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Japanese Invasion of China
In 1937, Japan led a brutal attack on China because it wanted control of its vast natural resources. After and because of the war against China and sanctions, Japan initiated war in the Pacific. http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/sino-japanese-war -
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German Blitzkrieg
During World War II, Germany invented a new battle tactic called Blitzkrieg, meaning "lightning war". In this tactic, Germans would create chaos with their planes, artillery, and troops in order to confuse enemy lines. Many battles were won by this kind of warfare and it proved to be rather efficient.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/blitzkrieg_01.shtml -
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Germany's Invasion of Poland
http://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/invasion-of-poland.asp
In 1937, Germany invaded Poland from the west to obtain their agricultural and natural resources as well as Poland's manpower. Attacked Poland from the east to form a front between Germany and Russia. About 200,000 Polish soldiers were injured or killed and about 694,000 were taken as Prisoners of War. Poland was pretty much destroyed by the battle and World War II officially began. -
Fall of Paris
In June 1940, Germans marched into Paris and took over the city. The French kept hoping that the United States would enter the war and help them, but the Canadians came instead. After the Fall of Paris, France didn't have a huge part in the war as they were pretty well defeated.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-enter-paris -
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Operation Barbarossa
In 1941, Germany launched a massive invasion on the Soviet Union. Germany was attacking the Soviet because they thought that they could easily wipe the Soviets out. Germany also knew that if they wiped out the Soviet Union, the resources gained would keep Germany powerful for a long time, even after the war. Germany was doing quite well at first, but a harsh winter weakened them and Russia recouperated. Germany left Russia.
http://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/operation-barbarossa-the-drive-on-s -
Pearl Harbor
In December 1941, Japan invaded the American Pearl Harbor. Japan knew that the Hawaiian island had major resources. The attack led to the United States's declaration of war on Japan, and so, the United State's entrance into World War II.
http://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/japanese-attack-on-pearl-harbor.asp -
Wannsee Conference
In 1942, Nazi officials met to plan what to do about the Jews in Germany. The Nazis wanted Germany to be "pure" and not mixed with those of other nationalities, namely the Jews. They decided that they would murder the Jews in Europe, which is known as the Holocaust.
http://www.britannica.com/event/Wannsee-Conference -
The Battle of Midway
Japan decided to attack the American island of Midway as the island was a great place to land in the middle of the ocean. The U.S. had broken Japan's naval code, though, so they knew the attack was coming. The U.S. victory broke the back of Japan's carrier force.
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/static/neh/interactives/wwii/lesson1/data/15.html -
Operation Gomorrah
Operation Gomorrah was launched in 1943 when Britain and the U.S. attacked Hamburg, Germany. Britain wanted to get back at Germany for their previous raid. Germany suffered terrible losses and the defeat was a huge blow to their morale.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched -
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Invasion of Italy
The Allies invaded Italy to get the Germans out of there. They were not able to get the Germans out, so Eisenhower had Americans abort the mission.
http://www.shmoop.com/wwii/france-battle.html -
D-Day: Normandy Invasion
In June 1944, Allied powers attacked German forces at Normandy, France. Germany had been trying to take over Europe and the Allies knew they needed to take them out. The Allied forces lost many troops, but the victory of the battle was the turning point of World War II.
http://www.ducksters.com/history/world_war_ii/d-day_invasion_of_normandy.php -
Battle of the Bulge
In 1944, Germany launched a counteroffensive that was suppose to penetrate Allied forces and change the course of the war. American troops, however, fought off the German forces and had a huge victory. Germany had lost one of the last straws in the war. -
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Liberation of concentration camps
Germany had been putting millions of Jews in concentration camps, forcing them to work and treating them like animals. Soviet, American, and British forces were eventually able to liberate some of the camps. Some of the liberated Jews survived, but millions had already died. The liberation of the concentration weaken Germany's control and perhaps contributed to their shortly following surrender.
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005131 -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
American troops attacked the Japanese island of Iwo Jima in February 1945. Japan soldiers defended the island from elaborate tunnels and trenches, but American troops still wiped them out. From the American victory, we have the famous symbol of soldiers raising an American flag. This served as a huge boost to American morale.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
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Operation Thunderclap
In February 1945, the Allies bombed the German city of Dresden. The Soviets asked the Allies for an air raid on Germany, so the Allies bombed the German's communication centers. The bombs destroyed the city and created a lot of controversy among the British public about the justification of bombing the city after the war had pretty much been won.
http://www.pbs.org/thewar/detail_5229.htm -
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Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was an Allied invasion of the Japanese island of Okinawa. The Allies knew that taking the island from Japan would be a devastating loss. Following their loss, Japan surrendered in World War II.
http://www.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Battle_of_Okinawa -
VE Day
VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, was Britain's official day of celebration for Germany's surrender. British civilians celebrated by hanging up banners, dancing, drinking, and going to church to thank God for their victory. For many who had lost loved ones in the war, VE Day was bittersweet.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/events/ve_day -
Potsdam Declaration
After the Japanese surrendered the war, they signed the Potsdam Declaration which would declare that Japan was agreeing to unconditional surrender. The U.S. and China wanted Japan to be held accountable and not attack anymore. Japan's official agreement forced them to keep to themselves.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-accepts-potsdam-terms-agrees-to-unconditional-surrender
http://www.atomicarchive.com/Docs/Hiroshima/Potsdam.shtml -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
On August 6, 1945, an American B-29 Bomber dropped the world's first deployed atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Japan. The bomb killed 80,000 people instantly with tens of thousands to follow. On August 9, the U.S. dropped another atomic bomb over Nagasaki, killing about 40.000 people. Japan announced their surrender on August 15.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
VJ Day
Following the atomic bombs dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan announced unconditional surrender. Prior to the bombings, Japan had vowed to fight to the bitter end. When Japan did announce their surrender, the United States rejoiced. World War II had finally come to an end.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day