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Japanese invasion of China
The Chinese government restricted the expansion of the Japanese empire. The Japanese empire invades North Eastern China and creates a stalemate. The undeclared war was ended by the U.S.'s bombing of Japan. https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/WorldWar2/china.htm -
Rape of Nanking
Japanese forces invaded China's capital city, Nanking, and viciously slaughtered 300,000 out of 600,000 citizens soldiers in the city. This event lasted for six weeks and would go down as the most brutal attack on citizens in WW2. http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/nanking.htm -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
Hitler was hungry for more land, which meant more power for the German population. Hitler ordered forces to invade Poland. A pact between Germany and the Soviet Union made it so Poland could not recieve any support from the Soviet Union. With the Poles outnumbered and under-equipped, Hitlers forces took over Poland in weeks and ignited WW2.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-invades-poland -
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German Blitzkrieg
Also known as "Lightning war," Blitzkrieg was a German attacking method in which German forces bombarded the enemy to disorganize with locally concentrated bombing on railroads, supply shipments, or reinforcements. This tactic was used by German's with tanks, planes, and artillery along a narrow front. Hitler was extremely successful with this technique, starting in Poland in 1939, until its attack on Great Britain in 1941.
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005437 -
Pearl Harbor
Early in the morning of December 7th a plane flashing the Rising Sun of Japan flew toward the gathered islands. Following the single plane was a swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes. These planes bombarded American war ships by flying into them. By loading these planes with explosives, these Japanese pilots committed suicide by flying into the ships in attempt to sink them. The term 'kamikaze" comes from what these Japanese pilots did.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pearl-harbor-bombed -
Bataan Death March
The United States was forced to surrender the Bataan Peninsula, on the main Philippine island of Luzon, to the Japanese during WW2. 75,000 Filipino and American troops were forced to march in harsh conditions to prison camps. Thousands of the marchers perished on the 65 mile march.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
When reports of mass murder seeped into the Jewish ghettos of Warsaw, a surviving group of mostly young people created the Zydowska Organizacja Bojowa, or Jewish Fighting Organization. Being led by Mordecai Anielewicz, the Jews refused to go to the railroad cars. In January, a successful revolt inspired other Jewish ghettos to go against the Germans. May 16,1943, the revolt ended with 7,000 out of 56,000 captured Jews dead. https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007745 -
D-Day
D-day is known as the start of the end of war in Europe. On June 6, 1944, about 156,000 American, British, and Canadian troops landed on Normandy's 50 mile stretch of beaches. With Allied troops behind enemy (German) walls, Allied forces pushed their way up the beaches of Normandy. When the firing was done blood washed the shores, having more than 4,000 Allied troops perish in the amphibious attack and thousands being injured or missing.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
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Liberation of Concentration Camps
The first concentration camp, Majdanek, was liberated, or freed, by Soviet forces. With the Germans trying to cover up evidence of mass murder by demolishing the camps, the gas chambers were left standing. Auschwitz was the harshest camp, being freed by Soviet forces in January, 1945. Soviet forces found over 6,000 malnourished humans, hundreds of suits, 800,000 women's dresses, and 14,000 pounds of human hair. https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005131 -
Battle of the Bulge
With Allied forces in Europe, Hitler's plan was to split the Allied forces by a surprise attack, or blitzkrieg, in the Ardennes to Antwerp. With the Germans driving deeper in the Ardennes, the Allied front line, being led by Lieutenant General George S. Patton, took on the appearance of a bulge. The maneuver of Allied forces to Bastogne lead to a success for the Allies, although being more than 100,000 Allied casualties.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Battle of Iwo Jima
following the Americans naval and air attacks, American amphibious forces landed on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. Although the island was filled with 23,000 Japanese troops who fought from underground tunnel systems, American forces were able to succeed after a month of fighting.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Battle of Okinawa
Known as the bloodiest of the Pacific Island battles, it included 287,000 American forces against 130,000 Japanese forces. By the end of the carnage, Japan had 77,000 casualties, while America suffered 65,000 casualties.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
VE Day
Known as Victory in Europe, the United States and Great Britain celebrated this day, as it was the day Nazi forces surrendered and ceased fire.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The explosion spontaneously killed 80,000 people and destroyed 90% of the city. Radiation killed thousands in the following weeks. Three days later another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing about 40,000 people. Japan immediately surrendered.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
VJ Day
Known as Victory in Japan Day, immediately following the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered to the United States in WW2.
