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Ribbentrop/molotov act
This was a peace pact that Germany and the USSR would go 10 years without war. This was signed a little before WWll, which in some ways benefitted both countries. The USSR would have peace, and time to build their army. Germany would have the opportunity to invade Poland unopposed. However, the pact didn’t last for long due to Germany invading The USSR in 1941. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/molotov-ribbentrop-pact -
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Germany Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg was a tactic that Germany used during the beginning of WWll. They used many offensive weapons such as planes, tanks, and artillery, to throw their enemies off guard. Due to the sudden shock that the other countries were experiencing, they were constantly losing to Germany. In the end, Germany defeated 9 countries using this tactic. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/blitzkrieg-lightning-war -
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Operation Barbarossa
After a broken peace pact, Germany invaded The Soviet Union. Although they expected it to be a quick victory, it was quite the opposite. The war lasted for 6 months, and after the harsh winter weather Germany lost. The soviet’s were also very determined and persistent with not losing. The technique failures from Germany also contributed to their downfall.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was a vicious attack on the US from Japan. On December 7, 1941, Japan fighter plans landed on an US owned naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii. The Japanese destroyed as much as they possibly could, including 300 airplanes, and 8 battleships. Over 2,400 Americans, including citizens, died during this attack. It also left over 1,000 Americans wounded. As a result, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Wannsee Conference
The wannsee conference was a meeting held between the Nazi party and the German government. It was used to discuss the fate of the Jews in Germany. Their meeting took place in a villa located in the suburban area of Wannsee.
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/wannsee-conference-and-the-final-solution -
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Warsaw Ghetto uprising
The Warsaw ghetto uprising was a revolt from the Jews against the Nazis. The Nazis entered the ghettos in an attempt to take all of the Jews away and send them to concentration camps. However, they refused to be taken away. In the end, approximately 42,000 Jews were reported to be sent to force-labor and concentration camps. Majority of them were murdered in November of 1943.
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/warsaw-ghetto-uprising -
D-Day
D-day is often referred to as the beginning of the end of World War ll. Over 156,000 allied soldiers from The United States, The United Kingdom, and Canada, landed on Normandy beach in norther France. They chose this beach due to the low security and the lay within range of air cover. This event was the largest naval, air and land operation in history. France was liberated in 1944. Germany was defeated in 1945.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Battle of Bulge
The Battle of Bulge, known as “the greatest American battle of the war,” resided in the Ardennes region. This battle was Hitler’s last major strike towards the western front. His goal was to divide the Allies on their way to Germany. Due to the failure of this attempt, and the frigid weather conditions, this battle paved the way to the victory of the Allies.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was between Japan and America for Iwo Jima. The US Marines invaded Iwo Kama on February 18, 1945. There were over 70,000 Marines and 18,000 Japanese soldiers. After fighting for 36 brutal days, Iwo Jima was secured. Around 7,000 Marines had been killed, and 20,000 were wounded. They managed to catch 216 Japanese Soldiers, while all of the other ones died in war.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/iwo-jima-fact-sheet.pdf -
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Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, also known as Operation Iceberg, was another battle fought between Japan and the U.S. The Japanese soldiers still put up impressive defense, even against 60,000 soldiers. However, in the end, America ended up with over 12,500 men killed or missing, and 49,000 casualties. Up to 110,000 Japanese soldiers died, and up to 150,000 Okinawa citizens died. After 3 long months, The United States had secured Okinawa.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/battle-of-okinawa -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
As the war went on, the Allied forces began to travel across Europe. This is when the troops first stumbled across the concentration camps. They were all in disbelief in what they had seen. From this point on they began to liberate them. The first liberated concentration camp was located in Lublin, Poland, known as Majdanek. The liberation of these camps exposed the true horror to the world. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/liberation-of-nazi-camps -
VE Day
VE Day is also referred to as Victory in Europe day. This was the day that Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allied forces. Celebrations erupted around the world, after 5 long years of war. This was the end of Nazi Germany. However, the war wasn’t completely over due to the battles that hadn’t been resolved with Japan. There were two signings to finalize the war, the signing of Adolf Hitler and the German Field Marshal
https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/VE-Day/ . -
Potsdam Declaration
The Potsdam Declaration was an ultimatum sent by China, America, and Great Britain asking for Japan to surrender. The Declaration called for complete disarmament, occupation of certain areas, and the creation of a “responsible government.” The warning was that there would be utter destruction had Japan not comply. At the Potsdam Conference, Japan’s Prime minister simply ignored these requests that had been brought to him.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Potsdam-Declaration -
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Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
Due to the Prime Minister of Japan ignoring the Potsdam Declaration, America took it in their own hands to end the war. From August 6th - August 9th of 1945, America dropped atomic bombs all throughout Japan. An estimated 120,000 people died from the bombs. The first bomb dropped was named ‘Little Boy,' which exploded at Hiroshima. The second bomb dropped was named ‘Fat Man’, this exploded above the city of Nagasaki.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-atomic-bombs-that-ended-the-second-world-war -
VJ Day
VJ Day is known as Victory over Japan Day. This is the day that truly ended WWll. Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies. There was a wave of relief and celebration all throughout the world. The document was signed by Japanese foreign minister, Mamoru Shigemitsu, and the chief of staff of the Japanese army, Yoshijiro Umezu. This officially ended WWII.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day