Soviets had many more troops. This ultimately allowed the Soviet Union to triumph.
This is important because the Russians were the Germans' strongest ally. By betraying the Russians so early, Hitler weakened his position and allowed Germany to be surrounded on the west and the east. -
Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a sudden attack from the Japanese. Japanese planes attacked the base and destroyed ships and planes. More importantly, they killed hundreds of soldiers. American forces could do very little to react to the attack.
This Japanese attack was significant as it spurred the USA into war with nations on both sides of its coasts. The Axis powers vowed to fight as one if any nation declared war on one of their own. This event led the USA to enter World War II. -
Philippines
The Japanese targeted the Philippines. The USA has its troops attempt a defense against the Japanese, but the defense fails. The supplies ran out and the troops had no reinforcements. As a result, the Japanese were able to invade and conquer the Philippines and their people.
This was an indicator that Japan was a significant oppressive front on the Pacific side of the United States. It also led the way for the Bataan march, which killed the many prisoners that walked its path. -
Bataan (Battle)
The Battle of Bataan was a Japanese invasion of the Philippines. The Japanese army swept in and pushed out the American troops stationed there. American forces surrender at Bataan, where the Japanese began the Death March. -
Bataan (March)
The Bataan Death March was a journey that the Japanese made prisoners take. The path had jungle conditions and abusive officers supervised the march. Thousands of the prisoners died on the way from exhaustion and starvation. -
The Doolittle Raid
The Doolittle Raid was a minimal attack by the USA. Modified planes were sent to bomb Tokyo. While they did little damage, the fact that the USA was able to strike the heart of Japan boosted American morale in the war.
This was important because the Axis powers had taken many battles as victories. With this morale boost, American citizens were more persuaded to fight in the World War instead of avoiding it and labelling it a European issue that did not concern the United States. -
The Battle of Coral Sea
This battle was an air-naval battle. It stopped the Japanese from cutting off shipping from Australia to the USA. The American victory caused Japan to retreat and stopped their attempt at claiming any territory.
Its importance comes from the fact that the United States held a defensive line that denied any land losses. It kept Japan at bay long enough for the United States to launch an offensive strike later on with island hopping. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway revolved around the Japanese wanting Midway to bridge an attack closer to the American mainland. However, American codebreakers were able to intercept a message and prepare to fight at Midway. As a result, the USA was prepared to fight and won the battle at Midway.
This American victory allows the USA to destroy a large portion of Japanese equipment, as well as denying them the ability to fight offensively against the USA. -
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal was an island that the USA sought to control. It was a part of a plan to reach Japan indirectly through separate islands. It was here that American troops learned how to fight in jungles and use Navajo to communicate in the battlefield so as to avoid leaking information.
It was significant because it signaled the beginning of an effective strategy. Also, it provided troops the skills they needed to fight in future island battles, enabling them to fight with less hindrances. -
Stalingrad
Stalingrad was one of the battles that the Russians fought to stop the Germans. The fighting took place on the streets of a city. It was violent and bloody. Thousands were injured or killed due to the fighting, civilian or otherwise.
It is important because it helped stop the Germans from pushing east, cornering them along with the other Allies on the other front. By backing them into a tight space and forcing them to fight on two different fronts, the Allies gave Germany a disadvantage. -
2nd Battle of El Alamein
This battle was at El Alamein, an Egyptian territory. The Allies were able to push the Axis forces east. In this battle, it was an Allied victory because the Axis forces could not sustain a continued defense without more resources.
It was an important event because it helped stagger the westward movement of the Axis powers. It helped prevent them from gaining access to Africa's resources. The victory also increased Allied morale. -
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the plan to gain territory in Africa, Sicily, and Italy to attack Germany on two fronts. Led by General Eisenhower, Allies pushed eastward and gained control of North Africa. With this, Germans were forced to retreat to Italy.
This plan allowed the Allies to set up for their future attack on Italy. It would be the one of the first in a series of events that led to the Allied victory in Europe. -
Kursk
The Battle of Kursk was another battle that was fought by the Russians to stop Germany's advances. They effectively stopped Germany from advancing eastward and captured many of their troops. It was an Allied success.
This is an important event because this stopped Germany from pushing into Russia but also provided a distraction so that Germany would have to allocate its forces to fight Russia and the other Allies in the south at the same time. -
Anzio
Anzio was a battle in Italy. It occurred at a time where the Allies had made little progress in breaking through Italy. The Germans were able to push the Allies to the beaches, but the Allies held it long enough for reinforcements to arrive. The Allies won the fight and liberated Italy.
This is significant because it allowed the Allies to subdue Germans in Italy and push them further back. It was an indicator of the coming of the end of the conflict. -
D-Day
D-Day was an attack by the Allies. In the middle of the night, Allied troops dropped into German territories. In Normandy, troops landed and launched a surprise attack on the Germans. Though there were casualties, this was an Allied victory.
This event was important because it pushed the Germans slightly back and gave the Allies another front to fight on. This would force Germany to devote resources to multiple fronts. Furthermore, it helps the Allies liberate France later on. -
Phillipines (Liberation)
The liberation of the Philippines was an effort that spanned several events. The USA used amphibious landings on islands like Leyte and pushed out the Japanese forces. After seizing several islands, the American forces pushed the Japanese all the way back.
This gave the Japanese little choice but to eventually surrender. They were cornered and had nowhere to go. As a result, this event was one of the final steps towards the American victory. -
The Battle of Leyte Gulf
The Battle of Leyte Gulf was a large scale naval battle. Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur spearheaded the fight against the Japanese fleet. Here, the USA was able to deal a significant amount of damage to the Japanese. As a result, the USA is able to reclaim the Philippines.
It is a significant event because it severely cripples the Japanese navy. It stops them from attempting attacks and leaves them helpless to Truman's nuclear attacks in the near future. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was one of Germany's final attacks. They created a bulge that broke up allied lines and trapped troops in the bulge. This Blitzkrieg forced the Allies to fight defensively. -
Yalta Conference
After the invasion of Germany, the Big Three leaders meet and discuss the aftermath of Germany's fall. They discuss where land can be distributed to each nation, especially Russia. Russia promised to have free elections in return for land.
This was significant because Russia ended up not keeping its promises. This event and its products fueled the effects of the Cold War. -
Iwo Jima
This battle took place on the island of Iwo Jima. It was an American attack that was meant to take over the land from the Japanese. The Marine Corps meant to take the land from the Imperial Army, and thousands of troops died on both sides.
The reason for this was so that the American forces could use Iwo Jima to stage an attack on mainland Japan. However, it was never able to be used in such a manner, leading some to doubt the value of this attack. -
Okinawa
This battle was a battle fought by the USA with amphibious forces and the Navy. The casualties of this battle were immense, killing thousands of American and Japanese troops. This battle was also one of the last major battles of World War II.
This was an important event because it was a part of the American plan to seize islands and make a way to Japan. This American victory allowed the USA the path to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. -
Hitler's Suicide
On May 1st, 1945, it was announced that Adolf Hitler had committed suicide. Both Hitler and his wife Eva Braun had killed themselves. Soon after that, the announcement reached Allied ears and signalled closure on the European front of the war.
Because of Hitler's suicide, German troops lost direction and were unable to continue. They ended up surrendering. -
German Surrender
The Germans eventually surrendered on May 5, 1945. They agreed to an unconditional surrender. This was all after Adolf Hitler had committed suicide. The German soldiers began to surrender in large numbers after their leader abandoned them.
Because of this event, the United States was able to focus their attention on the Pacific front, facing off against Japan and paving the road to the end of the war. It stopped concentration camps and freed survivors. -
Hiroshima
The Hiroshima bombing was the first of two lethal attacks by the USA. In an effort to persuade the Japanese to surrender, the USA threatened to bring about terrible things and ended up using nuclear weapons to fulfill that promise. With one nuclear bomb, the majority of the city of Hiroshima was destroyed.
This attack marked the first utilization of nuclear warfare. It killed thousands and would lead to the Cold War later on. -
Nagasaki
Nagasaki was the second city on which the USA dropped an atomic bomb. Like the first bomb, thousands were killed instantly and the damage was devastating. However, unlike the first time, this instantaneous destruction prompted the surrender of the Japanese.
This was significant because they happened to surrender after the United States used their last atom bomb. Furthermore, it was the location of a Japanese military base, making it a strategic target regardless of the Japanese's surrender. -
Japanese Surrender
The Japanese surrendered on August 15, 1945. The terms of the surrender were unconditional. The peace treaty was signed on the USS Missouri. The victory was known as VJ Day. This event would mark the end of World War II.
It is significant because of the fact that it ended the major conflicts in WW2. Germany had previously surrenedered, so the Japanese surrender wrapped up the all loose ends. This was the end of the second World War.
