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Period: to
World War II
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Japansese Invasion of China
Japan engaged China in conflict that broke out when China began full-scale resistance to the expansion of Japanese influence in its territory. A stalemate then ensued, and Japanese forces were diverted to Southeast Asia and to the Pacific theatre of World War II against the Western Powers and their allies beginning in late 1941. Japan’s defeat in that by the Allies in 1945 ended its occupation of China.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H9yKqcs699k/hqdefault.jpg -
Rape of Nanking
During the Sino-Japanese war the capital of China falls to Japanese forces. To prevent revolution, Japanese general ordered the destruction of the capital city Nanking involving the rape of over 20,000 females of all ages.
http://www.onthisdeity.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Nanjing_Massacre_severed_heads-300x140.jpg -
German Blitzkrieg
A German term for “lightning war". It is a military tactic designed to disorganized the enemy and promote speedy military advancements. Blitzkrieg was successfully used used to invade Belgium and the Netherlands.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
1.5 million German troops began to invade Poland along its 1,750-mile border with German-controlled territory. On September 3, Poland declared war on Germany, initiating World War II.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-invade-poland -
Operation Barbarossa
Hitler sent a massive invasion into the Soviet Union with over 3 million troops. But, Nazi Germany severely underestimiated their opponent. Now Germany got themselves into a two-front war that it could not win. Barbarossa was the crucial turning point in World War II.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Pearl Harbor
Just before 8 a.m. hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. The fighting lasted just two hours, leaving 3000 American casualties. This was the final straw for America to enter WW2.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Wannsee Conference
Nazi officials meet to discuss the details of the “Final Solution” of the Jewish people. Herman Goering, writing under instructions from Hitler, had ordered Reinhard Heydrich to determine the fate of the Jews. He was the one who proposed the movement of the Jews to concentration camps in Poland.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wannsee-conference -
Bataan Death March
After the US surrender of the Bataan Peninsula, over 75,000 Filipino and American troops were ordered to march 65 miles to prisoner camps. Due to intense heat and harsh treatment, thousand died on this trek.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Battle of Midway
Japan looked to shut down the US navy. But then the US intercepted radio messages for a surprise attack, the USS Yorktown was sent to sink four Japanese ships shutting down the Japanese navy. This battle marked the turning point in the Pacific lines.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
People in the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw, Poland staged an armed revolt against going to extermination camps. The Warsaw ghetto uprising gave idea to other revolutions all across German occupied cities.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/warsaw-ghetto-uprising -
Operation Gomorrah
British bombers raided Hamburg, Germany in night time bombing raids while the Americans bombed in the day. Operation Gomorrah proved devastating to Hamburg while destroying 280,000 buildings and taking 30,000 lives.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
Codenamed Operation Overlord, some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on the five beaches or Normandy. It was one of the largest amphibious landings in history. This invasion was come to be known as the beginning of the end of the war in Europe.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Battle of The Bulge
Hitler attempted to divide the Allied armies in northwest Europe by implementing a surprise blitzkrieg attack. The Germans pushed into the Allie lines giving it a bulged look hence the battle name. But, due to General Patton the Germans advance did not take place.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Operation Thunderclap
The plan included a massive attack on Berlin which would disrupt Germany. The attack was designed to be carried out by massive bombing raids to disorganize Germany long enough for the Soviets to gain territory.
http://ww2today.com/13-february-1945-operation-thunderclap-raf-start-firestorm-in-dresden -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The infamous American amphibious invasion of Iwo Jima all occurred from the need for a base near the Japanese coastline. The island was guarded by 23,000 enemy troops dug into tunnels and caves to hide from the American Marines. The battle lasted only a month and is synonymous with the famous flag-raising picture of the US Marines raising the American flag.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Battle of Okinawa
The last and largest island battle of WWII, involved 287,000 American troops. Again the interest was held in the island being a vital airstrip. After the 82-day long battle the Americans were triumphant.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
VE Day
On this date is when all the German troops laid down their arms in surrender. The German troops main concern was to escape the hands of the Soviets, but the the Soviets ended up taking over 2 million German troops as prisoners.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
An American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first war time atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima decimating over 90% of the city. Another B-29 bomber dropped another atomic bomb on to Nagasaki triggering the Japanese surrender due to mass population loss.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
VJ Day
After the atomic bombings, Japan surrendered and on September 2, 1945 they officially surrendered aboard the USS Missouri. Officially ending WWII.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day -
The Nuremburg Trials of Nazis
Trials held for Nazis so they could be charged for their war crimes. A series of 13 trials occurred from 1945 to 1949. Hitler was never tried because of his suicide before he was captured.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/nuremberg-trials
