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Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact
This was a non-aggression pact between Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany, this pact was to assure non of the involved countries could attack one another for 10 years. The was seen by Russia as a way to stay peaceful with Germany although it was broke by the Nazi leader Hitler. -
German Blitzkrieg
The German Blitzkrieg also known as "lightning war" was a battle tactic the Nazi's used to disorient the opponent with speed and deadly force rip through Europe and take massive amounts of land just within a year.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Pearl Harbor
Japan bombed the U.S. naval base Pearl Harbor on Oahu island, Hawaii. The bombing resulted in heavy casualty and nation wide fear for the U.S. This attack led to worsening relations between the U.S and Japanese governments for 10 years. https://www.britannica.com/event/Pearl-Harbor-attack -
Wannsee Conference
This conference was held to discuss materials and financial necessities as well as a "final solution" required to carry out the mass genocide of the Jewish people under Hitlers orders. This belief Hitler held that Jews were inferior caused millions of deaths and terror among "inferior races".
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wannsee-conference -
Bataan Death March
After the U.S, surrender of the Bataan Peninsula to the Japanese approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops were forced to do a 65 mile march to prison camps. Being beaten and tortured by guards on the way in the intense heat was the cause of many casualties. This is why it became known as the Bataan death march. -
Allied invasion of Italy
The British 8th army crossed the strait of Messina, then to Sicily and landed in Calabria. Once the started the invasion the Italian government secretly agreed to terms of surrender. The allies found little resistance from the demoralized Sicilian soldiers invading the territory relatively with ease.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-invade-italian-mainland -
Rape of Nanking
Nanking, the capital of China was attacked by the Japanese and to demoralize the Chinese they were instructed to destroy the city. The Japanese burned down half the city murdered 150,000 male war prisoners and an additional 50,000 male civilians along with raping 20,000 women of all ages who were then murdered or mutilated. This became known as the raping of Nanking. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
D-Day was a battle on the beaches of Normandy. About 156000 American British and Canadian soldiers landed on 5 beaches ready to storm the Nazi's. This battle ended in the allied Liberation of western Europe. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Battle of the Bulge
Hitler attempted to split allied forces in northwest Europe with a surprise Blitzkrieg but the allies held strong and formed a bulge formation to counter the attack. The allies beat the Germans but suffered heavy casualties. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima was an island of the coast of Japan. US. Marines wanted to capture this island due to air fields that could be used for strategic attacks to defeat Japan. The epic battle ended with a Marine victory but with severe casualties to both armies. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Hiroshima & Nagasaki nuclear bomb attacks
The first atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima eliminating 90% of the city immediately killing 80, 000 people with thousands later dying from radiation exposure. Three days later the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and killed 40,000 people "estimated". https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
Battle of Okinawa
The battle of Okinawa was the last push to end the Japanese front of WWII. This was the last major battle of the war and it was gruesome. When the U.S. soldiers landed on Okinawa Island they found zero resistance until the kept pushing forward falling into a trap from the Japanese. The were bombarded by well placed soldiers, Kamikaze pilots and many others horrors of the Japanese army. The Americans emerged victoious.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
On April 29, 1945 the U.S. Seventh army 45th infantry division liberated Dachau the first built death camp and the same day the rainbow 42nd division liberated a Dachau subdivision camp. Once all the camps were liberated some were burned to prevent typhus outbreaks and other illnesses and tore down some of the horrible monuments Hitler had constructed.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dachau-liberated -
VE Day
!945 May 8th, was the celebration of defeating the Nazi war machine for U.S., Great Britain and formerly Nazi occupied western European countries. -
Vj Day
August 14, 1945 was the day Japan surrendered ending WWII and has been known as VJ Day or victory over Japan day.https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
