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Japanese Invasion of China
The invasion initiated when the Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek joined the nationalist party, and expelled the Chinese communists from the group. While focussing on reform, the Chinese also focused on reprimanding Japanese aggression. Japan then invaded China and that sparked the Sino-Japanese war. The two countries fought for 4 years until the Allies declared war on Japan in 1941. This caused the start of World War 2.
https://www.history.com/topics/chiang-kai-shek -
Rape of Nanking
The Rape of Nanking occurred during the Sino-Japanese War. Nanking, the capital of China, fell to Japanese forces and the Japanese general wanted to destroy the Chinese resistance. Japan burned the city, butchered 15,000 war prisoners, massacred 50,000 males, and raped 20,000 females. Not long after that, the Japanese general was convicted for his war crimes and was later executed.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-rape-of-nanking -
German Blitzkrieg
German Blitzkrieg is a military tactic that was practiced by the Germans in WWII between 1939 and 1940. It was designed to disorganize enemy forces by using mobile force. The Germans used blitzkrieg to invade Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. They created short military campaigns, and it saved human lives and limited the use of artillery. German Blitzkrieg was a successful tactic for them during the war.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
Germany invaded Poland as an action of defense, or so claimed Hitler. There were approximately 1.5 million troops that were party to the German force. They invaded all around the 1,750 mile border. They bombed airfields, and attacked the Polish naval forces. However, Britain and France did not believe it was an act of defense, and they declared war on Germany two days later on September 3rd.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-invade-poland -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the term that was used when the Axis powers, specifically Germany, invaded the Soviet Union. 3 million German troops bordered the USSR. When the soviets saw and heard the planes overhead one morning, they knew it was war. As time went on, the Blitzkrieg lessened, and Hitler didn't expect the war to go on for so long. The operation was unsuccessful and a turning point for Hitler. 30 million died on the Soviet side.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00h9rx0 -
Pearl Harbor
After edging towards war for decades, Japan launched a surprise attack on the US naval base in HI. Japanese fighter pilots bombed the harbor using missiles and torpedoes. 20 naval vessels, 8 battleships, and 300 airplanes were damaged or destroyed. 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,000 were injured. The next day, President Roosevelt asked Congress to Declare war on Japan and the United States had officially entered WWII.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference occurred for the Nazi officials to meet up and discuss the final solution for the Jewish Question. They were to determine an administrative, material, and financial plan. Many situations were considered and the final decision was that whoever survives the vigorous work camps would be treated accordingly. Gas vans ended up being the most effective way to kill large groups of people at once.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wannsee-conference -
Bataan Death March
When the US surrendered the Bataan Peninsula of the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese, the people were forced to march. Around 75,000 Filipino and American troops marched 65 miles to prison camps. They made the trek in intense heat and endured harsh treatment from the Japanese. Thousands died from the Bataan Death March.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Operation Gomorrah
After suffering the deaths of 167 civilians from German bombing raids, Britain bombers raided Hamburg, Germany in a night operation, and Americans bombed it by day. Britain dropped 2,300 tons of bombs in a few hours. 1,500 Germans died. 791 British aircrafts flew; they only lost 12. They used a new radar-jamming device called "Window." British attacks continued through November. This spoke the end of the war for Hitler.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched -
Allied Invasion of Italy
Benito Mussolini wanted to build Fascist Italy into a Roman Empire. However, with multiple defeats, his regime was not strong and Germany was stronger. Italian opposition groups united to overthrow Mussolini and make peace with the Allies, but German military presence compromised that. Then, the Allies invaded the Italian Peninsula. The Italian government secretly surrendered. Eventually, war was declared on Germany.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-invade-italian-mainland -
Battle of the Bulge
When Hitler attempted to split the Allied armies in Europe by surprise blitzkrieg, the Americans fought desperate battles the stem the German advance. When Germany drove deeper, the Allies looked like a large bulge, which is where the name came from. This successful maneuvering was vital to the Allies defense, and the German counteroffensive was neutralized. They suffered heavy casualties.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
D-Day
Determined to mislead the Germans, the battle began when when British and American forces landed on 5 beaches of France's Normandy. They didn't want Germany to know the invasion target because all of Northern France had been liberated and the Allies had previously defeated the Germans. It required extensive planning and it was one of the largest military assaults in history. It was called the beginning of the end of war in Europe.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
Majdanek was discovered first. Beginning mid January, the Red Army had advanced into Poland to liberate. They had already reached Warsaw and Krakow and they headed for Auschwits. The Gestapo anticipated their arrival and went on a murder spree. Soviet soldiers encountered 648 of dead people and 7,000 starving survivors. By liberating these camps, they freed the survivors revealed to the world the horrors that had occurred.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-liberate-auschwitz -
Operation Thunderclap
At the Yalta Conference, the Allied powers came to the conclusion that they would engage in bombing raids against German cities so they could bring the Nazi's to a stop. The raids began in February against the city of Dresden. 135,000 people were killed, and the city became rubble and flames. It was the most destructive bombing of the war and little was accomplished because the Germans were already so close to surrendering.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/firebombing-of-dresden -
Battle of Iwo Jima
When the Americans needed a base near the Japanese coast, they invaded Iwo Jima. With lots of prep, US marine corps naval bombarded the island. There were 23,000 defending Japanese troops and the conditions were very difficult on the island. The Japanese had caves, dugouts, and tunnels that were very elaborate. The battle lasted for a month and the Americans won as they raised a US flag in victory. -
Battle of Okinawa
As the last push for Japan, this was the last stop for the United States. They wanted to invade and occupy the Ryukyu Islands. Japan was ready because the island had the perfect defending conditions and they knew if Okinawa fell, so would Japan. America suffered 49,000 casualties and 12,520 were killed. 110,000 Japanese soldiers were killed along with 40,000-150,000 Okinawa citizens. This was one of the bloodiest battles in the war.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
VE Day
This was the day the Germans finally surrendered their arms. All over the world, Germany gave up. Their main concern was to elude the Soviet forces and not be taken prisoner. They kept losing more and more soldiers everywhere. They surrendered in Prague, Copenhagen, Oslo, Karlshorst, Berlin, Latvia, and Sark. It was a final cease-fire. This was a day where Great Britain and the United States both celebrated victory in Europe.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Potsdam Declaration
This was the very last meeting held by the Big Three during WWII. They established administration of Germany. They had various agreements on the German economy, punishment fir war criminals, land boundaries, and reparations. The meeting was primarily centered for postwar Europe, but the Big Three also issued a declaration for unconditional surrender from Japan. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
After the war ended in Europe, it was still going between the US and Japan. The Potsdam declaration promised prompt and utter destruction if Japan didn't surrender. America dropped the first bomb "Little Boy" on Hiroshima. It leveled 5 square miles and killed 80,000 instantly. Japan didn't surrender. They dropped the second one, "Fat Man," three days later on Nagasaki. It killed 40,000 on impact. Japan surrendered on 8/15 and finally ended WWII.
https://www.history.com/topics/atomic-bomb-history -
VJ Day
On the 14th of August, Japan had officially surrendered. August 15th is known as "Victory over Japan Day." Several months after the ware had ended in Europe and Nazi Germany surrendered, Japan finally gave in. The six years of hostilities in the Pacific had come to an anticipated close and World War two was officially over for everyone.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
