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The New Fourth Army Incident
Although Chinese Nationalist and Communist groups joined forces against Japan, there were numerous clashes between both forces. In January 6th 1941, both sides suffered heavy casualties when nationalist forces attacked the army's base south of Yangtze where outnumbered communists forces were eventually defeated. -
United States learns of Japan's plans
By July 1941, the United States knew that Japan hoped to end the war in China. Moreover, Japan planned to occupy southern Indochina and Thailand, and was also preparing for a southward advance toward British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. This would pave the way for an international alliance against Japan. -
Pearl Harbor Attack
The surprise aerial attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, on Oahu Island, Hawaii, by the Japanese brought the United States into an alliance with China. -
Japanese Conquest of Hong Kong
When Japan conquered Hong Kong on December 25, China lost its air link to the rest of the world and one of its principal ways of acquiring supplies. By the end of May 1942, China's international supply routes were almost entirely blocked. -
The Cairo Declaration
The Cairo Declaration was the result of the meeting between British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek at the Cairo Conference. This declaration promised that, right after the war, Korea would gain independence and Manchuria, Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands would be returned to China. The three allies also pledged to “persevere in the…prolonged operations necessary to procure the unconditional surrender of Japan.” -
U.S drops the first atomic bomb over Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945, the American bomber Enola Gay dropped a five-ton atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima, which reduced four square miles of the city to ruins and immediately killed 80,000 people. Tens of thousands more died in the following weeks from wounds and radiation poisoning. The US hopes for Japan's unconditional surrender. (www.history.com) -
The Soviet Union officially declares war on Japan
Even after the United States dropped the atomic bomb, Japan refused to surrender unconditionally. The Soviet Union decides to declare war against Japan and attack Manchuria pouring more than 1 million Soviet soldiers to take on the 700,000-strong Japanese army. Days later, the second atomic bomb is dropped and Japan eventually surrenders. -
The United States drops a second atomic bomb in Nagasaki
On August 9, 1945, second atom bomb is dropped on Japan by the United States, at Nagasaki, playing a key part in Japan's surrender killing an estimated 40,000 people. -
Emperor Showa Announces Intention to Surrender
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Japan Formally Surrenders
Aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan formally surrenders to the Allies, bringing an end not only to World War II, but also to the Sino-Japanese war, when Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signed on behalf of the Japanese government.
