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Japan invades China
Japan invaded and brutally attacked China. The US sanctioned Japan and forced them to take troops out of China.
Japan was trying to expand into East Asia
Then Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy. Japan attacked the US to become the dominant power in the pacific. -
Period: to
WWII
Hitler invades Poland. -
Hitler invades Poland.
Poland is invades by the Soviets and Germany, this starts WWII. Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union divided Poland so they could each have land. Germany wante to expand its power and take over the world. Britain and France delcared war on Germany two days later. -
Britain and France declare war on Germany.
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German Blitzkrieg
German Blitzkrieg meaning "lightning war" was a offensive stratgey used to chaos and disorganizaton among the enemy. German Blitzkrieg overwhelms Belgium, Holland, and France. They would use it to damage defenses, thenn deploy tanks and foot soliders to demolish anything left behind. The Germans did this becasue they wouldnt wind direct combat. This tatic was useful in helping Germans win battles. -
Operation Barbarossa
Germany begins Operation Barbarossa- the invasion of the Soviet Union/. Nazi germany wanted to rid the Union becasue they feared a two front war. It was a failure and forced Germany to fight a two-front war. -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, U.S. enters war.
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor to cripple US navy, lasted about 2 hours. Japan wanted to be the power in the Pacific. American vessels, large battleships and airplanes were destroyed. 2,000 soliders died, the day after war was declared on Japan. -
Wannsee Confrence
Meeting of Nazi officials to discuss the details of the "Final Solution" of the "Jewish question." They would figure out what to do with the Jews. The "gas vans" were brought around and would kill up to 1,000 people a day. -
Bataan Death March
Approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to walk 65 miles to prison camps. The trip was made in intense heat and were treated harshly by Japanese guards.Thousand died and thus the name was given. The US surrendered the Bataan peninsula to the Japanese. The Japanese took over the Philippines after they fought for it since invading it in 1941 -
Battle of Midway
Decisive naval battle in which the US defeated japan. Japan tried to ambush some of the last US aircraft carriers and the US countered the ambush. Allowed for major advances in code breaking and the Allied powers were able to move into an offensive position. Permanently damaged the Japanese Navy. -
Operation Gomorrah
Operation in which British bomber raid Hamburg, Germany. Britain suffered the death of 167 civilians as result of German bombings. So now Britain was going to seek revenge. More than 1,500 German civilians died and a new technology called "Windows" was used to confuse German radars. -
Allied victory in N. Africa enables invasion of Italy.
After defeating Italy and Germany in their attempt to take over North Africa. US and Britain forces moved into Italy. As they began to invade Europe. hey wanted to make moves towards taking out the German and Italian forces and it was considered "the soft underbelly of Europe." Allowed the US and Britain easier access to taking down the Axis powers. -
Iwo Jima
Three US marine divisions landed in Iwo Jima which was defended by about 23,000 Japanese soldiers. The US needed a base near the Japanese coast.Gave the US a base near the Japanese coast and this allowed the US easier access to Japan. -
D Day: The Allied invasion of France.
Battle in which 156,000 American, British, and Canadian forces. They landed on five beaches which spanned across 50 miles. This was along the heavily fortified coast of France's Normandy region. Helped the Allies gain access to the Axis powers land. Major victory in helping the Allied powers defeat the Germans. D-Day is considered the beginning of the end of war in Europe. -
Battle of the Bulge
Most deadly battle in US history. Germany's last attempt to survive so they throw everything they can into this battle. Allied powers were moving in on Germany and Germany launched everything into this battle. Most expensive battle for the US Army as there was over 100,000 casualties. -
Operation Thunderclap
Firebombing raids against Dresden. Killed around 135,000 people. Most destructive bombing in war. To ensure German surrender. Germany was devastated and this pushed them over the edge by surrendering. -
Okinawa
287,000 American troops and 130,000 Japanese troops were involved over the fight for vital air bases which would help the US invade Japan. Key positions if the US wanted to invade Japan.he US won which allowed them access to Japan. -
Potsdam Declaration
Declaration issued by the Big Three which consisted of Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin. To determine what should happen to Germany and how Germany should be punished. Also demanded "unconditional surrender" from Japan. Declared what Germany would have to do to reconcile the damage that they had done. -
Atomic Bombs
Atomic bomb on Hiroshima wiped out 90% of the city, killed 80,000 people immediately, and thousand more from radiation. When dropped on Nagasaki killed 40,000. US had to decide if ground invasion of Japan was worth casualties. We did not want to lose anymore troops so we dropped the atomic bombs. Known as "A new and most cruel bomb." Forced Japan to surrender. -
VJ Day
Japan surrenders to the Allies this ends the war offically. Japan was devastated after the dropping of the Atomic bombs and were forced to surrender. Day is known as Victory over Japan Day.
