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Japanese Invasion of China
What happened: Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 and eventually by 1937 they started a full-scale war with China
Why did it happen: They needed resources and cheap labor. Shots were fired between Japan and China near the Marco Polo Bridge and Japan used this as a reason to invade China.
Effects/Impacts: The US refused to acknowledge or recognize any situation or agreement that Japan may enter into.
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/why-did-japan-invade-china-1937-an-what-was-marco-315915 -
German Blitzkrieg
What happened: Blitzkrieg was a military tactic used in World War II based on speed and surprise.
Why it happened: Its purpose was to create disorganization on enemy forces.
Effects/Impacts: Short military campaigns, preserved human lives, limited spending on artillery
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/world-war-two/world-war-two-and-eastern-europe/blitzkrieg/
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Battle of Britain
What happened: Germany attacked towns in Britain, but the British air force attacked them back. The battle took a long time so Germany started to bomb cities like London.
Why it happened: Germany wanted to invade Britain but they knew the RAF would defeat them so they tried to wipe them out first
Effects/Impacts: Great Britain won the war. Germany lost 17000 planes and 2662 people. Britain lost 1250 aircrafts and over 700 people
http://www.ducksters.com/history/world_war_ii/battle_of_britain.php -
Fall of Paris
What happened: France and Britain declared war against Nazi Germany. France however, was defeated and was occupied by Germany.
Why it happened: France’s defeat was caused by its scarce military leadership and basic military tactics. Germany had more advanced weapons and tactics
Effects/Impacts: Paris, France was taken over by Nazi Germany.
https://dailyhistory.org/Why_was_France_defeated_in_1940%3F -
Operation Barbarossa
What happened: Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union. It was the turning point of Hitler’s Third Reich.
Why it happened: Germany was afraid that the Red Army was going to attack them
Effects/Impacts: This resulted in the defeat of Nazi Germany
https://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Operation_Barbarossa -
Pearl Harbor
What happened: Japanese fighter planes destroyed American naval vessels, battleships, and airplanes in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Over 2,000 Americans were killed
Why it happened: Japan wanted to defeat America so that they could make a fortress that would stretch across the Pacific Rim.
Effects/Impacts: Destroyed American ships, dry docks, airfields, and over 300 planes. 2403 people were killed and about 1000 were wounded. America entered WWII.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Battle of Midway
What happened: Japan launched fighter planes to Midway while three American aircraft carriers closed in on Japanese forces. American dive bombers hit 3 Japanese aircraft carriers. This was the first major victory for the Allies.
Why did it happen: The US attacked Japan, which made Japan want to attack the American base at Midway.
Effects/Impacts: Japan lost 4 aircraft carriers, 248 aircrafts, and over 3,000 sailors.
https://www.ducksters.com/history/world_war_ii/battle_of_midway.php -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
What happened: 156000 American, British, and Canadian forces landed on the coast of France’s Normandy region. It was one of history’s largest military assaults.
Why it happened: If the Allies invaded Germany, they would win the war. Hitler knew this, so he planned a counterattack.
Effects/Impacts: Resulted in liberation of Western Europe from the Nazi’s control. Allies defeated Germany
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/d-day -
Operation Thunderclap
What happened: It was an Allied proposal against Germany to start a massive air attack on Berlin. This plan was never implemented because it was unlikely to work.
Why it happened: Its original purpose was to shatter German morale.
Effects/Impacts: It had no effects because it never happened.
http://codenames.info/operation/thunderclap-ii/ -
Battle of the Bulge
What happened: Germany attacked America using 200,000 troops and 1,000 tanks. Germany sent spies to confuse Americans. America was not ready for the attack so thousands of troops died.
Why it happened: Germany wanted to drive the Allies off of mainland Europe
Effects/Impacts: Germany was defeated. This was the last major Nazi offensive in WWII
http://www.ducksters.com/history/world_war_ii/battle_of_the_bulge.php
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-was-significance-battle-bulge-161361 -
Battle of Iwo Jima
What happened: US Marines invaded Iwo Jima. About 70000 Marines and 18000 Japanese Soldiers fought in the battle. It lasted 36 days and was one of the bloodiest battles in Marine Corps history
Why it happened: Japanese fighters from Iwo Jima were intercepting B-29s and attacking Mariana airfields, so the US decided to capture Iwo Jima
Effects/Impacts: After the battle, Iwo Jima served as a landing site for B-29 bombers
www.nationalww2museum.org/sites/default/files/2017-07/iwo-jima-fact-sheet.pdf -
Battle of Okinawa
What happened: The Navy’s Fifth Fleet, US Army troops, and US Marine Corps troops landed on Okinawa and fought Japanese troops.
Why it happened: America wanted to invade and occupy the Ryukyu Islands.
Effects/Impacts: Resulted in the largest casualties of the war (over 100,000 Japanese and 50,000 Allies)
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
VE Day
What happened: “Victory in Europe Day” was the day that the Nazis were defeated.
Why it happened: Nazi Germany surrendered to the Soviets to keep from being taken prisoner.
Effects/Impacts: VE Day became an event celebrated by Great Britain and the United States.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
What happened: An American bomber dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. A second bomb was dropped 3 days later on Nagasaki, Japan.
Why it happened: The US wanted to end the war.
Effects/Impacts: The first bomb wiped out 90% of Hiroshima’s population, and the second killed about 40,000 people. Emperor Hirohito surrendered.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
VJ Day
What happened: “Victory over Japan Day” was the day that Japan surrendered.
Why it happened: Japan surrendered because of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Effects/Impacts: This brought years of hostilities to an end
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/08/06/commentary/japan-surrender-world-war-ii/#.WneofGhKvrc
