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Japanese Invasion of China
In 1931, Japan attacked and took over Manchuria in China for its resources. In 1937, conflict between Japanese and Chinese troops on the frontier led to what became known as the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, which triggered the Second Sino-Japanese War. Although the Japanese captured all key Chinese ports and industrial centers, CCP and KMT forces continued resisting, and both sides used 'scorched earth' tactics. <a href='http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/sino-japanese-war' >htt -
Rape (Fall) of Nanking
Nanking, the capital of China, falls to Japanese forces. Japanese General Matsui Iwane ordered that the city of Nanking be destroyed in order to break the spirit of the Chinese resistance. Much of Nanking was burned, and the Japanese killed 150,000 "war prisoners", killed 50,000 civilians, and raped around 20,000 women (some were killed). Matsui was found guilty and was executed.<a href='http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-rape-of-nanking' </a> -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
In August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union formed the German-Soviet Pact, which Poland was divided between the 2 powers. This eneabled Germany to attack Poland without fear of Soviet intervention. In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland and the Polish army was defeated within weeks of the invasion. href='https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005070' </a> -
Germany's Blitzkrieg
The Blitzkrieg, or "lightning war", was a military tactic designed by Germany to createdisorganization among enemy forces through the use of mobile forces and firepower (and to prevent repetition of WWI). Germany first used the blitzkrieg on Poland in 1939, before successfully employing the tactic on Belgium, the Netherlands, and France in 1940. In less than 6 weeks, Germany crushed the combined forces of 4 nations. <a href='http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg' </a> -
Pearl Harbor (Attack on Pearl Harbor)
Just before 8:00 am on December 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. The Japanese destroyed 20 naval vessels, 8 battleships, and over 300 airplanes. Over 2,000 Americans were killed, and 1,000 were wounded. FDR then asked Congress to declare war on Japan, and Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.<a href='http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor' </a> -
Bataan Death March
After the U.S. surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese during WWII, approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to march 65 miles to prison camps. The soldiers marched in intense heat and suffered harsh treatment from the Japanese guards. Thousands perished in the Bataan Death March.
<a href='http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march' </a> -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
After Germany's invasion of Poland, more than 400,000 Jews in Warsaw were confined to a small area of the city. From April 19 to May 16, 1943, the ghetto residents staged an armed revolt against deportations to extermination camps. The Germans killed or captured thousands of Jews. On May 16, the Germans blew up Warsaw's Great Synagogue.<a href='http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/warsaw-ghetto-uprising' </a> -
Allied Invasion of Italy
The British 8th Army begins the Allied invasion of the Italian peninsula, crossing the Strait of Messina from Sicily and landing at Calabria. On the day of the landing, the Italian government secretly agreed to the Allies' terms for surrender, which was announced on September 8th.<a href=>http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-invade-italian-mainland</a> -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
Codenamed Operation Overlord, the battle began on June 6, 1944. 156,000 American, British, and Canadian forces landed on 5 beaches along France's Normandy region. Before D-Day, the Allies conducted a plan to mislead the Germans about the invasion target. By late August 1944, all of northern France had been liberated. Sadly, over 2,000 Americans and over 4,000 Allies died, and thousands wounded or missing.<a href='http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day' </a> -
Battle of the Bulge
In December 1944, the Germans tried to split the Allied armies in northwest Europe with a surprise blitzkrieg through the Ardennes to Antwerp. As the Germans drove deeper into the Ardennes to secure vital bridgeheads, the Allied line took on the appearance of a large bulge. The result of the battle was over 100,000 U.S. casualties.<a href='http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge' </a> -
Battle of Iwo Jima
On February 19 1945, the Americans invade the island of Iwo Jima, defended by around 23,000 Japanese soldiers. After a month of fighting, the U.S. marines wipe out the defending forces. The battle earned a place in American lore with a photograph showing the U.S. flag being raised in victory.<a href=>http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima</a> -
Battle of Okinawa
From April 1st to June 22nd, the Battle of Okinawa was the last and biggest of the Pacific island battles of WWII. The Okinawa campaign involved 287,000 American troops and 130,000 Japanese troops. At the end of the battle, Japan had lost over 77,000 soldiers and the Americans had over 65,000 casualties.
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VE Day
VE Day, or Victory of Europe Day, was a day celebrated by both the U.S. and Great Britain. Cities in both regions, as well as cities in Western Europe, rejoiced in the defeat of the Nazi war machine. Germany had surrendered to the Soviets. The Germans surrendered mainly to escape the grasp of Soviet forces (around 2 million prisoners taken before and after surrender). <a href=>http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe</a> -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
The Soviets, U.S., and Britain liberated many concentration camps that were in German control. They found multiple prisoners barely alive, and thousands of corpses. After the liberations, the Nazi horrors were exposed to the world.
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Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
On August 6, 1945, an American B-29 bomber dropped the world's first deployed bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion destroyed over 90% of the city and killed 80,000 people (more died of radiation exposure). 3 days later, another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing around 40,000 people. On August 15, Japan surrendered. And the war had ended.<a href=>http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki</a> -
VJ Day
On August 14,1945, Japan announced its surrender to the Allies, ending WWII, after the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan. VJ Day is known as Victory over Japan Day. This term was also used on September 2nd, when Japan's formal surrender took place aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay.<a href=http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day</a>
