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Rape of Nanking
Japanese General Matsui Iwane ordered that the city of Nanking be destroyed. Much of the city was burned, and Japanese troops launched a campaign against civilians, Where the Japanese butchered an estimated 150,000 male war prisoners, killed an additional 50,000 male civilians, and raped at least 20,000 women and girls of all ages, many were mutilated or killed in the process. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-rape-of-nanking -
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German Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg was a German military tactic that was designed to create disorganization among their enemy forces using mobile forces and locally concentrated firepower. This tactic was very successful as it preserved human lives and limited the use of artillery. The German army used this tactic against Poland in 1939 then to successfully invade Belgium,The Netherlands and France in 1940. (https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg) -
Fall of Paris
The Fall of France, was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries during the Second World War. German forces occupied Paris on 14 June after a chaotic period of flight of the French government that led to a collapse of the French army. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/fall_france_01.shtml -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is a United States naval base in Hawaii which was the scene of a surprise attack by the Japanese forces. The Japanese believed that the only way to solve its economic problems was to expand into its neighbor’s territory. which the united states didn't agree with, which started a conflict between the two forces. The effect of Pearl Harbor was that it pushed Americans into the war that they were avoiding for so long. (https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor) -
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference was a meeting of Nazi officials to discuss the “Jewish question” There they discussed what they would do with the Jewish people. The “gas vans” in Chelmno, Poland, seemed to be the best and final solution to their problem, killing 1,000 people a day, as it was the most efficient means of killing large groups of Jews at onetime. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wannsee-conference -
Battle of Midway
Six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S defeated Japan. Due to major advances in code breaking the U.S was able to counter Japan’s planned attack of its few remaining aircraft carriers creating permanent damage on the Japanese Navy. which was an important turning point in the Pacific campaign as the victory allowed the U.S and its allies to move into an offensive position. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
Battle of Stalingrad
the Battle of Stalingrad was the successful Soviet defense of the city of Stalingrad in the U.S.S.R. Russians consider it to be the greatest battle of their Great Patriotic War as It stopped the German advance into the Soviet Union and marked the turning of war in favor of the Allies. The Battle of Stalingrad was the bloodiest battles in history, with combined military and civilian casualties of nearly 2 million. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
D-Day (Normandy invasion)
D-Day began on June 6, 1944 when 156,00 American, British and Canadian forces landed on 5 beaches along the 50 mile stretch of heavily guarded coast of the France Normandy region.The Allies started a large-scale deception created to mislead the Germans about the invasion target. By late August 1944, all of northern France had been conquered and by spring the Allies had defeated the Germans. D-Day has been called the beginning of the end of war in Europe. -
D-Day source
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Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was an American invasion near the Japanese as they needed a base near there. Iwo Jima was defended by around 23000 Japanese army and navy troops, who fought from caves, dugouts, tunnels and underground installations. Despite the difficulty of the conditions, the U.S marines defeated the defending forces after a month of fighting. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was the last major battle of World War II, On April 1, 1945 more than 180,000 U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps troops descended on the Pacific island of Okinawa for a final push towards Japan. The invasion was part of Operation Iceberg, a plan to invade and occupy the Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa. which the U.S successfully defeated.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
VE Day
On May 8,1945 both Great Britain and the United States celebrate Victory in Europe. 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, when German troops throughout Europe finally laid down their arms.This date is now known as a celebration in Great Britain and the United States called Victory in Europe Day. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
The liberation of Concentration camps was when the nazi concentration camps were liberated by the Allied forces between 1944 and 1945. The first camp Majdanek was discovered by the advancing Soviets on July 23, 1944. British, Canadian, American, and French troops also freed prisoners from the camps. The Americans were responsible for liberating Buchenwald and Dachau, while British forces entered Bergen-Belsen. https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007724 -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
American became the first and only nation to use atomic weapons when they dropped an atomic bomb in the city of Hiroshima, Japan. The United States had been working on making an atomic weapon, after being told that Germany was already researching nuclear weapons but by the time the United States had their successful test in July 1945, Germany had already been defeated, but The war against Japan was still going. The drop of the atomic bomb was the mark of the end of world war 2. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs citation
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VJ Day
On August 14, 1945, Japan 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,” or "VJ Day"
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Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was on December 16, 1945 when Adolf Hitler attempted to split allied armies in Northwest Europe by using a surprise blitzkrieg through the Ardennes to Antwerp. As the Germans drove deeper into the Ardennes in an attempt to secure vital bridgeheads, the Allied line took on the appearance of a large bulge, giving the battle its name.https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge
