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Japanese Invasion of China
Over 6 weeks, Japenese forces attacked and killed thousands of Chinese people in the city of Nanking. www.history.com/topics/nanking-massacre -
Period: to
World War II
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Rape of Nanking
During this 6 weeks, between 20,000 and 80,000 women were sexually assaulted by the Japanese invaders. www.history.com/topics/nanking-massacre -
German Blitzkrieg
"lightning war" military tactic to disorganize the enemy by using mobile forces (tanks) and firepower. The Germans used these tactics in the invasion of Poland, Beligium, the Netherlands and France.
www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Fall of Paris
German tanks came into Paris and the French were unable to keep control of the city without the aide of the U.S. so the Germans were able to take Paris.
www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-enter-paris -
Operation Barbarossa
Hitler sent his troops to invade the Soviet Union, this was a turning point in the war because Germany's defeat forced them to start fighting a two front war.
www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Pearl Harbor
Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor for two hours, because the U.S. stopped sending them resources. The next day, the U.S. declared war on Japan.
www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Wannsee Confrence
Nazi officials met to discuss how they were going to solve the problem of getting rid of the Jews.
www.history.com/this-day-in-history/wannsee-confrence -
Battle of Midway
Six months after Pearl Harbor, the U.S. defeated the Japanse in a decisive naval battle. This victory allowed the U.S. and its allies to move into an offensive position.
www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
D-Day
The U.S. and the allies invaded the Germans by dropping troops behind enemy lines in order to recapture the beaches of Normandy.
www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Battle of the Bulge
Germans launched a desperate blitzkrieg attack, the Americans were defeated but bought time for the allies to come into the Ardennes forest and stop the Germans.
www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Americans attacked Japan by water in order to capture a base near the Japanese coast.
www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
The U.S. went and liberated the Nazi Concentration Camps in Germany. Freeing all these people who were held by the Germans.
www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dachau-liberated -
VE Day
This day is celebrated in Britain and the U.S. because it is the day when the war in Europe finally ended.
www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
An American B-29 bomber dropped the world's first atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion wiped out 90% of the city. Three days later a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, then the Japanese surrendered.
www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-nagasaki -
VJ Day
On this day it was announced that Japan surrendered, ending World War II. This day became known as "Victoryover Japan Day."
www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
