-
Period: to
German Blitzkrieg
The Blitzkrieg was a military tactic used by Germany. It was used most in the early days of World War 2 and it allowed the Germans to capture as much territory as they did. It involved planes bombing the cities, followed by heavy armor and infantries rolling through and taking out the enemies while they are confused and disoriented.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Operation Barbarossa
Hitler launched his armies in an invasion of the Soviet Union. Three great army groups with over three million German troops, 150 divisions, and about three thousand tanks were launched. This was a crucial turning point for World War 2, for the failure of the Nazis forced Germany to fight a two front war against forces who were superior in resources.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Peal Harbor
The Japanese Imperial Army sent aerial bombers to attack American ships in Pearl Harbor. Just before 8:00 a.m., hundreds of Japanese fighter planes descended on the base. They managed to destroy 20 American naval vessels, including eight battle ships, and over 300 airplanes. It caused more than 2400 American casualties, including civilians.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a brutal battle between the Soviets and the Nazis. It is notorious for being one of the longest and bloodiest battles in modern warfare. More than two million troops fought and nearly two million people were killed in the fighting. It was an important battle and was a turning point for the Soviets in their battle against the Nazis.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March was an event in which American and Filipino prisoners of war were divided into groups and forced to march about 65 miles from Mariveles to San Fernando. The march typically took each group about five days to complete. It is believed that thousands of troops died at the hands of their captors. They were starved and beaten, those who couldn't continue were killed.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference was a meeting between Nazi officials to discuss the "Final Solution" of the "Jewish question."
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wannsee-conference -
Operation Thunderclap
Operation Thunderclap was an operation that was being planned by the western allies. It was going to be a massive attack on Berlin, but it was cancelled because they felt that the plan was likely to fail. They reconsidered this operation again in 1945 when the Soviets were invading Berlin, but once again decided against it as it would be impractical.
http://ww2today.com/13-february-1945-operation-thunderclap-raf-start-firestorm-in-dresden -
D-Day
The Allied assault on Normandy which resulted in the liberation of Western Europe. It involved about 156 000 American, British, and Canadian forces invading five beaches along a 50 mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France's Normandy region. This invasion led to about 4000 allied casualties, but it was a vital point in World War 2 which ultimately led to the allies victory over Germany.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
The Liberation of the Concentration Camps
In 1945, the allies advanced through Europe and came across death camps full of sick, starving, and dead prisoners. They were horrified with what they discovered. Soldiers gave the prisoners food and freed them, but many still did not survive due to sickness.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/liberation-of-the-concentration-camps -
Battle of the bulge
The last German offensive campaign in western Europe. It involved Hitler sending in a blitzkrieg attack to try and split the allied armies in northwest Europe. It was successful and first, and the allies were pushed back. Germans advanced, the allies regrouped and took the appearance of a bulge, which is where this battle gets its name from. The allies eventually neutralized the German counteroffensive despite heavy casualties.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Battle of Iwo Jima
A military campaign between the U.S Marines and the Japanese Imperial Army. The Americans invaded the island on February 19, 1945. The battle lasted five weeks. This was one of the bloodiest battles of World War 2 and it is believed that about 21 000 Japanese forces were killed, and about 7 000 Marines.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
The Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was the last great battle of World War 2. It was between the U.S Army and the Japanese Imperial Army. It saw more than 180 000 american troops descend on the Pacific island of Okinawa. It was part of Operation Iceberg, which was a plan to invade and occupy the Ryukyu Islands.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
VE Day
Otherwise known as "Victory in Europe Day", this day marks the victory of the allies over Germany. People all over Europe put out flags and banners to celebrate the defeat of the Nazis.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Dropping of the Atomic bombs
The dropping of the bombs began with the dropping of the "Little Boy" on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. Three days later, on August 9, the "Fat Man" was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
VJ Day
Thursday August 15, 1945 marks the day Japan officially surrendered and World War 2 was ended. This happened as a direct result of the dropping of the atomic bombs.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
