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Japan invades China
The Second Sino-Japanese War began due to Japanese wanting to expand it's military and economy influence. They claimed they were shot at by Chinese troops near Bejing, so their response was all out invasion. With little resistance, the Japanese captured the Shanghai and their capital, Chaing Kai-Shek, in under six months. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/china_war.htm -
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Gernamy Blitzkriegs Europe
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Germany invades Poland
The invasion of Poland was important because it was the real beginning of WWII. Hitler invaded Poland from the west while the Russians invaded from the east. The Nazis and the Russians had a non aggression pact to not directly fight each other. This was the first time the world was introduced to the Blitzkrieg, which was the German strategy of WWII. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-invades-poland -
Battle of France Begins, Leading to the Fall of Paris
France and Britian had not seen much fighting for the last nine months, since the invasion of Poland. They declared war on Germany, but the fighting actually statred on May 10th when the Germans lainched an all out offensive on France. With their Blitzkrieg strategy, Paris fell in less than two months after the invasion began. http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/fall-of-france -
Operation Barbarossa is Launched
Operation Barbarossa was a massive invasion of the Soviet Union. The Germans covered nearly two thougand miles of territory before their shortcomings. Their industry couldn't support a war on two fronts, and they underprepared for their enemy. Untimately though, Operation Barbarossa was a failure due to logistics. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Angry at the United States for not getting involved in the war, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, killing more than 2000 sailors and soldiers. They next day, FDR consulted Congress about declaring war on Japan. America declared war on Japan, and Italy and Germany declared war on th United States. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference was nothing more than Nazi officials meeting to discuss the "Final Solution". That was what they were going to do with the Jews. The decision was the Jews would be "combed from Europe from east to west." http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/holocaust/h-wannsee.htm -
Bataan Death March
On April 9th, the U.S. surrendered to the Japanese on the island of Luzon. Following the surrender, the Japanese forced nearly 75,000 American and Filipino troops to march to a prison camp. After the 65 mile march, many were killed, and others tortured. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Battle of Midway Begins
The Battle of Midway was a crucial Naval victory for the Americans of the Pacific theater. Only six months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United Sates engaged in the Battle of Midway, which crippled the Japanese navy the rest of the war. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
Battle of Stalingrad Begins
The Battle of Stalingrad was the Russian response to Operation Barbarossa. This was a Soviet defensive battle in which they stopped the Germans from taking the City of Stalingrad, which stopped the Germans from further invading the Soviet Union. This was one of the deadliest battles in history, with a casualty rate of almost 2 million people. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
Operation Gomorrah is launched
Operation Gomorrah was British retaliation to the Germans bombing England. The British dropped nearly 2300 bombs on Hamburg in just hours. More than 1500 Germans perished. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched -
Allies Invade Italy
The U.S. and British worked together in southern Italy to begin a campaign to recover Europe. Seeing little resistance, Britian's 8th Army and the United State's 7th Army divisions captured Sicily in just over a month due to demoralized Italian soldiers. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-invade-italian-mainland -
D-Day Invasion
Operation Overlord, or D-Day, was the largest amphibious assault in military history. This was what led the Allies to get into Europe to take it back from the Germans. About 156,000 American, British, and Canadian soldiers took 5 different beaches on Normandy. U.S. took Utah and Omaha, The British took Gold and Sword, and the Canadians took Juno beaches, while Army Rangers took Pointe Du Hoc and the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions cut supplies to the German defense.http://www.history.com/topic -
Battle of the Bulge
This was the last major offensive by the Nazis in the war. Hitler's plan was to split up the Allies, stopping their advance toward Germany. Hitler ordered a massive attack between two U.S. Army units. This created a "bulge" in the Allied line. Despite this quick success, due to logistice like gasoline and weather, the Germans were not able to keep their position. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was important to America because the Americans needed a base near Japan. Fighting nearly 23,000 Japanese, U.S. Marines fought for nearly a month before coming out on top. Difficulties were Japanese soldiers hiding in caves and tunnels. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was the last and largest battle in the Pacific theater. Almost 300,000 U.S. Soldiers fought over 130,00 Japanese soldiers on the islang of Okinawa. This was also an important island because it would give Americans a close Air base near Japan. After almost three months of fighting, and 65,000 Allied casualties, the battle was over, and America was taking home the hardware. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
V-E Day
VE-Day is celebrated in Britain and America as Vistory in Europe Day. This day was the day the Germans finally surrendered. The violence in Europe was finally over, and many POWs were released. -
Enola Gay drops "Little Boy" over Hiroshima
On this day, American B-29 Bomber, the Enola Gay, dropped a 15 kiloton atomic bomb over Horoshima, Japan, killing over 80,000 people instantly, killing 90 percent of the cities population. More would later die of radiation. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
Bockscar drops "Fat Man" over Nagasaki
Since the first atomis bomb did not lead the Japanese to surrender, the United States dropped another three days later over the city of Nagasaki. This bomb, "Fat Man", larger than the Little Boy, killed almost 40,000 people. This bomb was 22 kilotons. This bombing caused the Japanese to surrender just days later. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
V-J Day
Although Japan surrendered on August 15th due to the atomic bombings, Victory over Japan Day is celebrated on September 2nd because the formal surrender was on this day aboard the U.S.S. Mossouri. This was the official ending of World War II.
