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Japanese Invasion of China
The Japan-China War What Happened:Japan launched a full-on invasion of China. Why it Happened: The Japanese claimed that they were fired on by Chinese troops at the Marco Polo Bridge. The Effects/Impact of the Event: The Japanese surrendered. Americans gained access to bomb Japanese shipping. The "Three All Campaign" was started to turn peasants against communists, and failed. -
Rape of Nanking
What: Japanese soldiers rape and kill many Chinese citizen Why: Japanese soldiers got "bored" while invading China Effect: Eventually, the Japanese soldiers left China and stopped terrorizing the Chinese The soldiers would have contests for raping and murdering. -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
Germany invades Poland-Sep 01, 1939 What Happened: German forces bombarded on Polish land. Why it Happened: Hitler was seeking to regain lost territory and rule over Poland. The Effect: Concentration Camps were made. Great Britain responds with bombing raids on Germany three days later. Hitler had soon started setting up SS Death Head. Hitler created his Blitzkrieg strategy. -
German Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg What: German Military Tactic Why: To create disorganization among military forces using air and land. Effects: Successful execution and results in short military campaigns. Technique was first used in Germany's invasion of Poland. Blitzkrieg stands for "lightning war." -
Fall of Paris
What: German invasion of Paris Why: Prelude to formal declaration of war. Effect: America froze assets of Axis powers. Canada brought Parisians hope for a free France -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa What: Hitler launches his armies into massive invasion of the Soviet Union. Why: Destruction of Jewish People. Effect: Barbarossa had failed, and Nazi Germany confronted a two-front war that it could not win. The Germans were desperate, and had to retreat. -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor What: Japanese fighter planes attack American Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. Why: The Japanese government believed that the only way to solve its economic and demographic problems was to expand into its neighbor’s territory and take over its import market. Effect: This caused America to officially join the war. Japan starting war with America was inconvinient because of the distance between Japan and Hawaii. -
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference What: A meeting of senior officials of Nazi Germany. Why: This was to discuss the final detials of the "Jewish question." Effect: Beginning of mass murder of Jews. The word "extermination" was never brought up during the conference. However, there was a mutual agreement on what had to be done. -
Bataan Death March
What: U.S. surrender of the Bataan peninsula. Why: Japanese were invading the Phillipines Effect: America avenged its defeat in the Phillipines Thousands died from mistreatment, starvation, and disease -
Operation Gomorrah
Operation Gomorrah is launched What: British bombers raid Germany by night, Americans bomb it by day. Why: Britain was getting back at Germany for bombing raids during July. Effect: Britain's loss was minimal, and Germany was devestated. Britain dropped large bits of Aluminum foil to make it look like there were lots of planes, and the Germans shot at those instead of the real things. -
Allied Invasion of Italy
What:The allies invade the "toe" part of Italy Why: German military presence in Italy threatened Italian opportunity to oust Mussolini. Effect: German forces in Italy surrendered on May 1, and six days later all of Germany surrendered. The Italian government secretly agreed to the Allies’ terms for surrender, but no public announcement was made until September 8. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
D-Day What: One of the largest amphibious military assaults in history. Involved America, Britain, and Canada. Why: Designed to mislead the Germans about the intended invasion target. Effect: Paris was liberated and the Germans had been removed from northwestern France. D-Day had a weather delay. -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
sourceWhat: Concentration camps are liberated Why: This shows victory over Germany Effect: Sick and dying prisoners of the Holocaust are saved. Auschwitz, the largest concentration camp and killing center, was liberated in January, 1945. -
Operation Thunderclap
13 February 1945: Operation Thunderclap What: A plan to prove to Germany that their air force was now of little substance. Why: To bomb the eastern-most cities of Germany to disrupt the transport infrastructure. Effect: They did not perform the bombing raid. This was a hopeful attempt to get Germany to turn against their government. -
Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge What: Surprise Blitzkrieg thrust through the Ardennes to Antwerp. Why: Hitler wanted to split the allied armies. Effect: Htiler snatched a victory or at least a draw with the allies in the west. This was the costliest action ever fought by the U.S. Army. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
(source) What: American amphibious invasion of Iwo Jima. Why: The place where B-29 bombers damaged over Japan. Effect: The marines experinced initial success, but got bogged down by costly attritional warfare. The picture representing this event is one of the most popular photos of WWII. However, the photo was restaged for the purpose. -
Battle of Okinawa
What: Last and biggest pacific island battle Why: Air bases vital to the projected invasion of Japan Effect: The allies won the battle and occupied Okinawa Commanding Generals from both America and Japan died during the battle. Japan's Commanding General by suicide. -
VE Day
What: Great Britain and America celebrate victory in Europe day Why: German troops throughout Europe laid down their arms Effect: Victory for Great Britain and United States “The age-long struggle of the Slav nations… has ended in victory. Your courage has defeated the Nazis. The war is over.” --Joseph Stalin -
Dropping of Atomic Bombs
What: America drops two atomic bombs in Japan Why: Ends World War II Effect: America has victory over Japan The two bombs were named little boy and fat man -
VJ Day
What: Victory in Japan Day Why: The bombing of Japan marks the end of World War II Effect: America celebrates the end of war The famous kiss photograph was during VJ Day