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Japanese Invasion of China
Japan's main desire for invading China is they were inclined to be an imperial power. They were looking to obtain higher militaristic and economic element after invading them. Japan was in need of a lot more resources. Militaristically, Japan was already controlled at this time by officers and in sense, wanted to prove that they were stronger and could subjugate other countries. [Source: https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/why-did-japan-invade-china-1937-an-what-was-marco-315915] -
Rape of Nanking
Japanese soldiers marched into China and murdered 300,000 out of 600,00 people of the population. The troops who were placed in Nanking were poorly led and loosely organized. They're objective was to kill all captive and they engaged in a chaotic retreat. These soldiers dehumanized and did unthinkable acts to those captured. Video: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHO6GTMyy_U)(http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide0)] -
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German Blitzkreig
The "Blitzkreig" was Germany's military tactic which enabled them to take over most of Europe. This tactic required the concentration of offensive weapons along a narrow front used to destroy whatever's in its path. This tactic also proved useful because it preserves human lives and limits the expenditure of artillery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUjrnlMAtQ4 -
Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact
Hitler and Stalin both signed a non-aggression pact. It explained the territorial influences and spheres of Germany and Russia without an invasion.
Source: [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-molotov-ribbentrop-pact-august-1939] -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
The German-Soviet pact entitled for Germany to attack Poland since it was to be partitioned between both powers. Germany did not have to worry about the Soviet's intervention between them. Poland was defeated within weeks of the invasion.
Source: [http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-invade-poland] -
Pearl Harbor
On this day, Japanese planes attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. This bombing caused more than 2,300 Americans and destroyed their battleship. [http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/wwii/jb_wwii_pearlhar_1.html] -
Wannsee Conference
Also known as "The Final Solution to the Jewish Question", this conference was held in a villa and attended by high ranking Nazi Party and German government officials.
Source: [https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005477] -
Bataan Death March
The Filipinos and Americans surrendered to the Japanese. Approximately 75,000 of those who surrendered were rounded up and were then forced to march 65 miles to their own prison camps. [http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march] -
Battle of Midway
This battle was a four-day sea-and-air battle. The U.S Pacific Fleet succeeded in destroying four Japanese aircraft. This battle began because of the U.S resistance to Japan's imperial design.
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-au50GxIXw]
Source: [http://www.molossia.org/milacademy/midway.html] -
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Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
During World War II, the jewish ghetto in Warsaw, Poland staged and armed revolt against the deportation to extermination camps. This created a domino effect therefore when other camps heard of this uprising, they were inspired and revolted back.
[http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/warsaw-ghetto-uprising] -
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D-Day
On this day, the Allied forces staged a huge assault on the Germans. This invasion on the beach in Normandy, France is known as D-day, yet the "D" in D day has some arguable meanings such as "Doomsday", "Decision", and "Departure."
[http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/why-was-it-called-d-day]
Video: [http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day/videos/dday-invasion] -
Battle of the Bulge
This war was German's attempt to drive a wedge between the American and British armies in France.This month-long battle resulted in an allied victory. [http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge] -
Liberation of concentration camps
Soviets were first to liberate those who were sick and exhausted in concentration camps. They wanted these people for the final stages of war, but were forced to leave them behind because of their sickly conditions.
Source: [https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007724] -
Operation Thunderclap
This plan was a massive attack on Berlin that would cause many casualties. The end goal was to cause casualties as far as German personnel. But the term "Operation Thunderclap" was a code word because this attack was cancelled and shelved.
Source: [http://ww2today.com/13-february-1945-operation-thunderclap-raf-start-firestorm-in-dresden] -
Battle of Iwo Jima
This major battle where the United States Marines Corps landed on and then captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese.
[http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima] -
Battle of Okinawa
This battle is known for its substantial amounts of casualties. There was about 100,000 Japanese casualties and 50,000 for the allies.The significance of this battle is it was the largest invasion of the Pacific campaign and last. [https://www.quora.com/What-was-the-significance-of-the-Battle-of-Okinawa-during-World-War-II]
Video: [http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history/videos/battle-okinawa] -
Victory in Europe (VE Day)
This day is very significant because it is the day the German troops in Europe finally laid down their arms. In Prague, German surrendered to the Soviets. The war was finally over against the Nazi's. -
Potsdam Declaration
The Japanese surrender was after put into conference where the Japanese agreed to a document outlining their terms of surrender.
source: [http://www.atomicarchive.com/Docs/Hiroshima/Potsdam.shtml] -
Dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima
Harry S. Truman was discouraged by the Japanese's reaction to the Potsdam Conference and made the decision to drop the very first atomic bomb over Hiroshima. President Truman wanted to end the war between them and found that the casualties would be worse if they had just invaded them. [http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-is-dropped-on-hiroshima]
Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qh--j9_8wY] -
Victory Over Japan Day (VJ Day)
The Japanese had surrendered to the United States and sparked celebration all over as the final ending of World War II. There was a final ceremony aboard the USS Missouri to finalize this claim.
[http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/September/vjday.htm]
