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Japanese Invasion of China
Japan invades China. This was a part of Japan’s conquering of Eastern Asia, in effect to gain more natural resources and wealth for Japan. When the Allied Powers stopped Japan on its crusade and took its territory, Japan was angered and joined the Axis Powers in 1940
Source: encyclopedia.ushmm.org -
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German Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg was a battle strategy used by Germany in WWII that means “lightning war.” It used mobile units that would deliver fast, targeted attacks at the enemy. It ended battles quickly, limiting the loss of troops and resources. This strategy worked amazingly for German and won them many of the early battles in the war.
Source: history.com
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Germany’s Invasion of Poland
Germany invades Poland. This is the start of Hitler’s crusade to conquer Europe—and in his mind eventually the world. This action was met by Britain and France declaring war on Germany two days later.
Source: encyclopedia.ushmm.org -
Germany Invades Paris.
Germany successfully captured Paris, and with it the entire country of France was under Nazi control. In response, America sent aid in the form of supplies but was yet to join the war themselves.
Source: history.com -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa is also known as the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Germany sought to take Russia, but failed to capture their major cities of Stalingrad and Moscow. In December, the Russians launched a counterattack that pushed Germany out of the country. This was a huge loss for Hitler, and led to Russia joining the Allied Powers who were going against Germany.
Source: encyclopedia.ushmm.org -
Pearl Harbor
A Japanese surprise attack launched on the American naval base Pearl Harbor. This attack was used by Japan to temporarily stop American interference in their takeover of Pacific islands. More importantly, this caused America to join WWII and declare war on Japan.
Source: encyclopedia.ushmm.org -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was Germany’s attempt to capture the major industrial city of Russia, Stalingrad. The battle was one of the bloodiest of the war, with tons of civilian deaths. In the end, Russia stopped Germany and joined the Allies to continue fighting against them.
Source: history.com -
Bataan Death March
A group of American and Filipino soldiers were forced to surrender in the Bataan Peninsula due to a lack of air and naval support. Their Japanese captors forced them to march to San Fernando. The march killed many due to the harsh treatment of the Japanese, and those who survived were sent to POW camps.
Source: history.com -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was Japan’s attempt to secure naval and air superiority in the Pacific. Unfortunately for Japan, American code breakers had determined their plan of attack and were ready. The American fleet was able to push back Japan, successfully changing the tides of war.
Source: history.com -
Wannsee Conference
A conference of Nazi leaders discussing how to deal with the “Jewish question.” The question being, how could Germany best exterminate the entire Jewish population. The answer was eventually found with gas chambers, which easily and effectively killed thousands of Jews a day.
Source: history.com -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
The uprising was in a ghetto in Warsaw, sectioned off by brick walls and barbed wire. Jews were systematically brought out of the ghetto to extermination camps, where they were killed. The Jews responded by acquiring enough firepower to fend off the German soldiers. Months later, in response, German troops were sent into the ghetto where they destroyed bunkers, killed and captured Jews, and symbolically blew up their Synagogue.
Source: history.com -
Operation Gomorrah
This operation was a series of bombing raids on the German city Hamburg. These were carried out by Britain and America, who dropped thousands of one of bombs on the city during each raid, killing thousands of civilians. Tons of buildings were lost and so was German morale as the country came closer to defeat.
Source: history.com -
D-Day
D-Day was a large-scale land invasion on the shores of Normandy. This was Allies attempt at securing Nazi-controlled France, which was liberated after the invasion. The invasion was the beginning of the Allies success in winning the war in Europe.
Source: encyclopedia.ushmm.org -
Battle of Iwo Jima
An incredibly bloody battle on the island of Iwo Jima. America sought to find a staging area for the attack on Japan. America won pushing Japan closer to defeat. -
Battle of Okinawa
The final major battle of WWII, it was also incredibly bloody. The island was meant to be used by America for air strikes on inland Japan.
Source: history.com -
The Bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima
America had the decision of invading Japan to get them to surrender, or bomb them with the newly created atomic bomb. America chose to bomb the city Hiroshima and the sixth. This didn’t elicit immediate surrender, so they bombed Nagasaki next, to which Japan responded by finally surrendering, ending WWII.
Source: history.com -
Battle of the Bulge
The battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive. It was the final push for the Allies to victory over Germany. The battle was blistering cold and the Germans did all they could to stop the advancement of the allied troops, but ultimately failed.
Source: history.com -
Operation Thunderclap
Otherwise called the Firebombing of Dresden, this was a series of bombings, on the city Dresden, by the Allies. The destruction of this city is actually highly controversial, as it did little to bring Germany, who was close to surrendering, to surrender. It was also to halt the industrial machine that was Nazi Germany, even though this city was never a major sight of war-production.
Source: history.com -
V-E Day
Also known as Victory in Europe Day. This day was dedicated to the surrender of the Nazi’s, ending the war in Europe.
Source: history.com -
V-J Day
Also known as Victory over Japan Day, V-J Day celebrates Japan’s surrender. This caused huge worldwide relief as this finally marked the official ending of WWII.
Source: history.com