What was the nature and impact of the Second World War?

Japanese Invasion of China

Jul 7, 1937

citationThe Japanese invaded China, launching the Second sino-Japanese War. The war happened because of a conflict between Japanese and Chinese tropps for control of Chinese mainland. Chinese forces were unable to resist the Japanese, for the Japanese military was stronger. The Japanese moved to the eastern south of China to seize control. The Second Sino-Japanese War was the biggest war in the 20th century and conrtibuted to more than 50% of casualities in the Pacific War.

Germany's Invasion of Poland

Sep 1, 1939

citation The invasion marked the start of WW2. The Nazis and Soviet Union led it. The invasion was launched from two sides, with the polish quickly showing their weakness due to their reilance on France and UK. Poland was defeated giving Germany and Soviet Union total control. Hitler ordered the invasion of Poland to prevent the anti-German alliance and to defend Germans in Poland. The invasion ended the Second Polish Republic. It had a total of 904,000 Polish casualties and 59,000 German/Slovakians.

German Blitzkrieg [1939-1940]

Sep 1, 1939

CitationBlitzkrieg means surprise attack. German forces tried out the blitzkrieg in Poland, Belgium, Nethelands, and France. Its successful execution results in perserved human lives. Also, the ability to get large mobile forces through weak points in the enemies defenses and then causes damage. Many blitzkriegs result in a success which makes expansion possible and easier.

Fall of Paris

Jun 14, 1940

citation On November 11,1918, the French and British allies accepted Germany's surrender, and, between them, signed the armistice that ended WW1. In 1940, Hitler got his revenge and decided that its France turn to get surrendered. Germans enter Paris announcing via loudspeakers that curfew was being imposed for that evening as German troops enter and occupy Paris. The collapse ripped the balance of power in Europe. It also led the Germans to gamble even more heavily on their next operations.

Operation Barbarossa

Jul 22, 1941

citationThe largest military invasion in history, it comprised of more than 4 million Axix troops. Although Germans achieved notable tactical victories during the operation, yet it was a failure as the Nazis failed to capture Moscow. Barbarossa proved to be a turning point, and Germany never again threatened the Soviet capital. Although the Soviet Union was unprepared when Germany attacked, yet they fought on and survived. It resulted on Germany being defeated.

Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

citationJapanese planes attacked the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory. The bombing killed more than 2,300 Americans. It destroyed the Americans battleship U.S.S. Arizona. The attack sand a total of 12 ships and damaged 9 others. The attack took the country by surprise, for the Pearl Harbor bas was ill-prepared. This event brought the US into WW2. It happened to neutralize the US and protect Japan where it sought access to natural resources like oil and rubber.

Battle of Midway

Jun 4, 1942

citationThe Japanese formed a plan to sneak up on the U.S. forces.
They hoped to trap the U.S. aircraft carriers in a bad situation where they could destroy them. However, American code breakers had intercepted a number of Japanese transmissions. The Americans knew the Japanese plans and prepared their own trap for the Japanese. It resulted the loss of 4 Japanese aircraft carriers. They lost a number of ships and 3,000+ soldiers. The battle was the turning point of the pacific between US and Japan.

Battle of Stalingrad

Jul 17, 1942

citation
The battle began with the German air force bombing the Volga River and then city of Stalingrad. Soviet troops weren't ready to give up. They hid all over the city, in buildings, attacking the German soldiers. The Soviets gathered and made a counter attack, trapping the German army inside of Stalingrad. Around 91,000 German soldiers were captured.

Manhattan Project

Aug 13, 1942

citationIt was a research and development project that produced the first nuclear weapons during WW2. It was led by the US with the support of the UK and Canada. It changed the entire way warfare would be fought forever. It also contributed to a complete change in the global positioning of superpowers and their allies. The original goal of the project was to end WW2. This project changed and shaped history through its successful achievment on developing and creating functional atomic weapons.

Warsaw Ghetto uprising

Apr 19, 1943

citation Underground resistance movements formed in about 100 Jewish groups. The most famous attempt by Jews to resist the Germans in armed fighting occurred in the Warsaw ghetto. It began after German troops and police entered the ghetto to deport its surviving inhabitants. The uprising had a large impact on the Jews as a people because it became a symbol of hope.

Operation Gomorrah

Jul 24, 1943

citationBritish bombers raid Hamburg, Germany, by night in Operation Gomorrah, while Americans bomb it by day in its own"Blitz week." The bombing intended to cripple Germany's industrial strength. the amount of bombs dropped on the city was greater than any previous warfare in history. More than 1,500 German civilians were killed. Germany decided to throw bombs on Britain, leading to them suffering from the death of 167 civilians. The US Air Force began bombing on Germany. The battle ended in November.

D-Day [Normandy Invasion]

Jun 6, 1944

citationThe Normandy Mission had been a series of mock landing operations, teasers, which were meant to distract German attention from the idea of the final Normandy operation. The purpose was to convince Hitler that oncoming landing would take place on the north. It also meant to neutralize the control and rule of Hitler. The German were caught in surprise; however, they quickly responded. The mission was known as the D-Day invasion which led to the liberation of France and changed the tide of the war.

The Battle of Bulge

Jan 25, 1945

citationThe goal was to force the Allies into a position to sue for peace. It was led by Hitler, for he wanted to end the war. The outcome of the battle have emboldened the Allies to continue forward and defeat the Axis powers. The fighting spirit of the American troops along with the British helped prevent the tide of the war from changing. Instead, the events were a loss for Hitler. The Allied troops gained a tactical victory. At the end, 80,000+ American troops and 100,000+ German were killed.

Liberation of Concentration Camps

Jan 27, 1945

citationSoviet soldiers were the first to liberate concentration camp prisoners in the final stages of the war. As for Germany, they had to leave behind prisoners that were very sick and exhausted and they returned in hasty. Many belongings were left behind as well. British, Canadian, American, and French troops also freed prisoners from the camps. The Americans were responsible for liberating Buchenwald and Dachau, while British forces entered Bergen-Belsen

Operation Thunderclap

Feb 13, 1945

citationThe Allied Command proposed to bomb the eastern cities of Germany to disrupt the transport infrastructure. Not all cities were bombed. For example, Dresden had received very little bombing. Air force crews who had been intended to attack Dresden were forced to cancel the raid due to some factors that infuenced the raid. These factors include the weather, the fighters, the air defenses, target marking, and the fire services. It destroyed the main railway station and killed thousands of people.

Battle of Okinawa

Apr 1, 1945

citationThe main strategic objective, apart from gaining territory from the Japanese, was twofold. First, the battle would allow US to use planes to bomb the industrial centers of Japan. Second, the remainders of Japan's ships were to be destroyed in order to cut off supplies to the enemy. The battle resulted in the Allies victory, with a huge casualties being inflicted on the Japanese army. It was the largest amphibious landing in the Pacific theater of WW2.

VE Day

May 8, 1945

citationVictory in Europe Day, generally known as VE Day, was the public holiday celebrated to mark the formal acceptance by the Allies of WW2 of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces. Both Great Britain and the United States celebrate this day. Both put out flags and banners, rejoicing the defeat of the Nazi war machine.

Battle of Iwo Jima

May 19, 1945

citationAmericans thought that it would take a week to invade the island, but it took them 36 days because Japan had surprises for the US. Japanese dug tunnels before Americans attacking to hide in. Americans goal was to attack one island and use it to prepare for attacking another island. It was estimated that there were no more than 300 Japanese left alive in the island's warren of caves and tunnels. The Battle resulted in American's victory.

Dropping of the Atomic Bombs

Aug 9, 1945

citationOn this day, an American bomber, the Enola Gay, drops the world's first atom bomb over the city of Hiroshima in Japan. President Harry S. Truman warned by some of his advisors that any attempt to invade Japan would result in horrific American casualties. There were 90,000 buildings before the bombing; only 28,000 remained after the bombing. In addition, there were 200 doctors before the explosion; only 20 were left alive or working.

VJ Day

Aug 14, 1945

citationOn this day, it was announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending WW2. Since then, this day was know as "Victory Over Japan Day," or simply "VJ Day." It is a legal holiday celebrated only in the state of Rhode Island.