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German Blitzkrieg 1939-1940
German word for lightning war, it was a sudden swift attack carried out by the Germans on Poland. The attack on Poland made Britain and France declare war on Germany officially starting World War II. Google.com -
Pearl Harbor
The Japanese launched a surprise attack on the US naval base of Pearl Harbor to allow for future conquests in Asia. The Japanese sunk 18 ships, destroyed 350 aircraft, and killed/wounded 3,500 Americans. This only unified the Americans and pulled them into the war. Google.com -
Wannsee Conference
A meeting of high Nazi German officials in the suburb of Wannsee to decide what to do with the Jewish population, they ultimately decided to commit a mass genocide. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/ -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
When German troops began moving Jews from ghettos to death camps people began to revolt. In Warsaw survivors formed the ZOB which resisted German forces for a month until Germans eventually took the city. History.com -
Allied Invasion of Italy
The Allies invaded Italy through North Africa taking Sicily. After taking mainland Italy, Italy surrendered and agreed to help the allies. Though Mussolini was arrested, he was later rescued but eventually shot by Italian partisans. Eventually German forces in Italy surrendered. History.com -
D-Day
In order to retake France the allies ordered the seaborne Invasion of Normandy. on June 6, 1944 allied troops took the coast and set up a front this gave the Allies a foothold in France. Google.com -
Battle of the Bulge
The last German offensive that exhausted the resources on the western front, causing the Siegfried Line to collapse. This also was the turning point in the war. Google.com -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
When the Allies captured Iwo Jima through a seaborne invasion. It allowed them to begin air raids on mainland Japan. This was also the first nuclear bomb to be dropped on another country. History.com -
Battle of Okinawa
The last and one on the most bloody battles, the battle was part of Operation Iceberg. Through the fierce fighting constant bloodshed the US prevailed but at the cost of heavy losses on both sides. History.com -
VE Day
It stands for Victory in Europe Day. When Germany formally accepted the unconditional surrender. This ended the war in Europe. iwm.org.uk -
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Liberation of the concentration camps
Concentration camps were prisons where in WWII Jewish people were sent to die. They were eventually liberated by the Allies with the first being found by Russian troops while advancing. iwm.org.uk -
Dropping the atomic bombs
The dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This instantly killed most of their populations and many later died to the radiation exposure. This ultimately started the Cold War between Russia and the US. History.com -
Potsdam Declaration
The terms that were give Japan for their unconditional surrender after the dropping of the atomic bombs. Japan accepted the terms and Truman ordered to stop the dropping of more atomic bombs. History.com -
VJ Day
Victory in Japan Day was when the Japan surrendered and ended World war II. The surrender was caused by the dropping of the atomic bomb. -
Bataan Death March
Japanese troops forced American and Filipino prisoners of war were forced to march 65 miles from Bataan to San Fernando where they were put onto a train and sent to prison camps roughly 75,000 troops were forced to march and thousands died of the harsh treatment and conditions. History.com
