-
Rape of Nanjing
The Rape of Nanjing (otherwise referred to as Nanjing massacre) is an instance where Japanese soldiers murdered and/or raped thousands during the second Sino-Japanese War. This fed Japan's nationalism and isolation which added to the possibilities of a potential war. China's capital was damaged and left in ruins. -
Anschluss
Anschluss, the union of Germany and Austria. With a growing Nazi presence in Austria, Hitler made his move on Austria. Hitler contributed to the increase of Nazi influence in Austria despite disapproval from the Austrian president. Hitler marched into Austria and a Plebiscite was held where Anschluss was put into place. This fed the growing Nazi party giving them more power. This union was also not allowed according to the Treaty of Versailles. This created turmoil which pushed towards war. -
Munich Conference
The Munich conference is where France, Great Britain, Germany and Italy met to discuss Germany annexing Czechoslovakia. Ultimately they appeased Germany's request. This increased Germany's size and power, feeding Hitler's war efforts. The irony is that the world leaders gave in to Hitler's request in hopes of keeping war at bay. But after the Munich Conference Poland had fears about being invaded which got Britain and France involved and when Hitler did invade Poland, World War II began. -
Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg is a method of warfare where an attacking force, heavily armored with tanks, aircrafts, etc. pushes through the opponent with short, fast, powerful attacks and then dismantles the defense, using speed and surprise to encircle them with the help of air superiority. Blitzkrieg was what made Germany so successful at war. They were able to swiftly invade and conquer their target countries. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan launched a surprise air strike on the United states at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This airstrike killed many and destroyed 20 naval ships. This event is what caused The United States to enter World war II on December 8, 1941. This was obviously a major turning point as another world power had entered the world war. -
Battle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea was a major naval battle between the Japanese and American and Australian naval and air forces. This battle is significant because it was the first battle where aircraft carriers engaged each other. Japan had planned to invade ports in an effort to strength their hold in the Pacific. While they technically won, they were eventually beaten after the battle which ultimately contributed to their surrender in 1945. -
Tunisia Campaign
The Tunisia Campaign was a series of battle between axis and allied powers. The axis powers eventually were forced out of Tunisia with thousands of Germans and Italians being taken as war criminals. This battle created an opening of Sicily and the Italian mainland in the summer of 1943, and stopped the Axis threat to the oilfields of the Middle East and to British supply lines to Asia and Africa. The axis powers were severely weakened by this. -
Kamikaze
Kamikaze were Japanese pilots who took part in suicide missions. Their planes would be armed with explosives and the pilot would crash into the enemy target. In Okinawa the US the greatest losses ever suffered by the U.S. Navy in a single battle due to the Kamikaze pilots, killing almost 5,000 men. The Kamikaze damaged hundreds of ships during the war. -
D-Day
On June 6, 1944, allied forces landed on the northern coast of France in an effort to free Western Europe from nazi control. Codenamed Operation Overlord, the plan took months of planning and strategizing. The operation became known as the beginning of the end of the war because the reclaiming of France weakened Germany and put the Allies ahead. -
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The United States, with the permission of the United Kingdom, unleashed two atomic bombs onto the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Six days after the two bombings happened, Japan surrendered which led to the end of the war.
