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The Rape of Nanjing
Occurring during the second Sino-Japanese War, the Nanjing Massacre showed off the brutality and utter lack of regard the Japanese had for people they thought of as less than. The Chinese soldiers who surrendered were thought of as weak and the civilians thought of as playthings as the Japanese soldiers worked they way through all of Nanjing. News outlets in the west showed the atrocities that occurred in Nanjing but were often unable to truly convince the public due to the extreme nature. -
Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
The pact was signed to keep the fighting away from the two nations and also to make a secret plan to defeat and then split up Poland. Due to the pact, Poland was soon after put in a battle on both fronts and then split between Russia and Germany. The existence of the pact had also blinded Stalin to Hitler's later plan to attack Russia, allowing for Germany to get a head's up on Russia during their initial attack. -
Western Desert Campaign
Occurring coincide with other battles farther East, the main contenders involved were the British and the Italian. The Italian invasion, in a broad scope for the war, lasted longer due to both British forces taking on Hitler as well as Mussolini, and Hitler having little in the amount of troops to spare for Mussolini's aid. The battles continued in the background sucking resources for the first few years of the war. -
Battle of Moscow
One major goal in the German's plan to overrule the USSR was to take Moscow in a short window of four months. On the German's way to battle, delays were made and the Soviets were able to become better prepared and defend the city of Moscow effectively. The delay had weakened the German troops and the continued fighting against Russia had left them weaker for the remainder of the war with less total supplies and people. -
"Island Hopping"
For the war in the Pacific, Japan was the main target of the United States who where a whole ocean away. The plan was to push towards Japan, capture islands on the way, until Japan could be forced to surrender. Unconditional surrender was required from Japan and the encroachment gained from island hopping resulted in the battles and eventual surrender of Japan. -
D-Day
By this point, Nazi Germany had occupied most of Europe and had for multiple years. D-Day was a planned assault on Western France to break German hold initially on France and then later on much more of Europe. The removed occupancy of Nazis from Western Europe is viewed as the start of the end of the war in Europe. -
Kamikaze
At the point in the war when Kamikaze pilots are introduced, Japan has little resources in the way of well trained pilots and in technology but also has an undying desire to win. Kamikazes were then used to take out military ships and allowed the untrained and lackluster Japanese army of the time to make a large dent in their opponents. -
Crossing of the Rhine River
The Rhine river was one of the first territories taken by Nazi Germany before the war had even begun and it also separates France and Germany. The crossing of the river allowed the allies to get in close to Germany, send supplies right across from France, and, due to the quiet way the operation was done, left Germany with out a clue the allies had even made their way across the river. -
Battle of Okinawa
As a part of the "island hopping" initiative, the island of Okinawa was meant to be the last stop before the allies had went to Japanese soil. The battle was brutal and bloody due in large part to the lengths that the Japanese would go to to avoid losing. Japan used a combination of Kamikazes, children, and an undying dedication to the battle on the land making it clear that a battle face to face with Japan was only going to leave a trail of blood for both sides. -
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombing
The war in Europe was over at this point with Japan being offered the chance to give up or face serious consequences. The Japanese ignored the warning and the war pressed on. Air raids were done over Japan but still could not slow Japan down. The nuclear option was eventually brought into consideration and development. Hiroshima was first but still could not get the Japanese government to bow out. Nagasaki convinced the Japanese government to finally end the war once and for all.
