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Japanese Invasion of China
The Japanese took over the major capital in China, Nanjing, in Decemeber. Japan kept pushing through China to get thier resources. The Chinese people suffered extreme bombing and wounds. Although they were defeated by the Japanese, China still resist the Japanses thouhgout the rest of the war. Japan had to make many tough decisoins throughout the rest of this war. Ended: Sept. 9, 1945 www.wikipedia.org/www.secondworldwarhistory.com -
Rape of Nanking
After a vistory at Shanghai, Japan turned to Nanking. Chinese soldiers were hunted and killed along with familes and infants. Women were raped and sexaully abused. 200,000 to 300,000 people were killed. Soon after this event the two Japanese commanders were convicted of war crimes. www.history.com/www.alamy.com end date jan 1938 -
Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact
Germany and the Soviet Union sign a non-aggression pact. Britian needed a plan if Germany was going to expand. So they decided to get an ally. They thought the only power large enough to stop Germany is the Soviet Union. On the other hand, HItler knew that Britian would not take Germany by themselves, they would have help. So HItler soon agreed to sign a pact with the Soviet Union to ensure Britian would not not come after Germany. However, the pact would not last forever. www.history.com -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
1.5 million German troops invaded part of Poland's borders and naval forces on Sept. 1, 1939. Poland defenses tried to fight back but soon were defeated and fled the country. Germany and the USSR then concluded on an outline of thier zones of occupation. Soon Germnay will invade the USSR and go against their agreement. HItler and the German military then will seize all of Poland, End date: Oct 6, 1939 www.history.com/www.ushmm.org -
German Blitzrieg
Blitzkreig is a military tactic used by the Germans. It is used to create unorganized chioas for the enemy forces through moblie forces and local firepower. The Germans used blitzkreig for the first time agaisnt Poland in 1939 but wasnt successful until they used it against Blegium in 1940. This led to mass destructiona dn deaths of many people within the countries being invaded. www.history.com/www.ww2today.com end date; April 1941 -
Fall of Paris
3,000 Allied troops attempted to escape by sea but were stopped by German artillery fire. Now to surrender was the only option. Over 54,000 British and French troops surrenders to Germany after many days of invasion. Prime Minister Winston Churchill had already ordered more British troops back into France, and British bombers were also attacking German lines of communication. The French captial was ordered to be an open-city, no resistance to Germany.www.history.com/www.militaryhistory.about.com -
Operation Barbarossa
Hitler and the German army underestimated the enemy and its strength. While the Germans began moving into Russia they came across prepaired armies and tough weather. Before apporahcing Mocow, the soliders ran into brutal weather. Under dressed and unprepared for the waether, German soldiers were too weak to fight as they approached Moscow. In March Hitler and the Germans agreed to to stop operatoins. This event was the turning point of the war. End:Jan 7, 1942 www.history.com/www.oldpicz.com -
Pearl harbor
Hundred of Japanese figher planes attacked an American Naval Base near Honolulu, Hawaii. Bombs and exposives filled the air. A bomb hit the Battleship Arizona killing many men aboard. In total they destoryed 20 American ships and 300 planes along with 2,500 men killed. Although Japan thought they had won, aircraft carriers were not present at the time of the bombing. This lead to a quick rebound back. The next day Pres. Roos. declared war on Japan. www.history.com/www.wikipedia.com -
Wannsee Conference
A meeting was held in Berlin to discuss the final solution to the "Jewish Problem." Hitler along with 15 other Nazi officers had one plan: to end the Jews. Many ideas were brought up. One such exclaiming the process of mass sterilization. Months later gas vans in Poland seemed to be the solution. Nearly 1,000 people were killed everyday in these gas vans. www.history.com/www.wikipedia.com -
Bataan Death March
On April 7 the general began withdrawing soliders from battle because of starvation. However two days later, 75,000 Allied troops were trapped by the Japanese and forced to surrender. These Filipino and American troops that were captured on the Bataan Peninsula began a forced march to a prison camp near Cabanatuan. The prisoners were forced to march 85 miles in six days, with only one meal of rice during the entire journey. Surviors of the march still celebrate today.www.history.com/wikipedia -
Battle of Midway
When the U.S. Pacific Fleet arrived at Midway, focal point for U.S., they were destroyed by the superior Japanese fleet waiting unseen to the west. 200 miles to the northeast, two U.S. attack fleets caught the Japanese force by surprise and destroyed three heavy Japanese carriers and one heavy cruiser. At the end Japan lost 4 carriers while U.S. only lost 1. This marked the turning point in the Pacific of World War II. End:June 7, 1942 www.history.com/www.wikipedia.com -
Operation Gomorrah
British invade Hamburg, Germany by night using Operatoin Gomorrah. Britian was getting revenge from the German bombing. British aircrafts dropped 2,300 bomb on Hamburg in one hour. The amount of bombs and desstruction increased with each raid. These 9,000 bombs killed nearly 30,000 people. This destruction influenced HItler so much that he decdided not to visit the towns that we destoryed. This event surely ended HItler's ruling. www.history.com/www.thetimes.co.uk -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
Forces from America, Brtian, and Canada landed along France's Normandy beaches. In order to get the Germans they had to mislead them and then attack them when they are least expecting it. While the Allies pushed to conquer the beaches, some men lost their lives. A week later, all the beaches were occipied by Allie forces. They then marched arcross Normandy and pushed for German resistance. The event was known as the beginning to the end of the war. www.history.com/www.dday.org -
Battle of the Bulge
Adolf HItler wanted to split the Alied forces using a suprise blitzrieg. The Germans launched the deathliest attck in the foret of Ardennes. Unites States was caught off guard. As the Germans began to dig deeper into the forest the Allies forces saw the "bulge" of Germans and began fighting. This fight proved the strength of the Allies and was the costliest action the U.S. Army had taken, killing 100,000 soldiers. End date: Jan. 25, 1945 www.history.com/ -
Operation Thunderclap
A series of bombing raids ,done by the Allies, hit the German town of Dresden. The reason for the bombing was because Dresden was a major industry and communication center. The Germans used this center to convey messages to its army. Nearly 3,400 tons of bombs were dropped on this city and 135,000 people died. In conclusion the bombing was tragic to the Germans but the Germans were planning to surrender soon anyway. End date: Feb. 15, 1945 www.history.com/www.webarchive.com -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Americans invaded the island of Iwo Jima because they wanted a closer place where the planes could land instead of having to fly all the way to Marianas. The Americans arrived on the beach and soon began fighting. The Japanese fought from caves, dugouts, and tunnels. Althought America won they still lost 5,900 soliders. End date; March 26, 1945 www.history.com/ -
Battle of Okinawa
America's plan was to catputre the Pacific islands and use them for bases. This would end the mission of capturing Japan as a whole. While the Americans waited on the shores they relaized that Japan had made tunnels in which soliders were hiding and waiting for the right time to strike. While Americans were dealing with that task, Japan attacks them. After many days of fighting and brutal death toll numbers, Japan surrenders and America gets the island. End date: June 22, 1945 www.history.com -
VE Day
This day is a day of celebration because Great Britian and the United States had stopped Germany. In May German forces layed down their guns. Many Germans then tired to flee to the West but were captured by the Russians and taken captive. Meanwhile many British prisoners were being sent back to Britian. This symblozed the war was over and the Nazi Party was crushed. www.history.com/www.telegraph.co.uk -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
The Allied powers wanted to take contorl of the whole entire Pacific. So on Aug. 6, 1945 they dropped the first atomic bomb over the Japanese city. This bomb wiped out 90% of the city and killed 80,000 people. Three days later, Aug. 9,1945 another bomb was dropped on a near by Japan city killing 40,000 people. After seeing the destruction the government of Japan announced thier surrender in World War II. www.history.com/www.wikipedia.com -
VJ Day
The Japanese forgein minister,Mamoru Shigemitsu, came on the USS Missouri to announce the offcial surrender of the Japanese government to the Allies forces. Soon after the minister will be charged with war crimes and sentenced to seven years in prison. www.history.com/www.skylighters.org
