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Japanese Invasion of China
[http://histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/camp/pac/china/w2c-inv.html] On July 7th, 1937, the Japanese battled it out against China on Lugou Bridge in what was referred to as the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. This event occurred largely do to the fact that Japan wanted control over China's mineral resources and agricultural production. Additionally, they wanted to take over the massive Chinese market. The initial result of this invasion, however, led to an undeclared war by both countries. -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/invasion_poland_01.shtml
In September, 1939, Hitler's German forces landed an invasion in Poland with 62 German divisions and 1,300 aircraft involved for support. The reason for Hitler's move was, for one, he thought his blitzkrieg offense would easily win him a victory, and second, he expected Britain and France's prime ministers to go for a peace settlement rather than war. Instead, the dictator received a declaration of war from both countries. -
Period: to
German Blitzkrieg
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/blitzkrieg_01.shtml
Germany's blitzkrieg tactic dominated during this time as it attributed to its win in Poland and the fall of the French Resistance. Being heavily outnumbered and surrounded by the Allies, the Germans adopted the blitzkrieg strategy which provided that they attack quickly and decisively if they were to have a chance to succeed. This strategy blew away the older tactics and changed the way the Allies fought or defended. -
Fall of Paris
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/fall_france_01.shtml After Hitler successfully invaded Poland, he was eager to take action on the western nations. His next target was France, but first, the decision was made to go through Belgium and Holland. It was then on June 9 when Germany launched a full-scale offensive on Paris, and on the 13th, the French city was overwhelmed. Shortly afterward, the entire nation of France would fall to Hitler and cause a great stir in the rest of Europe. -
Operation Barbarossa
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa
In Operation Barbarossa, Germany laid siege to the Soviet Union, getting within 200 miles from Moscow. However, after a combination of Soviet counterattacks and winter weather, the Germans were forced to retreat and suffer a heavy defeat that made Germany fight on two fronts it would never win. Hitler's motivation for launching this conquest was to obtain the territory he believed Germany needed for its natural development. -
Pearl Harbor
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005155
On December 7, 1941, Japan, feeling good about themselves, and wanting to put the Pacific power in their place, decided to surprise attack the United States Pacific fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This attack was a great devastation as it heavily damaged the fleet. Afterwards, the Japanese began achieving a large series of military success. Additionally, this invasion moved the United States to get involved in the war. -
Bataan Death March
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march After 75,000 Filipino-American troops were forced to surrender to the Japanese in the Bataan Peninsula, they were forced to walk a brutal 65 miles to prison camps. Thousands died as a result. Sequentially, General MacArthur, keeping his word, returned to liberate the Philippines, and the general responsible for the "Death March" was tried and executed. -
Battle of Midway
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/ After american code breakers deciphered plans of the Japanese to make another vicious blow to the U.S. Navy, the United States Navy staged an ambush in what was called the Battle of Midway. Much aircraft was launched toward the offenders. The result was a great victory, turning the tide of war in the pacific in favor of the
U.S. -
Battle of Stalingrad
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005137 In response to the Axis' Powers' invasion of Stalingrad the Soviet Union fought back in a counteroffensive. A very key battle indeed, as the German Sixth Army surrendered to the Soviets and keept Hitler in check. -
Wannsee Conference
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005477 In January 20, 1942, government officials of the Nazi Party and Germany held a meeting to discuss what should be done with the Jews, in which they felt bitter towards. This led to the "Final Decision" of the Jewish people, which in turn, would result in the mass murder of over 2 million innocent lives. -
Operation Gomorrah
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched In response to German raids in July, the British put on their own by dropping 9,000 tons of explosives on Hamburg, causing not only the deaths of 30,000 people, but increased reality that a German defeat is close at hand. -
Allied Invasion of Italy
https://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/operation-husky-invasion-of-sicily.asp In an effort to pull Italy away from the Axis Powers, the Allies constructed planned an Invasion of Italy. Their target was the German-held island of Sicily. American forces took to the west coast while the British went for the east. It took two weeks to take Sicily. With Mussolini overthrown and the mishap in Sicily, Hitler was forced to withdraw his troops. It was the first step to taking back Europe for the Allies. -
D-Day
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005137 To achieve the liberation of France, Allies initiated a heavy military operation where 150,000 troops kicked it off on the beaches of Normandy on June 6th. D-Day was very key as it contributed greatly to France's liberation and Germany's weakening and failed counterattack. -
Battle of Okinawa
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa With Okinawa being so close to mainland Japan, US generals knew it would provide a clear strike. Japanese troops used the same tactics like those used in Iwo Jima. Many separate battles were fought including on the high cliff of The Maeda Escarpment. The amount of of U.S. soldier casualties accounted for was 49,000 and Japanese, 110,000. This was a very important event as it made possible the war-ending atomic bombings of 2 cities. -
Battle of the Bulge
https://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/battle-of-the-bulge.asp In an effort to counterattack after D-Day, the Germans laid siege to Belgium and northern France in what was called "The Battle of the Bulge." Unfortunately for Germany, it was proved disastrous, and marked the end of another German offensive from there on out. -
Operation Thunderclap
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/firebombing-of-dresden During the Yalta Conference on February, the Allies agreed to construct bombing raids on German cities with known war production. Operation Thunderclap was one of these, in which the historic city of Dresden was bombed even though there were no traces of war production located. It was more of a forceful closing of the war against Germany rather than strategic as the Axis power was already going towards surrender. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005155 To bring a sudden end to the war in the pacific, president Harry S. Truman ordered the dropping of two atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing the deaths of around 120,000 civilians. This action ultimately led to the end of WWII but it was also the subject of great conflict danger in the future. -
VJ Day
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki After the unconditional surrender of Japan on August 15, VJ Day broke out in celebration. It was very much like VE Day, but this time, it meant a total end to World War II, and much change to occur and be made in the postwar years. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima For the need of obtaining a base near the Japanese coast, the American invasion of Iwo Jima took place to achieve that. American troops found it difficult to scope out the Japanese troops hidden within the jungle. Nevertheless, the U.S. was victorious in Iwo Jima, providing a step closer to Japan's mainland; all that's left is Okinawa. -
VE Day
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/ff7_veday.shtml On May 7th, Grand Admiral Donitz, president of the Third Reich accepts unconditional surrender, marking the end of the war in Europe. However, VE Day took place the day after. It was a day of celebration over the end of the war in Europe, however, it was not as expressive the day before. Even though there was still war going on in the pacific, there was victory and relief to bring hope and boost morale for the conflict still raging.
