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Japan Invades Manchuria
Japan begins the invasion of Manchuria. This marks the beginning of the militarists control of the Japanese government. Japan did this to frighten the Soviets and to begin expanding their empire. They beleived controling East Asia would create a Great East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. -
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War in the Pacific
This timeline chronicles WWII in the Pacific from tragic beginning to tragedic end. -
The Manhattan Project Begins
On this Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard and German theorestical physicist Albert Einstein wrote a letter to president Roosevelt telling him of Germany's intention to create a bomb using the theory of nuclear fission. FDR created a team of researchers led by J. Robert Oppenheimer. -
The Tripartite Pact Signed
Japan, Germany, and Italy sign a pact bringing the three nations into agreement. Japan and Germany had previously had a pact with Germany declaring that both countries would defend each other against the Soviet Union and had a hatred of Communism. This was one of the events that kicked off the war. -
Hideki Tojo Becomes Prime Minister
On this date Hideki Tojo becomes the prime minister of Japan. During his time as prime minister he will also hold the positions of commerce minister, education minister, home minister, and foreign minister. He was a prime mover in the attacks on China and Pearl Harbor, and was executed at the end of the war for war crimes. -
Pearl Harobr Attacked!
On the morning of December 7th, 1941 the Japanese launched a supreise attack on Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands. The suprise attack roused the once isolationist America into joining the war. FDRs Speech to congress was filled with emotionally charged language that rallied people to mobilizing for war. It was the largest attack on America up to that point and is one of the most historically significant events in the 20th century. -
Attacks across East Asian
Japan, in addition to attacking Pearl Harbor, also invade China, the Philippines, Guam, French Indochina, New Guinea, and Wake Island. -
The Doolittle Raids
The Doolittle Raid, the firebombing of Tokyo by America, starts. This event shook the Japanese to their core. It was the first attack on the Japanese people and effectively wiped away the veil of security of the Japanese main island. It left tokyo devastated and its citizens in utter despair. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway marked the turning point in the Pacific Theater. Both the United States and Japan wanted to have a decisive victory in the Pacific, and Midway was chosen as the battlefield. It turned out badly for Admiral Yamamoto of Japan. the Japanese were beaten back by the American commander, Chester Nimitz. It was the decisive victory for the Allies. -
The Guadalcanal Campaign Begins
Guadalcanal</a>The Allies begin their invasion of <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=julqwieiu74' >. It marked the Allies beginning advancement toward Japan and the beginning of Allied victories in the Pacific. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle for Iwo Jima was one of the last battles of the war. Iwo Jima is an island close to Japan. At the time it had two landing strips for planes, making it strategically significant for the Allies. The Japanese dug themselves in well, and the battle was fierce. But in the end, Americans raised the flag over Iwo Jima. -
The attle of Okinawa Begins
The Battle for Okinawa was the largest battle of the Pacific. It was also the most ferocious and bloddy. The Japanese knew Okinawa was their last line of defense, and were fighting to the very last man to protect. Even the civilians on Okinawa were ordered to fight the Allies. The Allies knew that after this, they would take the Japanese main island, and were willing to give their lives to take it. The casualties were huge, and it a prime reason Truman decided to use the atomic bomb. -
Truman Takes Office
Harry Truman becomes the 33rd President of the United States after FDR dies in office. He inherits the problems of the war from FDR and has to make the ultimate and devastating decision as to how to end it. -
The Trinity Test shows the A Bombs power
On this date in White Sands, New Mexico, the team of researchers working on the atom bomb first tested their new weapon. It yeilded an explosion equal to 20000 tons of TNT. it was stronger than anyone could have predicted. The bomb would be used to end the war with Japan. -
Atomic Bomb devastates Japan
President Truman finally decides to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. This plan was to prevent a number of Allied deaths (especially after the Battle of Okinawa) and to force Japan into an unconditional surrender. The Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs marked the end of WWII and effectively ushered in the Cold War.
