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Japanese invasion of China
War was a conflict that broke out when China went full-scale resistance on expansion of Japan influence in its territory. Japans defeat by the allies in 1945 ended their occupation in China. https://www.britannica.com/event/Sino-Japanese-War-1937-1945 -
Rape of Nanking
During the war, Nanking, the capital of China, falls to Japanese forces. Much of the city was burned and Japanese troops launched atrocities against the civilians. The Japanese butchered an estimated 150,000 males massacred an additional 50,000 male civilians, and raped at least 20,000 women and girls of all ages, many of whom were mutilated or killed in the process. Shorttly after, the general Matsui was found guilty by war crimes.http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-rape-of-nanking -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
German forces bombarded on land and from air. WWII had begun. Hitler started annihilating any Nazi ideal ideology. concentration camps were set up. This was his plan to wage war. One million strong polish army men tried taking out Germany forces head on but ultimately failed. Great Britain responded by bombing Germany three days later. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-invades-poland -
German Blitzkrieg
A German term for “lightning war,” blitzkrieg is a military tactic designed to create disorganization among enemy forces through the use of mobile forces and locally concentrated firepower. German forces tried out the blitzkrieg in Poland in 1939 before successfully employing the tactic with invasions of Belgium, the Netherlands and France in 1940. This kind of war tactic was adopted by U.S. General George for European operations. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Operation Barbarossa
Adolf Hitler launched his armies eastward in a massive invasion of the Soviet Union. The Germans had problems. They underestimated their opponent, their preparation could not work.In the end the Soviets overreached, and the Germans restored a semblance of order to the front; the spring thaw in March 1942 brought operations to a halt. But Barbarossa had failed, and Nazi Germany confronted a two-front war that it could not win. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Pearl Harbor
Just before 8 a.m. on December 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. The barrage lasted just two hours, but it was devastating. More than 2,000 Americans soldiers and sailors died in the attack, and another 1,000 were wounded. The day after the attack, president FDR declared war on Japan. It was a surprise attack. After two years United Sates joined WWII. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Bataan Death March
75,000 Filipino and American troops were forced to march a grueling 65 mile march to prison camps. The marchers made the trek in intense heat and were subjected to harsh treatment by Japanese guards. Thousands perished in what became known as the Bataan Death March. America avenged its defeat in the Philippines with the invasion of the island of Leyte. The Japanese commander was executed for war crimes by firing squad. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Battle of Midway
ix months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States defeated Japan in one of the most decisive naval battles of World War II. The U.S. countered Japans planned ambush inflicting permanent damage on japan navy. An important turning point in the Pacific campaign, the victory allowed the United States and its allies to move into an offensive position. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
Battle of Stalingrad
It stopped the German advance into the Soviet Union and was the turning of the tide of war in favor of the Allies. The Battle was one of the bloodiest battles in history, with combined military and civilian casualties of nearly 2 million. The Soviet victory at Stalingrad was a great humiliation for Hitler, who had elevated the battle’s importance in German opinion. He now became more distrustful than ever of his generals. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
Residents of the Jewish ghetto in Nazi-occupied Warsaw, Poland, made an armed revolt against deportations to extermination camps. The Warsaw ghetto uprising inspired other revolts in extermination camps and ghettos throughout German-occupied Eastern Europe. An estimated 7,000 Jews died during the uprising, nearly 50,000 others who survived were sent to death or labor camps. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/warsaw-ghetto-uprising -
Operation Gomorrah
British bombers raid Hamburg by night while Americans bomb it by day in its own “Blitz Week.” Britain had 167 deaths form the bombings. The evening of July 24 saw British aircraft drop 2,300 tons of incendiary bombs on Hamburg in just a few hours. The explosive power was the equivalent of what German bombers had dropped on London in their five most destructive raids. More than 1,500 Germans were killed in British raid. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched -
D-Day
156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. The Normandy landings have been called the beginning of the end of war in Europe. The invasion was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history and required extensive planning. Prior to D-Day, the Allies conducted a large campaign designed to trick the Germans about the invasion target. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
The soviets entered the camp in Poland, and later overran several other killing centers. On January 27, 1945, they entered Auschwitz and there found hundreds of sick and exhausted prisoners. Left behind were victims' belongings: 348,820 men's suits, 836,255 women's coats, and tens of thousands of pairs of shoes. https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007724 -
Operation Thunderclap
Series of Allied firebombing raids begins against the German city of Dresden, reducing the “Florence of the Elbe” to rubble and flames, and killing as many as 135,000 people. It was the single most destructive bombing of the war including Hiroshima and Nagasaki. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/firebombing-of-dresden -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima was defended by roughly 23,000 Japanese troops, who fought through ways like caves, dugouts, tunnels and underground installations. Despite the difficulty of the conditions, the marines wiped out the defending forces after a month of fighting,and took over Iwo Jima. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Battle of the Okinawa
Involved the 287,000 troops of the U.S. Tenth Army against 130,000 soldiers of the Japanese Thirty-second Army. By the end of the 82-day campaign, Japan had lost more than 77,000 soldiers and the Allies had suffered more than 65,000 casualties—including 14,000 dead. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
VE day
Great Britain and the United States celebrate Victory in Europe Day. Cities in both nations, as well as formerly occupied cities in Western Europe, put out flags and banners, rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazi war machine. The day when German troops throughout Europe finally laid down their arms: Germans surrendered to their Soviet enemies, after the latter had lost more than 8,000 soldiers, and the Germans considerably more. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
United States was the first and only nation to use an atomic bomb. Many believe that it was the end of Hiroshima but a start to the cold war. By 1949, the Soviets had developed their own atomic bomb and the nuclear arms race began. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-hiroshima -
VJ Day
Japan surrendered to the allies. August 14. Since then, both August 14 and August 15 have been known as “Victory over Japan Day,” or simply “V-J Day.” http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day -
Battle of the Bulge
American units fought desperate battles to stem the German advance at St.-Vith, Elsenborn Ridge, Houffalize and Bastogne. As the Germans drove deeper into the Ardennes in an attempt to secure vital bridgeheads, the Allied line took on the appearance of a large bulge, giving rise to the battle’s name. The Battle of the Bulge was the costliest action ever fought by the U.S. Army, which suffered over 100,000 casualties. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge
