WWII

Japanese Invasion of China

Jul 7, 1937

Manchuria had been invaded and taken by Japan in 1931. Japan wanted an empire. In 1937 a small engagement between Chinese and Japanese troops ended up in them declaring war with each other. This would lead to Japan wanting to keep its Chinese territories and the U.S. wanting then to give them up. This would cause conflict.
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/)

Germany's Invasion of Poland

Sep 1, 1939

Germany invaded Poland and started WWII. This caused allies to get involved and brought the world to war. Britain and France declared war on Germany and Poland was conquered by Germany and the Soviet.
(https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/world-war-ii-in-europe)

German Blitzkrieg

May 1, 1940

The blitzkrieg of German troops was a quick and swift way to wage an attack so that there would be victory. Germany used this tactic in the invasion of Poland in 1939 and in 1940 when they invaded Norway. This allowed them to take Belgium, Netherlands, and France.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

Fall of Paris

Jun 14, 1940

Also known as the Battle of France. This was the German invasion and occupation of Belgium, France. France had declared war on Germany after the invasion of Poland.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

Operation Barbarossa

Jun 22, 1941

German troops in the form of three huge army's invaded the Soviet Union. This was a crucial point in the war. Germany had to fight on two fronts. The Soviets held them off and the weather stalled the German advance. It was freezing.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

The Japanese attacked the naval base in Hawaii at Pearl Harbor. Ships and airplanes were destroyed and thousands of Americans were killed. This caused the U.S. to come together and decide to join the war. Roosevelt declared war on Japan after this.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

Wannsee Conference

Jan 20, 1942

A meeting of top Nazi government officials. This was to get everyone on board with the "final solution" to what Hitler called the Jewish question or problem. This is where they formalized the plans for rounding up Jews and taking the to concentration camps.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

Bataan Death March

Apr 9, 1942

Filipinos and Americans that surrendered were forced by Japanese troops to march more than 65 miles to San Fernando. The march took about 5 days.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

Battle of Midway

Jun 4, 1942

The U.S. defended the naval base at Midway. Japan was hoping to take down the US as a naval force and they did not succeed. Tis was a turning point in the war in favor of the Allied forces.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

Allied Invasion of Italy

Jul 10, 1943

Allied forces invaded Italy. This lead to the collapse of Mussolini.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

Operation Gomorrah

Jul 24, 1943

The British bombed Hamburg Germany at night and the Americans bombed by day. A raid by the two Allies would negatively effect German moral and Hitler.
( https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

D-Day (Normandy Invasion)

Jun 6, 1944

Also called The Battle of Normandy, American, British, and Canadian troops landed on the beaches of Normandy in France. France was liberated from the Germans and this battle was called the "beginning of the end of the war in Europe."
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

Battle of the Bulge

Jan 25, 1945

This was called "the greatest American battle of war." This was Germany's last attempt to drive the Allies from Europe. The Germans lost partly because they ran out of fuel.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

Operation Thunderclap

Feb 13, 1945

This was a series of bombing raids that began in German, Dresden. It was decided that the Allies would focus strategic bombings of German cities that manufactured war materials. Dresden was not a war producing city but was leveled and destroyed.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

Battle of Iwo Jima

Mar 26, 1945

Fought between the U.S. and Japan. U.S. forces invaded and the battle lasted 5 weeks. American forces won eventually but there were extensive casualties.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

VE Day

May 8, 1945

This was Victory in Europe Day. Germans surrendered to the Allied forces and Hitler's war was over.
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/)

Battle of Okinawa

Jun 22, 1945

This was the last major battle of WWII. The U.S. invaded and won. But they encountered Kamikaze pilots. One of the bloodiest battles.
( https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

Liberation of Concentration Camps

Jul 23, 1945

Millions of people had been sent to the concentration camps. When they were freed and rescued only a few thousand were still alive.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

Dropping of the atomic bombs

Aug 6, 1945

The first atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima in Japan. An estimated 80,000 people were immediately killed. The second bomb was dropped in Nagasaki three days later. Japan would surrender quickly after.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)

VJ Day

Aug 14, 1945

This was known as the Victory over Japan Day. Japan surrendered to the Allies, ending WWII. This came months after Germany's surrender.
(https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii)