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Japanese Invasion of China
This began the Second Sino-Japanese War. The first was very bloody, and the second was as well. It was communism versus nationalism. The Nazis were actually on Chinas side until they formed an alliance with Japan. Japan quickly took over and bruitally murdered, bombed, and raped the Chinese. 10-20 million Chinese were killed. Japan could never really win, so they went after Pearl Harbor next. end: September 9th, 1937 http://www.history.co.uk/
http://www.britannica.com/ -
The Rape of Nanking
In the Sino-Japanese War, Nanking gets taken by Japan. Japan destroyed the city of Nanking to put the Chinese in their place. They murdered 200,000 men, and raped and butchered 20,000 women and girls. It didn't really accomplish much besides pure brutality and inhumane actions. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-rape-of-nanking
http://knowledgenuts.com/2013/07/27/the-good-nazi-of-nanking/ -
Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact
On this day, these two leaders signed the nonagression pact. This was between the USSR and Germany, and it shocked the rest of the world. Stalin wanted to build the Soviet Union back up to what it was, and Germany wanted to take Poland unopposed. They also secretly agreed to split Europe. This agreement fell apart in June of 1941 when Germany attacked. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/german-soviet-nonaggression-pact
http://www.nndb.com/people/919/000087658/ -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
This is generally believed to be the start of World War II. On september 1st, Germany invaded Poland. Britain and France retailiated by declearing war on Germany. After around a month, Germany and the Soviet Union took over Poland and split the land. end: October 6th, 1939 https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005137
http://historyimages.blogspot.com/2009/12/germany-invades-poland-september-1939.html -
German Blitzkrieg
The German Blitzkrieg was not one paricular battle, rather it was the way that the Germans attacked. They attacked quickly and with flexibilty. They were able to transform into an army that would be able to defeat their enemy. German Blitzkriegs usually involved the element of surprise. Almost all of their early attacks involved this strategy. ended: around June 22nd, 1940 http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/
http://viceduhistory12.weebly.com/p-german-blitzkrieg-of-may-1940.html -
Fall of Paris
This is the day that the Germans entered Paris. France panicked and tried to get America to help them, but FDR would not enter the war quite yet until Pearl Harbor. He did help in secret though, freezing American assets such as Italy and Germany. Basically, this caused panic and for Americans to prepare. The Germans were just taking over all they land they could get their hands on. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-enter-paris
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/101331060339103494/ -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barabossa was the name of Germany's large attack of the Soviet Union. Although the Soviets expected their ally to turn on them, they did not expect it to happen so soon. Again, the Germans used the blitzkrieg technique and took the Soviets by surprise. At the start, Germans had the upper hand, but the USSR had more men and resources and they caused the Germans to retreat. end: January 7th, 1942 http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1761.html -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was the surprise attack and bombing of Hawaii by Japan. This effectively drew America into WWII. Japan was trying to take out the Pacific Fleet, therefore allowing for them to take over the rest of Southeast Asia uncontested. http://www.britannica.com/event/Pearl-Harbor-attack -
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference was a meeting between Hitler and his high ranking officers. They discussed how they would deal with the Jews. They inveted the idea of concentration camps, gas chambers, and other ways to kill that would be less time consuming. This allowed for the genocide of the Jews to begin. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wannsee-conference
http://www.scrapbookpages.com/EasternGermany/Wannsee/History.html -
Bataan Death March
This was the day that Americans surrendered at the Bataan Peninsula. The 75,000 remaining soldiers were forced to march 65 miles to the prison camps, and they were ridden with disease and injuries. They were forced to surrender because they had no backup, and fought as long and as hard as they could. This led to the Japanese torture of these men, and Japan won another battle, therefore giving them hope. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march
http://www.britannica.com/ -
Operation Gomorrah
In Operation Gomorrrah, the British bombed Hamburg, Germany during the night. Later, Americans bomb it during the day time. While the Allies lost very few lives, the Axis powers lost a devastating amount. This filled the Germans with despair, giving the Allies a slight edge as the Axis powers doubt and lose hope. end: continued through November http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/europe/article3821906.ece -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
The Normandy Invasion was when the Allied powers liberated Western Europe. It began when Allied men landed on the beaches of Normandy. This invasion kept Hitler from sending troops from France to build up the army against the USSR. This cut off Hitlers resources. The Allied forces attacked here because the Germans were not expecting it. The Allies took their chance to end it. end: August, 1944 http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day
http://www.frenchestateagents.com/normandy-property -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was the last major battles of WWII, and it was one of the bloodiest. Hitler planned a surprise attack in the weakly guarded Ardennes forest, and he could've turned the war his way. Instead the Americans fought for their lives and never allowed a German to break the line. They saved the war and allowed for an Allied victory. end: January 25th, 1945 http://www.history.com/
http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2015/12/remembering-the-bulge-key-facts-of-a-major-wwii-battle/ -
Operation Thunderclap
Operation Thunderclap was a bombing planned for Dresden. The Allies bombed Germany's eastern cities to stop the eastern front. They also wanted to prove their superiority to Germany to the people. The city was flattened. They didn't even find any bodies, just goo and bone fragments. This is still considered a controversy. http://ww2today.com/13-february-1945-operation-thunderclap-raf-start-firestorm-in-dresden -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima was a battle between America and Japan. The US needed a base near Japan, so they chose to attack Iwo Jima. Japan was expecting an attack, so they had many intricate tunnels that made it difficult to fight. After a month of fighting, the Americans won and had killed all but about 1,000 men. end: March 26, 1945 http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii
https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/United_States_World_War_II_Enlistment_Records -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was the largest and the last island battle of WWII. Japan had many casualties, almost 77,000. Many kamikaze fighters died, and they made it difficult for the US to win. Japan also lost 100,000 citizens. America won, and finally defeated Japan, taking their vital air bases with them. end: June 22nd, 1945 http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Okinawa -
Liberation of Concentration Camps (Dauchu)
There were many different dates of liberating concentration camps so I will focus on Dauchu, Germany's first established. On this day, US troops made it to Dauchu and liberated it. They found over 30 rail cars full of bodies, and found more bodies inside. They set free more than 30,000 survivers. Most were weak and starved. The Americans were horrified with what they saw, so they gunned down all SS officers they encountered. http://www.history.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/ -
VE Day
Victory in Europe Day! On this day, Germany laid down their arms in Europe and the USSR. Germany surrendered, but Hitler died about a week ago. WWII was considered to be over at this point. The Germans couldn't see any way to win, especially after Hitler's death. If their great leader couldn't see a future, how could they? http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe
http://www.capital-moments.com/ve-day-a-day-to-remember-for-past-and-present/ -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
The dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the first atomic bombs ever dropped. They killed 120,000 people and decimated the cities. This prompted Japan to surrender, therefore starting the end of WWII. Even after Germany surrendered, Japan vowed to fight until the end. That is why America dropped the bombs. They felt it necessasry. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki -
VJ Day
Victory over Japan Day was the official end to WWII. All Axis powers had surrendered and men were returning home. They were "kissing war goodbye" and the iconic picture I used sums this day up; pure love and joy. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-J_Day_in_Times_Square
