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History Learning SiteJapanese claimed that they were fired on by Chinese troops at the Marco Polo Bridge near Beijing. Using this as an excuse, the Japanese launched an invasion of China using the conquered Manchuria as a launching base for their troops. The Japanese came up against little organised resistance. In November 1937, China’s most important port, Shanghai, fell and Nanjing (Nanking),
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UshmmGermany invaded Poland. German troops invade Poland all along its 1,750-mile border with German-controlled territory. This was to bring "living space" to the German people. Polans government and Military leaders fled the country, all hope was lost.
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Uhsmm Is a German term for “lightning war,” blitzkrieg is a military tactic designed to create disorganization among enemy forces through the use of mobile forces and locally concentrated firepower. Its successful execution results in short military campaigns, which preserves human lives and limits the expenditure of artillery. German forces tried out the blitzkrieg in Poland in 1939 before successfully employing the tactic
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Fall of Pairs The French abandon Paris, declaring it an open city. This allowed the Germans to enter the French capital on June 14 without resistance. The German advance continues to sweep southward driving before it not only the retreating French army, but an estimated 10 million refugees fleeing for their lives.
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Operation Barbasossa Barbarossa was the crucial turning point in World War II, for its failure forced Nazi Germany to fight a two-front war against a coalition possessing immensely superior resources. Yet, underestimating their opponent; their logistical preparations were inadequate for the campaign.
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Pearl Harbor Japan launches suprises attack on American soil. After negotiations between Tokyo and Washington, D.C., neither side would budge.They destroyed nearly 20 American naval vessels, and almost 200 airplanes. More than 2,000 Americans soldiers and sailors died in the attack, and another 1,000 were wounded.
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Wannsee Conference The Wannsee Conference was a high-level meeting of Nazi officials that took place in Berlin to discuss the Final Solution of the Jewish Population.
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Bataan Death March U.S. surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese during. Approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to make a 65-mile march to prison camps. They made the trek in intense heat and were subjected to harsh treatment by Japanese guards.
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GhettoResistance by Polish Jews under Nazi occupation in 1943 to the deportations from Warsaw to the Treblinka extermination camp. The revolt began on April 19, 1943, and was crushed four weeks later, on May 16.
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Kasserine The Kasserine Pass was the site of the United States’ first major battle defeat of the war. Rommel first strike was repulsed, but with tank reinforcements, Rommel broke through on February 20, inflicting devastating casualties on the U.S. forces.
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gomorrahBritish 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.
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ItalyThe British 8th Army under Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery begins the Allied invasion of the Italian peninsula. Opposition groups in Italy were uniting to overthrow Mussolini and make peace with the Allies, but a strong German military presence in Italy threatened to resist any such action.
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D-dayA day in World War II on which Allied forces invaded northern France by means of beach landings in Normandy.
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CampsTo set the Jews free from concentration camps. Starting in 1944 and counting to the end of the war. Camp staff would set fire to the camp to help hide evidence.
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Battle of the Bulge Hitler had convinced himself that the alliance between Britain, France and America in the western sector of Europe was not strong and that a major attack and defeat would break up the alliance. Therefore, he ordered a massive attack against what were primarily American forces. The attack is strictly known as the Ardennes Offensive but because the initial attack by the Germans created a bulge in the Allied front line, it has become more commonly known as the Battle of the Bulge.
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Iwo JimaThe U.S. need it for a base near the Japanese coast. Iwo Jima was defended by roughly 23,000 Japanese army and navy troops. The battle ended with a U.S. victory
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okinawaWas also known as Operation Iceberg, took place in April-June 1945. It was the largest amphibious landing in the Pacific theater of World War II. It also resulted in the largest casualties with over 100,000 Japanese casualties and 50,000 casualties for the Allies
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VE DayVictory in Europe Day was officially announced the end of World War Two in Europe. On Monday May 7th at 02.41. German General Jodl signed the unconditional surrender document that formally ended war in Europe.
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BombWhen Harry Truman learned of the success of the Manhattan Project, he knew he was faced with a decision of unprecedented gravity. The capacity to end the war with Japan was in his hands. On August 6, 1945, a plane called the ENOLA GAY dropped an atomic bomb on the city of HIROSHIMA. Instantly, 70,000 Japanese citizens were vaporized. In the months and years that followed, an additional 100,000 perished from burns and radiation sickness
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VJ Day It was announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War II. Since then, both August 14 and August 15 have been known as “Victoryover Japan Day,”
