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Rape of Nanking(1937)
Mass killing and ravaging of Chinese citizens and capitulated soldiers by soldiers of the Japanese imperial army after its seizure of Nanking, China on December 13th, 1937, ending in January of 1938. https://www.britannica.com/event/Nanjing-Massacre -
German blitzkrieg(1939-1940)
German forces tried out the blitzkrieg in Poland in 1939 before successfully employing the tactic with invasions of Belgium, the Netherlands, and France in 1940. A German term for "lightning war", blitzkrieg is a military tactic designed to create disorganization among enemy forces through the use of mobile forces and locally concentrated firepower. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Japanese invasion of china (1937)
A military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the empire of Japan from July 7th, 1937 to September 2nd, 1945. China fought Japan with aid from the soviet union and the united states.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Sino-Japanese_War -
Germany's invasion of Poland(1939)
After a heavy bombing, Warsaw surrendered to the Germans on September 27th, 1939. britain and France had declared war on Germany on September 3rd, 1939. The soviet union then invaded eastern Poland on September 17th, 1939. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/invasion-of-poland-fall-1939 -
Fall of Paris(1940)
The Battle of France, aka the Fall of Paris(France), was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries during the 2nd World War. In the 6 weeks from May 10th, 1940. German forces defeated Allied forces by mobile operations and gained France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, bringing land operations on the Western Front to an end until June 6th, 1944(The start of D-day). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_France -
Operation Barbarossa(1941)
Adolf Hitler initiated his armies in an eastward direction to a massive invasion on the Soviet Union. 3 successful army groups with over 3 million German soldiers, 150 divisions, and 3,000 tanks smashed across the frontier into Soviet territory. The invasion sheltered a front from the North Cape to the Black Sea, distance of 2,000 miles. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Pearl Harbor(1941)
Hundreds of Japanese descended on the base where they damaged nearly 20 american naval vessels, including 8 battleships, and over 300 airplanes. More than 2,400 american fatalities, and another 1,000 people were injured. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Battle of Stalingrad(1942)
A violent military campaign occurred between Russian forces and Nazi Germany and the Axis powers during World War II. The battle is outrageous as one of the most tremendous, lengthy and bloodiest engagements in modern warfare. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
Bataan Death March(1942)
Approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to make a 65 mile march to the prison camp sites, while going through very harsh conditions by the Japanese guards the whole way. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Battle of Midway(1942)
The Battle of Midway, 1 of the most decisive U.S. victories against Japan during World War II begins. During the 4 day battle, the outnumbered U.S. Pacific Fleet succeeded in destroying 4 Japanese aircraft carriers while losing one of its own to the previously indestructible Japanese navy. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-midway-begins -
D-day (Normandy Invasion of 1944)
About 156,000 Americans, the British and the Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50 mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. The invasion was one of the largest military assaults in history. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Operation Thunderclap(1945)
A sequence of allied bombing assaults begins against the German city of Dresden, which reduces the “Florence of the Elbe” to debris and flames, 135,000 fatalities on record. It was the most devastating bombing of the war, even including Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And even more horrifying because it was accomplished so strategically. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/firebombing-of-dresden -
Liberation of Concentration Camps(1945)
The Allies prevented an epidemic by burning down the Belsen Concentration Camp, they also destroyed a monument to man's inhumanity to man. Auschwitz was one of the 6 Nazi extermination camps, and was the last one still standing in the final months of the war. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/liberation_camps_01.shtml -
VE day(1945)
Both Great Britain and the United States celebrate Victory in Europe on this day. Cities in both nations, as well as occupied cities in Western Europe, put out flags and banners celebrating the defeat of the Nazi war machine. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs(1945)
The U.S. became the 1st and only nation to use atomic weapons during the war when it drops an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The dropping of an atomic bomb on Japan marked the end of World War II, and many people argue that it also sparked the Cold War. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-hiroshima -
VJ day(1945)
It was announced that Japan had surrendered completely to the Allies, effectively ending World War II. Ever since, both August the 14th and August the 15th have been known as “Victory over Japan Day,” or simply “V-J Day.” https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
