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Rape of Nanking
China's capital, Nanking, was invaded and destroyed by Japanese troops. This lasted roughly about 6 weeks. China's government fell and ran away from the destruction of the Japanese. The attack included the murders of both the Chinese soldiers and the civilians of Nanking. This attack had gotten its name due to the rapings of about 20,000 girls and women and killings of 200,000 in the process as well. -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
A main reason that Hitler invaded Poland is because the Poles were executing many Germans and Hitler wanted to save them. By doing this he had German troops surround Poland and had planes drop bombs on the cities. The Poles were defeated after only a few weeks of invasion. Because of this France and Great Britain declare war on Germany. This soon results into a snowball effect, eventually involving more countries, creating the second world war. -
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German Blitzkrieg
No real starting date for the Blitzkreig, but it carried out from the invasion of Poland in September, throughout spring, lasting about 6 months. The term "blitzkreig" is German for "lightning war". After the German forces invaded Poland they killed or captured most Jews and destroyed Jewish buisnesses. Hitler used this war tactic on Poland before trying to take over the other smaller countries surrounding Germany. About a year later Germany occupied 4 other countries by using this war technique -
Operation Barbarossa
Hitler finally invades the Soviet Union becaue he wanted a larger territory in eastern Europe. The plan for that was called Opertion Barbarossa. Hitler wanted to exterminate the Slavs/ degrade them all down to serfs, where he thought they belonged. When the Germans attacked they underestimated the Soviets and their resources. The weathers of snowy mud and rain all affected the battle preventing the Germans to advance. Due to the size advantage for the Soviets they were victorious in this battle. -
Pearl Harbor
Up until this moment in time The U.S. had remained neutral and not intervening in the European affairs. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor they kill many naval soldiers at sea and exploded ships including the USS Arizona. After this attack, America was influenced to declare war against Japan and Germany while joining an alliance with Great Britain. This memory will forever be remembered as one of the most infamous days in U.S. history. -
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D-Day/ Battle of Normandy
The first day of the Battle of Normandy was known as D-Day. The battle lasted a couple months. British, Canadian and American troops, about 156,000 men, allied together and planned a landing attack on the coast of France's region, known as Normandy. The countries collaborated before and decieved the Germans in where they were invadion from. By August 1944 the troops had defeated the Germans on the French soil, being the beginning of the end for Hitler. -
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Liberation of Concentration Camps
Nearing the end of the war the Soviets that summer went to their first Nazi concentration camp, Majdanek. Germans then tried to keep other country's forces away from the other concentration camps. After cremaking the Jews, in trying to eliminate evidence, the Soviets still find and liberate three more camps later. The largest camp, Auschwitz, was found in January and liberated by the Soviets finding many prisoners alive. This was an emotional time for most of the soldiers and people worldwide. -
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Battle of Bulge (Ardennes Offensive)
This month long battle is known as the most immense battle fought on the Western Front in WW2 and largest battle fought by the U.S. With most of the inexperienced American soldiers fighting the Germans tried to take advantage with their more adequate veterans and break apart the Britich and American Alliance. This battle lasted a month in pats of Belguim and France and was a big loss for the Germans and dictator, Hitler. -
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Battle of Okinawa
A Battle between the Japanese and the allies on the Island of Okinawa where U.S. Marines landed and were faced with Japanese troops. There was a heavy civilian casualty population. Americans were ready to keep attacking the Japanese until surrender. (This was before the atomic bomb.) Since the other operations an techniques werent needed, this was the last amphibious battle of the Pacific War. -
VE Day
VE Day i known as the Victory in Europe Day celebrated by Great Britain and America. This the day where German forces and European forces surrender and many are captured and impisoned by the Soviets in Czechslovakia. This puts Germany and its government in complete control of the prevailing countries to divide and conquer it as their own. Even though the fight is over in Europe, America is still participating in the Pacific War with Japan. -
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The bomb wasn't made before WW2, but was worked on through out known as the Manhattan Project. The atomic bombs were tested and finalized by the time the Germans had surrendered. This first bomb, named Little Boy, was dropped on Hiroshima killing 135,000 people. After this, Japanese Emperor Hirohito, still would not surrender, so three days later the U.S. dropped the second bomb in Nagasaki killing 64,000 people. After the destruction, Hirohito surrendured six days later. -
VJ Day
This was the day when Japanese Emperor Hirohito anounced his surrender to the United States. The big and small cities of America were thrilled to have prevailed during all the battles in Europe and on the Pacific. The surrender of both Germany and Japan allowed all soldiers and marines to return home and mark the ending of World War II.
