-
Japanese Invasion of China
Japan invaded China in search of resources, and realized that China was weak at the time. Chinese and Japanese troops began fighting on the frontier in 1937. It was originally known as the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. This turned into the Second Sino-Japanese War. Source: http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/sino-japanese-war -
German Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg was a military tactic used by Germany during WW2. Blitzkrieg means "lightning war." The tactic of Blitzkrieg is intended to disorganize the enemy's forces by using mobile equipment and firepower. Blitzkrieg was used in the invasions of Poland, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Source: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact
Named after the foreign ministers of Germany and the Soviet Union, the ribbentrop-molotov pact was a non-aggression pact between the United States and the Soviet Union. This pact lasted until Germany launched an attack on Soviet forces in Poland on June 22,1941. Source: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/german-soviet-nonaggression-pact -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Germans were made about the land Poland received after the Treaty of Versailles. Poland declared war on Germany only two days later. Germans pushed through Poland with 2,000 tanks and 1,000 tanks. Warsaw surrendered to Germany on September 27,1939. Source: www.ushmm.org -
Operation Barbarossa
Adolf Hitler launched a major invasion of the Soviet Union with over three million soldiers. The invasion covered a distance of over 2,000 miles. After traveling this far, German soldiers were beat and weakened. They were also fighting one of the greatest militaries in the world. This operation was a turning point in the war because Nazi German forces failed to win a two front war. Source:http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Pearl Harbor
On a Sunday, a surprise attack on the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor was commenced by Japan. Hundreds of Japanese planes attacked the base near Honolulu, Hawaii. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the President of the U.S. at the time. Japan's attack of this base caused the U.S. to declare war on Japan, and the U.S. officially joined World War 2. Source: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Wannsee Conference
At this conference, 15 important Nazi and German officials met to discuss what they called the "Final Solution of the Jewish Question." The final solution was another name for the annihilation of Jews of Europe. This set the motion for the wiping out of Jews in Europe. Source: https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005477 -
Bataan Death March
This march was the forcible transfer of Filipino and American prisoners of war by the Japanese army. There was 60,000-80,000 people moved during this transfer. Many prisoners of war died during this, and the Allies later saw it as a Japanese war crime. Source: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Battle of Midway
This battle was a navy battle in the Pacific theater during World War 2. This battle was fought between Japan and the United States. This was 6 months after Japans bombing of Pearl Harbor, and Japan's attempt to crush U.S. forces. The Allies won, and this stopped the Japanese advancement. Source: http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-students/ww2-history/at-a-glance/midway.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/ -
Battle of Stalingrad
This was a major battle in world war 2 in which Nazi Germany and their allies fought the soviet union in attempt to control the city of Stalingrad in southern Russia. It is sometimes recognized as the largest and bloodiest battle in all of warfare history. Close combat and air raids was prevalent. The Soviet Union won this battle, and this humiliated Hitler. Source: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
Operation Gomorrah
In July of 1943, the Allies bombed the Gemany city of Hamburg. The Nazi minister for propaganda had said that this was the first time the Nazis may have considered calling for peace. The bombing was scheduled to last for three days. British and American forces where involved, and this bombing of Hamburg was later called Operation Gomorrah. Source: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/world-war-two/the-bombing-campaign-of-world-war-two/the-bombing-of-hamburg-in-1943/ -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
The Normandy invasion happened on the northern coast of France. This was the largest amphibious invasion in history, commenced by the western allies of Europe. Allied forced began to rehearse their roles months before the invasion. Allied land forces involved included Canada, U.S., Britian, and France. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Normandy -
Battle of the Bulge
This was a surprise attack against the Allies in regions of Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. The United States took the highest number of casualties during this battery. The Germans also took heavy losses during this battle on the western front. Source: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Operation Thunderclap
This plan was known as Operation Thunderclap and was known as the cancelled operation planned in 1944. Source: http://ww2orc.tripod.com/id15.htm -
Battle of Iwa Jima
During this battle, U.S. Marines captured the Island of Iwo Jima form the Japanese Army. This battle was one of the bloodiest battles in the war of the pacific. The u.s. wanted to take over the entire island to provide an area where attacks could be staged on other Japanese Islands. Source: http://www.nationalww2museum.org/focus-on/iwo-jima-fact-sheet.pdf -
Battle of Okinawa
This battle was also known as Operation Iceberg. It was the largest amphibious landing in the pacific theater of Europe in World War 2. The Allies had over 50,000 casualties while Japan had over 100,000 casualties. This battle lasted over 80 days. The Allies won this battle. Source: http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-okinawa-operation-iceberg.htm -
VE Day
On May 8, 1945, Nazi Germany officially surrendered to the Allies. People across the U.S. rejoiced, and this day was formally recognized as a public holiday. Many newspapers and magazines of this time period where filled with ideas of nationalism towards the U.S. Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/events/ve_day -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
When President Truman took over office, he didn't even know about the Manhattan Project which was the developing of the atomic bomb. President Truman dropped two bombs on Japan, as he believed it would be better than sending in American troops and risking lots of casualties. The two bombs had devastating effects on Japan. Source: http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/atomic-bomb -
VJ Day
On August 15, 1945, Japan officially surrendered to the Allies. This was know as victory over Japan day, or VJ Day. On September 2, 1945, an official surrender ceremony was held in Japan. Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=15&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwigrO381NzMAhWHQD4KHTjhBsAQFghrMA4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalww2museum.org%2Flearn%2Feducation%2Ffor-students%2Fww2-history%2Fat-a-glance%2Fv-j-day.html&usg=AFQjCNEBl1rJhIQmIkDf6yiCEqCvjAr0og&bvm=bv.12212977 -
Nuremberg Trials
These trails were held by the Allied forces after the end of World War 2. Many Nazi Germans who participated in certain activites were tried for crimes relating to the Holocaust as well as other things. The trials were held in the city of Nuremberg, Germany because that's where it started. Source: https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007722
