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China falls to Japan
The Marco Polo Bridge Incident was a battle between the Republic of China’s National Revolutionary Army and the Japanese. This battle is often referred to as the start of the second Sino-Japanese War. This event is important because it was one of the starting events of World War ll. -
Blitzkrieg into Poland
Germany and Russia sign the Non-Aggression Treaty to not attack each other with a secret provision that they would split up Polands territory. On September 1st, Germany rolls into Poland with fast moving troops supported by air power, while the Soviets invaded from the East. Poland did not know how to react with outdated military technology. This event symbolizes the strength of the German army compared to other nearby countries during this time. -
Battle of the Atlantic
The longest battle of World War ll between the Allies and the Axis Powers in which thousands of ships were sunk and tens of thousands of men were killed in the Atlantic Ocean. The Allies wanted to use the Atlantic to resupply Great Britain and the Soviet Union in their fight against Germany and Italy. The Axis Powers wanted to stop them. This fight was important because having control of the Atlantic Ocean gave countries significant advantages for transportation purposes. -
German Invasion of France
French and British troops are trapped in Belgium between two German armies. Germany drives a wedge between British and French troops which forces 340,000 British troops from Dunkirk, France to Britain. France does not have the strength to fight against Germany without the British, so the Germans finish off their last line of defense. This event is important because it forces France to surrender and it gives the Germans another position to attack other countries. -
Dunkirk
The Germans have the British and the French trapped. The Germans then drive a wedge between the two troops. This wedge forces 340,000 British troops to evacuate from Dunkirk, France to Britain. This event shows the important strategic role Germany had during these attacks. They used their previously captured countries to benefit them for their attack on France. They had their enemies panic and evacuate which allowed them to easily capture France. -
Battle of Britain/The Blitz
The Germans began bombing British airfields, key ports and military bases. Winston Churchill, Britains Prime Minister, rallied his troops to play a defensive role against Germany. Britain’s Royal Air force held off many attacks in the sky including the Luftwaffe. This caused the Germans to get desperate and start bombing cities like London. This event is significant because Britain was the first country to stand their ground against Germany. This event was a major turning point in World War ll. -
Germany Takes Greece
The German air forces launch Operation Castigo, the bombing of Belgrade, with 24 divisions and 1,200 tanks drive into Greece. They also bombed the Greek Port city of Piraeus as army division swept south and west leading the the conquering of Greece. This event was important because it was more land for the Germans to have land over and plan other invasions from. -
Operation Barbarossa
Hitler invaded the Soviet Union with army groups with over 3 million soldiers, 150 divisions and 3 thousand tanks. The invasion covered a distance of 2 thousand miles and the Germans reached their highest combat effectiveness in this battle. This event was important turning point in the war because it forced the Germans to fight a two-front war against a double alliance with powerful resources. -
Pearl Harbor
360 Japanese planes attack Pearl Harbor, Hawaii dropping bombs and bullets causing the United States to lose 19 ships, 150 planes and 2400 soldiers. This surprise attack took 7 months worth of planning on Japan’s part. This event was important because it triggered a war between Japan and the United States. The citizens of the United States were furious and wanted to destroy Japan for their harmful actions. -
Bataan Battle
After the attack on Pearl Harbor the Japanese began an air strike attack on the Philippines. After the three months of battle with each other, The American/Philippines troops started to run out of supplies. When they couldnt stall their surrender anymore, they had to make it official. The United States surrender on Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine Island of Luzon to the Japanese.... -
Bataan March
....About 75,000 troops Filipino and American troops were forced to make a 65 mile march through harsh conditions to the prison camps in which they were subjected to cruel treatment by Japanese guards. Thousands died throughout this march. This march was a huge movement for the Japanese as they managed to capture more land and kill many Americans. -
Doolittle Raid
The Americans launched a B-25 bomber aircraft to attack the Japan Mainland. The raid did little damage to Japan but was significant because it showed that America still had fight left in them and were not scared from their previous attacks. The United States citizens wanted war and revenge after all of the damage they have caused in our country. -
Coral Sea
A four day attack by the Japanese as they try to gain control of the Coral Sea starting with an invasion of Southeast New Guinea. The Americans intercepted the attack and fought back. With damage done to both sides, the Japanese did not have enough planes to keep fighting which gave the Americans a solid victory. This was an important event for the moral of the United States. Having possession of this sea later benefited the United States for upcoming battles. -
Philippines 1942
On this day General Jonathan Wainwright surrenders all US troops in the Philippines to the Japanese. General Wainwright felts as if the the troops could not hold off the enemies anymore. With the poor physical conditions of his troops, he surrendered and midnight. This event is important because it gave the Japanese another critical piece of land. The Japanese were not going to stop here. -
Midway
Six months after the Pearl Harbor attack the Japanese and Americans fought over the Midway Islands. Due to impressive code-cracking skills of the United States, they figured out Japan’s attack plan which gave them a chance to create a counter plan. The United States had everything work in their favor and they were able to permanently damage the Japanese army. This event was an important turning event for the United States as it allowed them to move into an offensive position. -
Stalingrad
A battle over the city of Stalingrad between the Russians and the Germans in which the Russians took a defensive standpoint and prevented Germany from entering the city. The city of Stalingrad was a city of Russian transportation links. This battle was significant because it marked a turning point in the war in favor of the allies. Some Historians consider this the greatest battle of World War ll. -
Guadalcanal
The first major offensive and defensive victory for the Allied forces in the Pacific. Japanese troops were stationed in the Solomon Islands so the United States Marines launched a surprise attack and took control of an air base under construction. Extra strength was sent to the islands as both sides faced significant casualties, but Japan faced more forcing them to withdraw. This event was important because the Guadalcanal is a beneficial piece of land for the United States to have control over. -
The Second Battle of El Alamein
This battle took place near the Egyptian railway halt of El Alamein. With the Allies victorious, it marked the Watershed of the Western Desert Campaign. This event was important because it was a turning point in the North African Campaign. It ended the long fight for the Western Desert and was the only great battle won by British and Commonwealth forces without direct American participation. -
Operation Torch
A decision made by the big three at the Tehran Conference. The would create a second front and go from Africa to Sicily to Italy. Churchill used a picture of a crocodile to illustrate that they were going to attack the soft belly of the crocodile and go through the middle. The United States invaded Algeria and moved east. This event is important because The United States and Britain trap Germany forcing Italy to retreat which is a big win for the Allies. -
New Guinea
One of the longest battles in World War ll. The Japanese started by going after the North Coast of the island. The Allies took an offensive approach and the Japanese were pushed back to the North coast of Papua. The Japanese ended the war with their base at Rabaul on New Britain and all of Nearby New Ireland. This is important because New Guinea had been a key part of the Japanese defensive perimeter. -
Kursk
The Germans took an offensive approach against the Soviets but the Soviets kept pushing them. The Germans then tried to attack them from different sides, but the soviets were able to reposition themselves to stop the attack and create a counterattack to reclaim the cities of Orel and Kharkov. This battle was important because it gave power and balance on the Eastern Front entirely in favor towards the Soviets -
Sicily
The Allies moved against Italy hoping that an allied invasion would secure the central Mediterranean and distract German troops from the Northwest Coast of France where the Allies were going to attack soon. After 38 days of fighting the United States and Britain successfully drove the Germans and Italians from Sicily. This Invasion was important because it was another important property gain for the United States which boosted team morale and another defeat towards the Germans. -
Salerno
The United States Army landed along the coastline Salerno coastline while British units landed on the peninsula too. Salerno was the first part of the Peninsula to attack because it was the northernmost part, closest to Italy. It took the Germans and Italians 2 days to generate a counter attack. The United States called for more support which put Salerno in the allies hands. This event was important because this put the allied forces on a streak which weakened the axis forces. -
Gilbert and Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands represented part of the perimeter of the Japanese Pacific Empire. This is important because it would create airfield and naval bases. When the Japanese heard of this, they were uncertain of the location of each air strike which caused the Allies to come out with a win. -
Anzio
After an attack led by General John P. Lucas, The United States secured a beachhead near Anzio but the attack was quickly contained by the Germans. After 4 months of strings of attacks there were nothing but casualties on both sides until the Allies finally broke out of the beachhead which led to the capture of Rome. This event was important because capturing led to significant power in Italy -
D-Day
The day when 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on the five beaches (about 50 miles of coastline) in the Battle of Normandy against France’s heavily defended coast. This day was significant because it was the start of a battle which led to the freedom of Western Europe from the Nazi Germany control. -
Guam
The Americans invaded the Japanese on Guam territory with a heavy attack of naval shells. The Japanese set off a fierce counterattack but it was not strong enough to push the Americans back into sea. The Americans continued to push back at the japs until they had them pinned into the mountain regions of Guam. This let them claim the island even with fighting continuing for many months. This event was important because the United States needed to reclaim their lost Guam island. -
Operation Dragoon
The invasion of Southern France led by General George Marshall and was suppose to be linked with Operation Overlord. The allied forces landed in Normandy but due to lack of resources the second landing was cancelled. The French push for a revival of the operation that would include large numbers of French troops which caused the operation to be approved. The goal of the operation was to secure ports along the French Mediterranean. This was important because it helped with the victory of D-Day. -
Philippines
The American and Filipino campaign to defeat the Japanese forces occupying the Phillipines during World War ll. This battle was important because it eliminated Japan’s naval ability to conduct large scale carrier actions. The United States also wanted this island to be able to construct airfields on it for fighter plans to dominate the skies. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
The largest naval battle ever fought. The Japanese struck first and set off 3 naval strikes on the Gulf and distracted the United States. The United States then destroyed one of Japanese forces and forced another one to withdraw.The Japanese withdrew before attacking the Allied forces with their last fleet due to surface destruction. This event was important because it destroyed most of the remaining Japanese surface fleet which affected their ability to move from South Asia to the home islands. -
Bastogne
A battle fought in harsh conditions between the American and German forces at the Belgian town of Bastogne, as a part of the Battle of the Bulge. The Germans were trying to take an offensive side of the battle and capture the harbor of Antwerp. This is important because with this win of the allied forces, they now have control of major road networks. -
Battle of the Bulge
The last major offensive showing of the Germans in World War ll. The Germans launched a counter offensive attack that cut a 50 mile deep and 80 mile wide bulge through the allied Forces and turn the war in Hitler’s favor. Through harsh winter conditions and tough battle between the forces, the United States were able to recover from the first wave of German attacks and come out victorious. This event was important because after yet another loss for the Germans, they began to crumble. -
Yalta Conference
The second wartime meeting of Churchill, stalin and Roosevelt. During the meeting the leaders agreed to demand Germany’s unconditional surrender and began plans for the post-war world. Stalin also agreed to permit free election in Eastern Europe and to enter the Asian War against Japan. This event was important because they were trying to put a final wrap on everything and end the war. -
Iwo Jima
The American goal of this battle was to capture a base near the Japan coast. The United States Marines landed while Iwo Jima was being defended by 23,000 Japanese army and navy troops who fought from caves, tunnels dug outs and other underground installments. Through the difficult conditions of fighting for a month, the United States came out victorious. This event was important because the United States captured an important base near the Japanese coast which will benefit them in the long run. -
Okinawa
The last, biggest and bloodiest battle of the Pacific in World War ll. 287,000 American troops against 130,000 Japanese troops. This battle was being fought over naval bases critical to the projected invasion of Japan. After 82 days of fighting and a significant amount of casualties on both sides, they allies take over Okinawa. This event is important because with this land captured, they were able to plan their continued invasion of Japan. -
Hitler’s Suicide
Hitler and his wife Eva both took Cyanide pills together to kill themselves. Hitler also shot himself in the head to make sure he wouldnt survive. Their bodies were cremated in the chancellery garden by the bunker survivors and eventually recovered by Russian troops. He was not officially declared dead until 1956 by a German court member. This was an important event because it is a sign that he was finally defeated after all of the damage he has done to other surrounding people and places. -
German Surrender:
The Germans signed an unconditional surrender at the Allied headquarters in France to take effect the next day, officially ending World War 2. We now call this day VE day (Victory in Europe Day). This event is important because it ended World War 2. -
Potsdam Conference
Truman,Churchill,and Stalin established a council of Foreign Ministers and a central allied control council for administration of Germany.The leaders came about agreements on the German Economy, punishment for war criminals, land boundaries and reparations.Talks were mainly focused on postwar Europe but they also declared a declaration demanding “unconditional surrender” from Japan.This is important because it determined a lot of critical postwar movements to try and bring things back together. -
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
An American B-29 bomber dropped the first created atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima wiping out 90% of the city and killing 80,000 people. Tens of thousands more would later die because of radiation exposure. Three days later another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki killing about 40,000 people. This event is important because it caused Japan to announce their unconditional surrender in World War ll. -
Invasion of Manchuria
The Soviets officially declare war on Japan, pouring more than 1 million Soviets into the Japan occupied, Manchuria, to battle against 700,000 Japanese troops. The Japanese lost so many soldiers during this surprise attack in the first two days of fighting, they were forced to Surrender. This event was important because it was a surprise attack that caught the Japanese off guard and forced them to surrender from the war. -
Japanese Surrender
On the USS Missouri the Japanese officially declare their unconditional surrender and bring an end to World War ll. Their navies and air forces were destroyed. Their cities were devastated from the bombings. This was important because it took Japan out of the War.
