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Japanese Invasion of China
The Second Sino-Japanese War was fought between The Republic of China and the Empire of Japan between July 7th, 1937, and September 9th, 1945. The war started because of the efforts by the Japanese to control China and gain its resources. This conflict merged with World War II after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. -
German Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg, meaning "lightning warfare", was a German war tactic that involved quick and deadly strikes at specific locations. The tactic involved sending in tanks, destroying as much as possible, then sending in troops to clean up the area and occupy. Blitzkrieg was used against Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Yugoslavia, and Greece. -
Fall of Paris
Germany invades France in an attack codenamed "Case Yellow." The German offensive pushes through the Ardennes Forest, bombs Rotterdam, and crosses the Meuse River. After a massive battle, the French finally collapsed, but not before Paris is bombed and taken over. -
Pearl Harbor
Japanese planes attack Pearl Harbor to tell the U.S. not to mess with them. This backfires and the United States enters WWII. The attack left over 2000 dead, and a ruined fleet. Some soldiers on the base thought the attack was a drill at first, until they noticed bombs being dropped. -
Wannsee Conference
15 High ranking Nazi officials came together to discuss what would happen to the Jews. They decided on how they could eliminate all European Jews in the country. Concentration camps would be set up, and any Jew trying to leave the country would be denied. -
Battle of Midway
Six months after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese decided to destroy and remaining ships that survived the previous attack. However, their codes were broken by the U.S., and suffered a major defeat. This battle put a handicap on the Japanese, since almost all air forces in the fight were lost. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The U.S.S.R. successfully holds of German advances into Stalingrad, in what many historians believe to be the greatest battle in WWII. It was the bloodiest battle, with around 2 million civilian and soldier deaths, but it was a turning point for the Allies, and started Germany's downfall. It was a great strategic victory for the Russians, and the loss was humiliating for Hitler. -
D-Day
Operation Overlord was perhaps the largest amphibious battle in history, as well as one of the most famous and decisive. American, British, and Canadian forces stormed the beaches of Normandy and liberated West Europe from Nazi control. Many months of planning and preparing were put into this operation, such as fake radio transmissions, double agents, and even fake armies. The German forces did not know where the Allies would strike, and their commander, Erwin Rommel, wasn't even there. -
Battle of the Bulge
After Germany's defeat in D-Day, Hitler tried to launch a counteroffensive against Allied forces in an attempt to turn the tide back in his favor. Once again, the Germans pushed through the Ardennes Forest and tthe Meuse River, and left destruction everywhere they went. Everyone was nervous as to what would happen, but Dwight D. Eisenhower and George S. Patton fought back against the invasion. After long fighting, the Germans finally retreated, and Germany was one step closer to defeat. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima was an island near Japan that the U.S. wished to control. With it, they had a close place to repair damaged planes that were fighting in Japan. The Japanese fought from caves, tunnels, and any defensive outpost on the island. U.S. Marines fought their way through the island, but not without suffering major losses. This battle created one of the most iconic pictures in American history. -
Liberation of concentration camps
With Germany once more defeated, the concentration camps that were used to hold Jews were being destroyed by remaining Germans in an attempt to hide the evidence. However, Soviet, American, and British soldiers found emaciated prisoners, and remains of camps not fully destroyed. Most prisoners who survived were rescued, but half died of disease and malnutrition a few weeks after liberation. These camps were shown to the world for the first time, and everyone knew what the Nazis were truly doing -
VE Day
Victory in Europe Day was a celebration of the end of Hitler's war. After Hitler's death, the president of The Third Reich travelled to Reims, France, and surrendered. Britain rejoiced and celebrated. There were parties and happiness, but there was also mourning for the soldiers who died in the field. It was bittersweet, yet the British moved on. -
Battle of Okinawa
U.S. forces try and destroy vital Japanese air bases in the last and biggest battle of the Pacific. The Japanese defended themselves in anything they had, and their planes used suicide tactics against American forces. The entire island was demolished after the fighting, and it left over 300,000 dead. There were few survivors. -
Dropping of the atomic bombs
One B-29 plane dropped the first ever atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Japan. The explosion killed 80,000 people and destroyed almost all of the city. The bomb was dropped in an attempt to get Japan to surrender. However, Hirohito refused, leading to another bomb being dropped on Nagasaki. Hirohito finally surrendered unconditionally on August 15. The bombs were named "Little Boy" and "Fat Man." -
VJ Day
After 6 years, the Allies finally surrender to the Allies. Japan complies with the Pottsdam Declaration, which called for Japan to surrender unconditionally. Harry S. Truman announced the news at the White House, and later addressed the crowd. He said that this surrender would mark the death of fascism, but making peace was still a task that had to be undertaken.
