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Japanese Invasion of China
The Japanese invasion of China, sometimes called the Sino-Japanese war, was a period in which Japan invaded China. China was torn by civil war, and Japan decided to take advantage of this to gain control of Chinese resources and land. China asked the League of Nations for help, but all the help they received was a condemnation of Japan's actions that caused Japan to leave the League of Nations. This was seen as Japan's entrance to the war, and caused the Allies to declare war on Japan. -
German Invasion of Poland
This was the first act of war by the Nazis that was unsanctioned by other europian powers. Germany used blitzkrieg to invade Poland to gain a foothold near russia. This caused the allied powers to declare war on germany. This also gave hitler a foothold from which to attack russia. -
German Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg is quite literally "lightning war." This was a strategy used by the germans to overwhelm Ally lines. It was the reasonn the small nation of germany was such a major threat. It caused a number of ally losses. This German strategy almost won the war. -
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
This was a pact between Russia and Germany. This pact was prevented either party from attacking the other. Russia signed this pact so it could build up its military. Germany signed the treaty so it could invade poland unimpeaded. This allowed germany to capture poland and russia to build up its power for the war. -
Fall of Paris
Germans entered paris, and captutred the french capital. Germany did this to gain a foothold closer to the major europian powers. This caused the destruction of much french resistance. It also weakened Americas position of non-involvment. This was because America was asked for military aid but denied. -
German Barbarossa
This was the german invasion of Russia. Germany planned to invade russia and capture it quickly so it could face its foes in the west. This plan unraveled quickly in the winter, and Russia was able to reclaim its lost territory and obliterate german troops. Many belive this caused the end of war. Facing foes on both sides made it difficult for germany to win. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
This was the first Japanese attack on America. Japanese planes dropped bombs on the unsuspecting military fort in pearl harbor. Japan wanted to gain a foot hold in the east to attack America in earnest. In reality, it caused america to enter the war. America then obliterated Japan. -
Wansee Conference
The wansee conference was a meeting of high ranking german officials. This meeting was designed to gather support in german government for "the final solution." This was the systematic extermination of jews.This firmly cemented nazi hatred and direction. This also begin to unify the people of germany. -
Battle of Stalingrad
This was the russian defensive against the germans. This turned the tide of the german advance in germany. Germans were invading the capital of russia, and the russian forces repelled them. many historians consider this the end of the war for germany. It forced them to fight a war on both sides. -
Bataan Death March
Japan captued the isle of bataan. They rounded up all allied forces on the island. They then marched them 65 miles to prison camps. This caused a whole hearted american offensive in the philipines. It also caused the death of thousands of allied troops. -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
This was the uprising of jews in the ghetto against their oppressors. The germans planned to destroy the ghetto and deport all inside. Two resistances rose up against the german forces. They were not successful and were destroyed. This caused the death of more than 1400 jews and the deportation of almost 60000 more but also more jewish uprisings. -
Operation Gomorrah
this operation was a bombing of german cities. It was retaliation for air strikes on british cities. It was also far more successful, killing thousands of civilians. It caused a great drop in german morale. -
D-Day
D-day was the liberation of france from german control. American forces landed on french beaches to recover it from germany. It lasted weeks. In the end however, Germany lost. This has been called the begining of the end for germany, because they lost one of their strongest resources and hundred of troops. -
Battle of the Bulge
This was the site of a massiver german offensive to recapture lost land and destroy allied troops. however, american forces turned the tide and destroyed the germans. Germans then couldnt advance further. This further demoralized german forces -
Operation Thunderclap
This was an attack on the city of dresden. American planes bombed this small and relitivly undamaged german town. This was to disrupt german trade to allow the soviet offensive. This attack was a success. it also demoralized the german people considerably. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
This was an attack on the japanese island of Iwo Jima. This was done by american troops. The goal of this operation was to capture a location to arm bombers for assults on japan. This caused the death of many troops on both sides. it also allowed american planes to bomb japan. -
Battle of Okinawa
This was an american assult on a japanese island. The japanese mounted a ferice defense. They also engaged in numerous counter attacks. In the end, the americans won. The attack was designed to get them closer to the island of japan. This gave them the final motivation to use atom bombs -
Dropping of Atomic Bombs
These were the final attacks on Japan. Two atom bombs were dropped on japanese cities. They killed over a million people. The goal of these attacks was to force japan to end the war. Some historians also belive it was used to show off these weapons to the soviets. It caused the end of world war two, and the begining of the cold war. -
VE day
This marked the day germany was defeated. it was the end of the threat in europe. It is Victory in Europe day. it was caused by joy at the end of war. It caused rebuilding. in europe. -
VJ day
This is victory in japan day. This was the day victory was celebrated over japan. Japan signed the treaty because the bombs dropped. This allowed america to start rebuilding.
