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Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
(Pacific) The Japanese had successfully invaded China, taking over the main land of Manchuria and taking their land. They mainly did this because Manchuria was full of resources and the Japanese needed a lot of that. This is an important event because this was the start of the building of the Japanese Empire and how big they would truly get later on in the war. -
China falls to Japan
(Pacific) After the Invasion of Manchuria, China had fallen into Japanese hands and it wouldn't be until 1945 that U.S would assist in taking back China. This is important as the Japanese was at their peak during this time, and for most of the war they had China under their grip. -
Blitzkrieg into Poland
(Europe) Germany finally after months of taking back land they considered theirs, Germany decides to invade western Poland, while the Soviet Union would invade the East. This is important as this would be the start of the Second world war, as Britain declares war on Germany, and this also showed the true power of the Nazi military. -
Battle of the Atlantic
(Europe) Easily the longest battle of the war. This lasted from the beginning to the very end of the war. This was a massive naval battle that had destroyers, Submarines and all the ships that were available at the time. This battle is important as it showed how competitive the Atlantic was, since it was an important trade route for supplies and how the Allies will do anything to get the supplies they need. -
Battle of Dunkirk
(Europe) During these days, Britain and France are trying their hardest to fight off Germany from taking over France. Over 5 nations were involved, including Poland and Belgium This event is important because it showed the first signs of resistance from Nazi Germany, and it showed the first true combat in the war. -
Germany takes over France
(Europe) Nazi Germany has successfully invaded France, marching into Paris and forcing British troops to Evacuate back to Britain. This is a very important part of history as now Germany has taken control most of Europe, and Britain is outnumbered, which means they will need backup if they want to win this war. -
Battle of Britain
(Europe) From July to the end of October, The British Air Force, AKA the Royal air force was able to successfully defend Great Britain from Germany's Luftwaffe from bombing Great Britain any more then it already has. This is an important event because it shows Nazi's Germany's first defeat and strategic failure in the war. -
The Blitz
(Europe) As the British Air Force was fighting off the Luftwaffe, other planes had got around, bombing cities like London and other major cities in Great Britain, this carried on till the 10th of May, when Hitler pulled his air force away from Britain for a while. This is important because this event showed that Hitler wasn't always smart, and how this was a major strategic failure on Hitler's part. -
Operation Barbarossa
(Europe) Before this invasion, Russia and Nazi Germany had signed an agreement to not attack each other during the war. Well Germany went back on it's promise and invaded the Soviet Union, taking Poland, Belarus, and all the land of Russia west of Moscow. This is the single most important event as this was Hitler's biggest mistake out of the things he did, as this enraged the Red army, and soon caused them to be the biggest military in the world at the time. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
(Pacific) On an average day in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, sailors were still sleeping when the sounds of planes were heard. They woke up to the Japanese attacking their ships! The Japanese were able to destroy almost all of the Navy's ships, except for the aircraft carriers. This event is important as this was the driving force that caused the U.S. to go to war with Japan and soon Germany and Italy. The U.S. was finally at war with the Axis. -
The Japanese Philippines Campaign
(Pacific) The Philippines Campaign was a series of battle done by the Japanese in order the take the Philippines. However they were seriously slowed down by the United States and Filipino forces that were stationed there. This event is important as it showed the U.S. that are fully prepared for this war and that they need to step it up if they want any chance to win this war at all. -
Battle of Bataan and the Bataan Death March
(Pacific) This battle was the most intense battle the U.S. had to face with the Japanese. The Japanese had brought all their forces and pushed the hardest to claim their land. After the Japanese victory, 75,000 soldiers from the U.S and the Philippines were forced to march to Prison camps in the Philippines, which was later known to be as the Bataan Death March. This event is important as this enraged the U.S., who were having a hard enough time. Now they lost the Philippines too. -
The New Guinea Campaign
(Pacific) The new Guinea Campaign was one of the major campaign that lasted to the end of the war. Before that, the Japanese had taken over all of New Guinea, and the U.S. really wanted to take that land back, to push the Japanese further. This campaign meant heavy losses for the Japanese and they would lose a lot more till the Japanese surrendered. This battle is important because it showed that the Japanese were not wanting to give and would keep going till the very end of the war. -
Doolittle Raid (Tokyo Raid)
(Pacific) The Doolittle Raid was an air raid that sent a few planes to Japan, over Tokyo, where they bombed civilian and military locations. These planes couldn't make it back to the U.S., so they had hoped to land in China, where they were taken back. This event is important as it gave the U.S. a huge boost of morale that they can win this war and take back the land that was taken by the Japanese -
Battle of the Coral Sea
(Pacific) The battle of the Coral sea was a major battle between the U.S. and Japanese navy, which was interesting since this is the first naval battle that didn't use ships, it only involved planes. While the U.S. suffered heavy loses, including one aircraft carrier, the Japanese suffered heavier losses, and could not push through any more. This was an important event because it showed the U.S. naval power and how they can stop an offensive from moving. -
Battle of Midway
(Pacfic) This decisive U.S. victory brought many people hope that this war could be won, and it was showing. When Japan was planning to invade the island of Midway, U.S. ships snuck in, and sent out planes to bomb everything. The Japanese tried their best, but they ended up losing nearly their whole navy, including all of their aircraft carriers. This event is important as this was the turning point of the war, which means the Japanese cannot make an offensive anymore. -
The Guadalcanal Campaign
(Pacific) The Guadalcanal Campaign, also called Operation Watchtower is a major battle that took at the Guadalcanal island. The U.S. wanted to take back the island of Tulagi, in which the Japanese were holding. They had won that fight and successfully took the island. This battle is important because it showed the fight victory for the land units in the U.S. against the Japanese and how this would start the first offensive to Japan. -
Battle of Stalingrad
(Europe) This important Soviet Union victory took over half a year to finally win. The city of Stalingrad was taken over by the Nazis, and was going to be used as a base, but the Soviets had successfully surrounded and city and destroyed the Nazi Division that was stationed there. This is an important event because THIS is the turning point of the war, where the Nazis were unable to make any more offensives to Russia anymore and would lead to the downfall of Germany. -
Second battle of El Alamein
(Europe) This was the first serious allied powers victory, as it helped the push back from Nazi Germany. This fight took place in Egypt, where the Afrika Korps tried to stop the allies, but failed. The U.S. and the allies now had the entire North Africa in their hands. This was an important event as it helped the push back from Germany and helped the allies gain some land. -
Operation Torch
(Europe) As the Allied forces were beginning to get land back, they began to develop a plan to take back the land from Germany and get Germany to surrender. They first started in North Africa, which lead to Italy and then to France and eventually they pushed back Germany to victory. This even is important as this was the operation that really did end the war in Europe, and it was the most important operation to ever be conceived. -
Battle of Kursk
(Europe) The second major battle between Soviet and German forces was the largest of them all, being the most amount of tanks used at once in a single battle. It was an open field battle with tanks and men, using the tanks as cover. Although the soviets lost a lot, the Germans got much worse. This is an important event because it cemented the fact that Germany cannot make an offensive, and that the soviets can resist the German tank units, which were considered the best during the time. -
The Allied invasion of Sicily
(Europe) This was the first battle that started the first part of Operation Husky, where the U.S. would go through Italy and attack France from the south. This battle wasn't the hardest, but it was fought and eventually the Allies did get through, taking Sicily. This Battle is important as it showed the potential that the Allies have, and it was the first step to Operation Husky, so it gave the Allies some hope that this will be successful. -
Invasion of Italy (Battle of Salerno)
(Europe) This battle, and the battles following after were the first steps to Allied victory. In less then a month the Allies were able to take most of Italy before being stopped by German forces, in which the Allies were stopped and kept there till the end of the war. This is important because this is the start of the fall of the Nazis, in which they are starting to lose land and thus they are starting to lose power -
The Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign
(Pacific) The Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign was a series of battle that took place around the Gilbert Islands and the Marshall Islands. The U.S. wanted to take these islands to use as Naval bases and and airfields to get closer and closer to Japan. These battles gave the U.S. the land they needed to make those bases. These battles are important because it helped the U.S. get closer and closer to the Japanese Empire, and getting closer means getting closer to victory. -
Battle of Anzio
(Europe) The other invasion that was going on, this was a lot more successful, as they attacked the city of Anzio quickly, but took more time till they finally captured Rome, fully taking over Rome for good. This battle is important because it shows that the Allies can and will fight back, making the Germans more worried that they will lose this war. -
D-Day (Battle of Normandy)
(Europe) On June 6, 1944. Allied forces From America, Britain, and Canada began the invasion of France, starting at the beaches of Normandy. The losses were heavy, 10,000 dead by the end of the day, but in the end the Allies had raided the beaches, taking Normandy and pushing the German's out of France. This Battle is so important in history because it showed the first serious push into Germany and how Germany would eventually fall later on in the war. -
Battle of the Philippine Sea
(Pacific) The battle of the Philippine Sea was a major naval battle that destroyed the Japanese and caused the U.S. to move on further and further to Japan. This battle is important because it prevented the Japanese from carrying out any more large scale carrier operations, and caused the U.S. to move in further and further. -
Battle of Guam
(Pacific) The Battle of Guam was the U.S. retake of the island of Guam from the Japanese Empire. This island was originally U.S. territory, but the Japanese had taken that island away from them, and the U.S. wanted it back. The Japanese got heavy losses and the U.S. took the island back. This battle is important as it showed that the U.S. are willing to do everything they can to take what is there, and they showed indeed. -
Operation Dragoon
(Europe) Operation Dragoon was the planned invasion of southern France. after D-Day, it was time to take over all of France, so all the Allied forces began to work together to take over Southern, and eventually get to Paris later on. This battle is important as it began to show the slow but sure death of Nazi Germany and the Nazi army to go with it. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf.
(Pacific) The battle of Leyte Gulf is major naval battle that took place between the U.S. and the Japanese. This battle by many is considered to be the biggest naval battle in World War II, if not the biggest battle in History. This battle is important because it was an important victory for the U.S., since they crippled the Japanese navy by a ton. -
Battle of the Bulge
(Europe) This battle was Nazi Germany's last offensive ever made during World War II, as after this the Allied will push the German's back further till they are defeated. They had tried to push forward, creating this bulge, where some Allied soldiers were trapped in this bulge till later. This battle is important because it shows that the Germans will do anything to push back, and they had used up all their strength they left, but nothing was gonna work, and so they failed to achieve anything. -
The Siege of Bastonge
(Europe) The siege of Bastogne was a smaller part of the much larger Battle of the Bulge. Allied troops were trapped in the bulge, where Bastogne was located. Other allied troops had to go in and take the city, saving the soldiers and stopping the German counter-attack. This battle is important because it shows that the U.S. and the other allied forces are able to ward off a counter attack and that the Germans won't be able to push anymore. -
The Yalta Conference
(Europe and Pacific) The Yalta Conference was a meeting that had the U.S., Britain and the Soviet Union involved in. This meeting was to discuss what would happen after the war was over and what would happen to rebuild Europe after the war. This event is important because it finally gave the leaders some idea of what was to happen after this war was over, and what was going to happen after they had achieved victory. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
(Pacific) The Battle of Iwo Jima is a major land battle between the Japanese and the U.S. This battle is one of the most famous U.S. battle ever, in which the U.S. took the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese Empire. This battle is important because it shows that the U.S. can get all this land back and they are ready to take Japan. -
Battle of Okinawa
(Pacific) The Battle of Okinawa, or Operation Iceberg as was called, was a series of battles that took place near the city of Okinawa on the Japanese Ryukyu islands. These intense battle ended in U.S. victory, taking the islands and establishing new bases there. This battle is important as it showed the first signs of the U.S. getting into the heart of Japan, seeing if they can make it all the way through. -
Hitler's Suicide
(Europe) When the U.S. and the Soviet Union were just about to close in on Berlin, Hitler could not take it anymore. He took a cyanide pill and shot himself in the head, in which Germany declared him dead. This event is important as it lead to the Nazi's downfall and soon the surrender of all German troops in Germany. -
Germany Surrenders to the Allies
(Europe) This day, most commonly known as V.E. day, is the day that Nazi Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allies. This day is celebrated all over the world, where the U.S. and Soviet Union were now the biggest powers. This event is important as it showed the final day that Germany put up a fight, and it finally ends the war in Europe. -
The Potsdam Conference
(Europe and Pacific) This conference was the last conference to happen between the Big three, and it was an important conference. This was to discuss what would happen at the end of the war and what would happen to Europe and Italy, and also Japan. This event is important because the president at the time, Truman, had finally revealed the Atomic weapon, which he said he would only use if necessary. -
The Bombing of Hiroshima.
(Pacific) When the U.S. gave Japan an ultimatum to surrender or face destruction, the Japanese ignored them. So the Enola Gay flew under Hiroshima, and dropped the Atomic bomb on the city, completely destroying the city, killing thousands instantly and later on through radiation. This event is important because it finally showed the power of the atomic bomb and how devastating it could be to a nation, it was also starting to show that Japan would start to surrender here. -
The Bombing of Nagasaki.
(Pacific) Even after the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan would still not surrender, so having to take matters into their own hands, the U.S. dropped the Fat Man bomb on Nagasaki, which caused similar destruction and just as many deaths as Hiroshima. This event is important as this was the driving force that made Japan surrender right then and there, unconditionally. -
Japan surrenders.
(Pacific) Also known as V.J. day, this date marks the end of the pacific front of the war, which means this is the end of the whole world war in general. The Japanese signed the treaty on the USS Missouri with no conditions. This event is important as it finally marked the end of the second world war, and we would lead up to a new age and a new war that would last for decades. The Cold War.
