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Japanese invasion of China
Japan desperately needing the resources in China, invaded and occupied Manchuria. It was turned into an independent state called Manchukuo, but the Chinese emperor who controlled it was controlled by the Japanese. Source: Britannica -
Nanking Massacre
The Nanking massacre was the mass killing of Chinese soldiers and civilians in Nanjing,China by Japanese soldiers. Source: Britannica -
Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact
Following Germany's invasion of Poland, foreign ministers of Stalin and Hitler agreed to a nonagression pact in Poland, splitting it between them. Source: Britannica -
German invasion of Poland
On September 1st of 1939, the Nazi forces invaded western Poland in an attempt to further unite the German speaking peoples of Europe Source: Britannica -
Fall of Paris
On Jun 18 1940, Hitler's forces overtook Paris, leading to the surrender of France. Source: Britannica -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the codename for Germany's invasion of the Soviet union in 1941, breaking their standing nonagression pact. Hitler now was fighting a two front war. Source: Britannica -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 7 1941, Japanese forces bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, prompting the United States to enter the second world war. Source: Britannica -
Wannsee Conference
In Germany, the Wannsee conference was where the decision was made to impliment Hitler's final solution to exterminate the jews. Source: Britannica, USHMM -
Battle of Midway
The battle of midway was an attempt by the Japanese to ambush US forces on the island of Midway to gain further control of the Pacific. The US knew of the coming attack due to intelligence and prepared thusly, thwarting the Japanese Source: Britannica -
Battle of Stalingrad
The battle of Stalingrad was a battle in which advancing German forces, beaten by the bitter cold, were massacred by the Russian army, halting the advance into soviet territory. Source: Britannica -
Operation Gomorrah
Operation Gomorrah was an operation by allied forces to bomb Hamburg, Germany in an attempt to slow down industry. Although it failed to create a significant decrease in production, it did kill many civillians. Source: Britannica -
D-Day
D day is the codename for the landings of US forces on the beaches of Normandy, France to retake the German occupied country. Heavy losses were sustained as US forces stormed fortified German positions. Source: Britannica
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Battle of the Bulge
The battle of the bulge was a series of surprise attacks launched by the Germans in Wallonia and the Ardennes as a futile attempt to regain control of the western front. There were heavy casualties on both sides. Source:Britannica
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Battle of Iwo Jima
On 19th February, 1945, the United states, although suffering heavy casualties, took the Japanese Island of Iwo Jima. Source: Britannica -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was a series of battles lasting 82 days taking place on the Ryukyu islands, centered on Okinawa in which United States forces took the islands. Source: Britannica -
VE Day
VE day is shorthand for "VIctory in Europe". It signified the allied victory after Berlin was taken by the Soviets. Source: Britannica -
Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Using the newly invented atomic bombs, Fat man and Little boy, the United States levelled the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, ultimately leading to Japanese surrender. Source: Britannica -
VJ Day
VJ day is shorthand for "Victory in Japan", it signified the Aliied victory in Japan after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Source: Britannica
