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The Rape of Nanking
As the Imperial Japanese made their way through eastern Asia, they came across a little Chinese town called Nanking. Naturally they burned down and destroyed the city, then proceeded to kill around 200,000 "war prisoners" and civilians, as well as raping, killing, and mutilating 20,000 girls of all ages in the process. Though nobody talks about it since "the Japanese got nuked twice let's feel bad for them. They didn't commit any war crimes and atrocities." -
German Invasion of Poland
At 4:45 AM on September 1st, 1939, 1.5 million German troops invaded Poland's eastern border. Hitler planned to occupy Poland and enslave the native Slavs. This caused Britain to declare war on Germany. -
German Blitzkrieg
The German "blitzkrieg" meaning "lightning war" was a tactic used by the Germans, focusing on fast unexpected force to create disorganization of enemy troops. The German military used this tactic during the invasion of Poland. This lead to a successful invasion. -
Bob Semple Tank
New Zealand was threatened by the invasion of eastern Asia by the Imperial Japanese. There was limited weapons manufacturing and importation from allied countries. After the Fall of France in 1940, the Allies lost a significant number of tanks, so the production of tanks for New Zealand grinded to a halt. With tensions rising in the Pacific the new Zealand government was getting desperate, so they gave Bob Semple the go-ahead. He had a plan to transform tractors into tanks. Not very efficient... -
Pearl Harbor
"December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was
suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." The United States cut trade with the Japanese which resulted in retaliation. The Japanese was no match against the United State's Navy, so they thought they could put a dent in their navy early which inevitably failed because they didn't destroy the repair yard. Around 2,300 Americans were killed. -
D-Day
The Allied forces waited until there was finally decent weather to invade Normandy. At the time France was under German control and they weren't expecting invasion from Normandy as the Allies had set up a diversion in south eastern France. This led the Germans to believe that the allies were going to invade in the southeast, so they had moved more of there forces there, and were ill-prepared for invasion in Normandy -
Battle of the Buldge
With Germany's operations looking bleak, they decided to try one more surprise attack on the allies in the Ardennes. They attacked a weak portion of the allied, which sustained many casualties. Eventually after enduring many losses, the Germans were able to encircle the Allied forces, and negotiate a treaty. -
The Battle of Iwo Jima
The United States Marine Corps landed on the Imperial Japanese controlled island of Iwo Jima. In a battle that lasted almost five weeks, the United States fought the Japanese and killed all but around 200 of their original 21,000 men, only sustaining 7,000 casualties to their own forces. The Americans did struggle to advance in the earlier stages of the attack, due to the rough terrain and Japanese gunfire, but later were able to advance and seize control of two Japanese air fields. -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was the last major battle of World War II, and one of the bloodiest. The invasion included 180,000 Marines and the Navy's fifth fleet. With the Nazis being pushed back to near defeat, Japan was the last power to deal with. After a victory at Iwo Jima, America planned to invade Okinawa; the last island before Japan. Unlike D-Day, the beaches were clear and moving troops and equipment was effortless. 130,000 Japanese troops were waiting deeper in the island but were defeated. -
V-E Day
Victory in Europe! As the war draws to a close, the Nazis are pushed back into Germany and surrender. Though they Nazis had kept fighting with Russia and Czechoslovakia, they were pushed back and around two million were kept as prisoners by the USSR. Prisoners of war were released, and the war was over. -
Dropping of the Nuclear Bombs
On August 6th, an American B-29 "Enola Gay" dropped the nuclear bomb "Little Boy" on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later on August 9th, the American B-29 "Bockscar" dropped yet another nuclear bomb the "Fat Man" on the city of Nagasaki, Japan. This inevitably led to the surrender of the Imperial Japanese and victory for the Allies in WWII, though some say this action could have sparked the Cold War. -
V-J Day
Victory in Japan! On the second of September, 1945, the Imperial Japanese surrendered unconditionally aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. This brought six years of brutal conflict in the pacific to a close. In some places V-J Day is also celebrated on the 14th and 15th of August.
