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Japanese Invasion of China
The Great Wall of China was captured during the Sino-Japanese War. Before this, Japan's empire and the Republic of China had been at war, but this escalated it and was one of the beginning signs of WWII.
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/pages/ww2/ -
Rape of Nanking
The campital of China (Nanking) fell to Japanese forces. This was done to break the spirit of the Chinese resistance and it destroyed the city. The Japanese killed over 150000 male "war prisoners", 50000 male citizens, and raped over 20000 women and girls, mutilating and killing them. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-rape-of-nanking -
Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact
Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a pact where they both agreed to take no military action against each other for 10 years. They wanted to be at peace with each other anticipating the war, along with time to build of their military. This pact fell apart June 1941, when the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/german-soviet-nonaggression-pact -
German Invasion of Polland
German aircraft bombed the Polish town Wielun and killed about 1200 people, and a German battleship opened fire on a transit depot. Just days later, this resulted in the United Kingdom and France declaring war on Germany.
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/pages/ww2/ -
German Blitzkrieg
This was a 3 wave strategy for Germany to gain power. It started with the invasion of Polland, and ended with the invasions of Denmark and Norway. They would attack and enter with tanks and combat men.
http://www.theatlantic.com/search/?q=German+Blitzkrieg -
Operation Barbarossa
Germany and the Axis Allies had 4.5 million troops engage in a surprise attack of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was unprepared and suffered horrible loss. German troops quickly advanced until winter hit, and then suffered about 775000 casualties. Overall, the Soviet Union was not conquered, and it was a turning point in the war.
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/07/world-war-ii-operation-barbarossa/100112/
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Pearl Harbor
Japan was mad because we stopped trading with them, so they made a surprise attack on the United States and bombed warships and military targets in Pearl Harbor. The U.S. was not prepared and many died and much was destroyed. After, Japan declared was on the U.S., Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S., and the U.S. declared war on them.
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/07/world-war-ii-pearl-harbor/100117/ -
Wannsee Conference
Nazi officials met to discuss the "Final Solution" of the "Jewish Question". This meant most of the Jews in Europe would be moved to Polland and murdered.
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1996/07/germania-irredenta/376631/ -
Battle of Midway
This was a 4-day battle on air and sea, resulting in the U.S. Pacific Fleet destroying four Japanese aircraft carries and losing only one of its own. This was one of the most decisive U.S. victories. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-midway-begins -
Operation Gomorrah
The British bomb Hamburg, Germany during night, and Americans bomb it by day. 42600 civilians were killed and many were injured, along with the ciry being destroyed.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched -
D-Day
Allied forces invaded Normandy and it was the larged seaborne invasion of history. This established firm control over Normandy.
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/10/world-war-ii-the-allied-invasion-of-europe/100160/ -
Battle of the Bulge
This was the last major offensive of the war, and the goal was to push the Allied front line to northwest Belgium. It was the largest fought on the Western front. It lasted 3 weeks, many Americans and civilians died.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-the-bulge -
Operation Thunderclap
On this night, the first of three waves of Allied bombers went over Dresden. Just in hours, at least 39772 people were injured or died, land was destroyed, but Dresden did not die. Go Dresden!
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1996/04/the-old-made-new/376569/ -
Battle of Iwo Jima
American soldiers attacked the Japanese home islands at Iwo Jima to hopefully secure a base near the Japanese coast. Iwo Jima was hit with 3 U.S. marine divisions and defended with 23000 Japanese Army and Navy troops. The marines eneded up wiping out the defending forces after a month, and Americans were victorious. http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/09/world-war-ii-the-pacific-islands/100155/
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Battle of Okinawa
Allied forces invaded Okinawa and it soon became the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War. 2870000 American troops went against 130000 Japanese in an 82 day campaign, resulting in Japan losing more than 77000 and Americans having more than 65000 casualties. The U.S. overcame the Japanese defenses. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
VE Day
On this day, German troops in Europe laid down their arms, Germans surrended to the Soviet Union, and it was a huge victory that was celebrated by both Great Britain and the United States. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
On this day, an American B-29 bomber dropped the worlds first atom bomb over Hiroshima. 80000 people died, 35000 were injured, and another 60000 would die from the effects of the bomb. Another bomb was dropped over a hospital and unleashed 12500 tons on TNT. These bombs completely destroyed everyting and the cities. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-is-dropped-on-hiroshima -
VJ Day
On this day, Japan surrendered to the Allies, thus ending World War II. This is known as "Victoryover Japan Day". It brought six years of histilities to a close finally. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
