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Japanese invasion of China
mtholyoke.eduInvasion japan was going into china to take over Manchuria. Japan wanted Manchuria's vast natural resources. After japan's occupation of Manchuria, China and japan got into an incident at a bridge at Lugouqiao near Beijing which started an open war. China's weak and ill army could not hold up to Japan's military skills and power. This led to many years of hard control from the Japanese, close to famine conditions, and an increase in brutal and terroristic regime. -
The Rape of Nanking
historyplace.comJapan went into China's capital of Nanking and murdered 300,000 of the 600,000 civilians. People of all ages were torchured and killed. This all happened after a battle between China and Japan earlier that summer. After Japan's won over China, 50,000 Japanese soldiers marched through china. after all the horrifying actions, a group of around 20 Americans and Europeans went to provide a safety zone for the Chinese without allowing Japan to come in and hurt civilians. -
Germany's invasion on Poland
www.ushmm.orgGermany invaded Poland in an attempt to seperate the country into two seperate parts. With over 2,000 tanks and 1,000 planes crashing into Poland, Germany made the fight hard enough for Poland's city of Warsaw to surrender on Spetember 27. Germany spread parts of Poland along it's eastern border. Poland stayed under Germany's occupation until January of 1945. -
German Blitzkrieg
www.history.comBlitzkrieg means "lightening war" which was a military tactic to create hassle towards enemy forces with firearms and mobile forces. the Blitzkrieg was successful for Germany in Belgium, Netherlands, and France in 1940. -
Fall of Paris
www.history.comOn this day, the Germans have made it into Paris, France. Once the Germans brought in their tanks and their troops, 2 million Parisians have already left. Many of the Parisians still left were kept as prisoners. With all of the French leaving their city, it made Paris an "Open City" making it easy for Germany to move in. -
Operation Barbarossa
history.co.ukOn June 22, the Germans have invaded the Soviet Union. The Operation Barbarossa is known as the biggest operation in history, which included more than 3 millions axis troops and 3,500 tanks. Although the Germans have been preparing for this operation after their attack on France, the Soviet Union was highly unprepared. After many fails of not hitting the right spot, the Germans were slowing down. Once Russia's winter hit the German troops, they diminished quickly. -
Pearl Harbor
theatlantic.comJapanese surprised the US with a 350 aircraft attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attacks came in two fleets lasting for 90 minutes. 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,250 were injured. The US declared war on Japan and after a couple days, Italy and Germany declared war on the United States. -
Bataan Death March
www.history.comAmerican-Filipino troops in the Phillipines were weak and ill, leading to the surrendering of the troops and the Japanese forcing them on a harsh 65 mile march from Mariveles, the southern part of the peninsula. The troops were broken up into about 100 men and were beaten and starved throughout the march. Those who were too weak were killed. in Feburary, the peninsua was recaptured by the US and Manila was liberated in March. -
Battle of Stalingrad
britannica.comThe fight was brought up as the Soviet defense for the city of Stalingrad. The battle consisted of 2 million soldiers and civilians. During this battle, the Soviet Union surrounded and hit a whole German army. This hit Hitler hard as the capture of Stalingrad was important to him. IThe city was very industrial, and Hitler wanted it's resources. The battle lasted for roughly 199 days. Many German soldiers either starved or froze to death, ended this battle. -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
www.ushmm.orgWith the Nazi attempt to go in and liquidate the ghetto in the morning, they found nothing but empty streets and homes. The jewish residents fled and hid. With an armed fight, the Nazi's has to retreat outside of the street walls. with over a month of fighting, 631 bunkers were destroyed and up to 7,000 Jews killed. -
Operation Gomorrah
about.comOn this day, 68 American B-17 bombs hit Hamburg's u-boats and shipyards. On the next day, another bomb dropped blew out Hamburg's power plant. Afer these bombs were dropped, 1 million of Hamburg's residents were left homeless and 40,000-50,000 civilians were left dead. Hitler thought that with these bombs, it would lead to him leaving the war, which didn't happen due to the bombs. -
D Day (Normandy Invasion)
www.army.milGroups of more than 160,000 allied troops went into the French coastline on the beaches of Normandy to fight Nazi Germany. There was more than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircrafts went on the invasion. More than 9,000 allied soldiers were killed but they were able to send more than 100,000 soldiers through Europe to get to Hitler and his soldiers. -
Battle of The Bulge
www.army.milHitler and his German army tried to make a wedge between the United States and British armies while they were in France. Hitler's army consisted of more than 200,000 men that were facing only 80,000 men with only about 250 pieces of armor and 400 guns. 500,000 Germans, 600,000 Americans, and 55,000 British troops were involed in this battle. The Nazi's were running low of fuel in everyway not allowing them to regain the initiative of the Third Reich. The fighting ended on Janurary 16, 1945. -
Operation Thunderclap
ww2today.comThe Operation Thunderclap was being discussed between the Allies for awhile to bomb the eastern cities of Germany in order to break down their eastern front. Much of Germany was hit with bombs except for one city, Dresden. People didn't really know why, they just believed it was mainly untouched in order to have an administrative center for when they occupied Germany. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
www.history.comThe allies and the Japanese fought on the very small island. The allies had up to 110,000 soldiers and the Japanese had only 23,000. The Americans planned to capture Mt. Suribachi and the Southern Airfield, all on the first day. Even with the Japanese loosing quickly, they still put up a fight. Japan ended up losing with over three quarters of their men gone. -
Battle of Okinawa
www.history.comThis battle is known as the biggest air-sea-land battle. more than 100,000 Okinawan civilians were dead, 72,000 Americans and 100,000 Japanese casualties. While at sea the Japaanese thought to send out their battleship, Yamato, which sunk shortly after leaving Japan. After the long battle, Okinawa became a military asset for the allies due to the key fleet anchorage and the troop staging area. It also made the allies closer to Japan through air. -
LIberation of Concentration Camps
www.ushmm.orgthe US forces entered the Buchenwald camp just a few days after the Germans started evacuating the camp. The American troops evacuated 20,000 jews at buchenwald. they also evacuated the main camps of Dora-Mittlebau, Flossenbuerg, Dachau, and Mauthausen. There were still plenty of camps still needing to be liberated in Germany. -
VE Day
www.history.comVE Day was celebrated in Europe after German forces in North-West Europe surrendered. The Germans lost more than 8,000 soldiers and didn't have their leader, Hitler, due to suicide. There was no reason to carry on with the fighting. Americans, Britains and canadians all celebrated after the Germans left. -
Dropping of the atomic bomb
www.history.com During the fighting in WWII, an American B-29 bomber dropped the first atomic bomb over Japan's city of Hiroshima. That bomb wiped out 90% of the city and killed 80,000 people instantly. Thousands of civilians later died due to the exposure of high radiation. Three day's after the first bomb was dropped, another US B-29 bomber dropped another bomb on Japan's city of Nagasaki, killing roughly 40,000 people. Japan's Emperor later surrendered. -
VJ Day
www.history.comOn this day, Japan had surrendered to the Allies which ended WWII. There was too much fighting, and too many men dying that Japan thought it was enough. After several years of fighting in the Pacific and several months after the Germans surrendered, so did Japan. VJ Day is known as Victoryover Japan Day, which is celebrated by many of the countries that had to deal with all the fighting.
