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Period: to
Rape of Nanking
http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/nanking.htm
On December of 1937-1938, Japanese Army marched into China’s capital, Nanking. They started murdering people they murdered 600,000 just in the city. This was the genocide of the 20th century. The women and girls were taken and raped, or abused. More than 20,000 females were gang-raped by Japanese soldiers. This number estimated to as high as 80,000. -
Japanese Invasion of China
On July 7, 1937, Japan invaded China to take over the town of Wanping. China resisted the Japanese take over igniting the second Sino-Japanese War. This clash occurred near Peiping in North China. Although the Japanese quickly captured all key Chinese ports and industrial centers, including cities such as the Chinese capital Nanking and Shanghai, CCP and KMT forces continued resisting. In the brutal conflict, both sides used ‘scorched earth’ tactics. Massacres and atrocities were common. -
Rape of Nanking
http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/nanking.htm
On December of 1937-1938, Japanese Army marched into China’s capital, Nanking. They started murdering people they murdered 600,000 just in the city. This was the genocide of the 20th century. The women and girls were taken and raped, or abused. More than 20,000 females were gang-raped by Japanese soldiers. This number estimated to as high as 80,000. -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
During the summer of 1939, Hitler negotiated a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union. This pact stated that the country of Poland would be split between the two powers. Germany operated the west of Poland, while the Soviet Union operated the easy of Poland. On September 1, 1939, Hitler broke his non-aggression pact by sending forces to invade the eastern half or the Soviets half of Poland. During this invasion, the Polish army was defeated in weeks. Germany sent more than 2,000 tanks and 1, -
German Blitzkrieg
On September 1, 1939, German forces invaded Poland using a new fighting tactic called blitzkrieg. This is when a country sends airplanes and unexpectedly bombs another country. It is so unexpected that no one sees in coming, making it so easy to take over a country. After Hitler saw that his fighting tactic worked, he would not stop there. From then on he when all across Europe taking over country after country. Between the time of 1939-1940, Germany had taken over Poland, Scandinavia, Denmark, -
Fall of Paris
http://www.theguardian.com/century/1940-1949/Story/0,,128218,00.html?redirection=century
On June 15, 1940, Germany came into Paris and Paris fell to them. The French decided not to fight. Paris became empty, because they knew Germany was on their way. The people in Paris watched as the Germans came through. In Paris they started to realize the fall had happened, that’s when they started to hurt the most in their economy. -
Operation Basbarossa
On June 22, 1941, Hitler launched a massive attack on the Soviet Union. Over three million German troops were sent into Russia. The invasion reached from the North Cape to the Black Sea. Later war was launched on Germany from the western side of Europe causing German to have to fight war on two fronts. Germany underestimated their opponents severely. This would essentially be the crucial turning point of the war. -
Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the US Naval base, Pearl Harbor. This attack came as such a surprise to the US. Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes suicide bombed because they knew that if they tried to make it back across the Pacific that they would run out of gas. More than 2,000 American soldiers died and 1,000 were wounded. The day after the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan; Congress approved his declaration with just o -
Wannsee Conference
On January 20, 1942, 15 high-ranking Nazi Party and German government officials gathered at a villa in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee to discuss and coordinate the implementation of what they called the "Final Solution of the Jewish Question." The "Final Solution" was the code name for the systematic, deliberate, physical annihilation of the European Jews. At some still undetermined time in 1941, Hitler authorized this European-wide scheme for mass murder. The men at the table did not deliberate -
Bataan Death March
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march
On April 9, 1942, in the Bataan Peninsula, in the Philippine Island. The march was sparked after the bombing on Pearl Harbor. About 75,000 American and Filipino troops had to make the 65-mile journey to prison camps. The weather was scalding heat and harsh treatment by the Japanese guards. Thousands died while making the walk known as the Bataan Death March. -
Battle of Stalingrad
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad
From July 17, 1942 to February 2, 1943, the Battle of Stalingrad was the great and wonderful Soviet defense of the city of Stalingrad. This was the launching of one of the bloodiest battles. In the Battle of Stalingrad, the Soviets forces surrounded the entire German army and crushed them. The battle is considered the turning point for the Eastern Front. Stalin gained a confidence in his military and remained offensive for the rest -
Allied Invasion of Italy
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-invade-italian-mainland
On July 10, 1943, the allies began invading the axis-controlled Europe by landing on the island of Sicily, off mainland of Italy. They had only little resistance from the demoralized Sicilian troops. Montgomery’s eighth army came to the land on the southeast part island. On September 3, eighth army began the mainland invasion on Italy and the Italian government agreed to surrender to the allies. -
Operation Gomorrah
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched
On this day in 1943, British bombers raid Hamburg, Germany, by night in Operation Gomorrah, while Americans bomb it by day in its own “Blitz Week.” Britain had suffered the deaths of 167 civilians as a result of German bombing raids in July. Now the tables were going to turn. The evening of July 24 saw British aircraft drop 2,300 tons of incendiary bombs on Hamburg in just a few hours. The explosi -
D-Day (1944)
http://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/d-day-the-allied-invasion-of-france.asp
On June 6th 1944 the Allied invasion force was amassing to the south of England. Along its shores were thousands of naval vessels ready to sail the choppy and unforgiving North Sea into France. Weather played a major role in preparations and only two days were afforded for the massive invasion plan - May 17th and June 5th. The former was cancelled on account of bad weather. Likewise, ba -
Battle of the Bulge (1945)
http://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/battle-of-the-bulge.asp
The surprise was unveiled on December 16th, 1944 when the German Army opened up in one of their largest displays of artillery bombardment ever. Mechanized forces of the German 5th and 15th Panzer armies, as well as the 6th SS and 7th Army, attacked the US VIII forces in a line between Aachen and Bastogne. The German surprise held up well and the Allies reeled at the advance. However, some contingents such as -
Period: to
Battle of the Bulge (1945)
http://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/battle-of-the-bulge.asp
The surprise was unveiled on December 16th, 1944 when the German Army opened up in one of their largest displays of artillery bombardment ever. Mechanized forces of the German 5th and 15th Panzer armies, as well as the 6th SS and 7th Army, attacked the US VIII forces in a line between Aachen and Bastogne. The German surprise held up well and the Allies reeled at the advance. However, some contingents such as -
Battle of Iwo Jima (1945)
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima started on February 19, 1945 and ended on March 26, 1945. The American amphibious invasion of Iwo Jima during World War II stemmed from the need for a base near the Japanese coast. Following elaborate preparatory air and naval bombardment, three U.S. marine divisions landed on the island in February 1945. Iwo Jima was defended by roughly 23,000 Japanese army and navy troops, who fought -
Battle of Okinawa (1945)
http://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/battle-of-okinawa.asp
On April 1 through June 22 1945 the Battle of Okinawa happened and ended. The island of Okinawa represented a grand strategic map marker for both the Allies and the Japanese. She was the last stop before the Japanese mainland and all sides were prepared for the slugfest to follow. In all their suicidal and fanatical glory, the Japanese valiantly defended the island against the countless American assaults and casu -
Operation Thunderclap (1945)
http:/ww2orc.tripod.com/id15.htm
The background of "Thunderclap" was long and complex. Two months after D-Day, Sir Charles Portal, chief of the Air Staff, had suggested that the moment Germany approached military collapse, a series of heavy air raids to be launched against East German population centers; these raids might even precipitate total surrender. The Joint Intelligence Committee -- a group of British intelligence experts -- was cool to "Thunderclap," since it was -
VE Day (1945)
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe
On this day in 1945, both Great Britain and the United States celebrate Victory in Europe Day. Cities in both nations, as well as formerly occupied cities in Western Europe, put out flags and banners, rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazi war machine. The 8th of May spelled the day when German troops throughout Europe finally laid down their arms: In Prague, Germans surrendered to their Soviet antagonists, after the latter -
Dropping Of the Atomic Bombs
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-hiroshima
On August 6th, 1945, United States was the first and only nation to use the atomic bomb during the war. The atomic bomb was dropped in city of Hiroshima, Japanese. The second atomic bomb was dropped in Nagasaki. The United States gave them timeto surrender, but they did not. Though the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan marked the end of World War II. -
VJ Day
http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/September/vjday.htm
On August 15, 1945, worldwide the news spread of the surrendering of Japan from the WWII. VJ day was the official day that WWII was over. The ceremony was held in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri. This sparked the celebration worldwide. Therefore, President Truman declared September 2nd the national VJ Day.
