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Rape of Nanking
Over a period of six weeks, Japanese Army forces brutally murdered hundreds of thousands of people- including both soldiers and civilians in Nanking. Between 20,000 and 80,000 women were sexually assaulted.
Impact: Nanking would take years to recover http://www.history.com/topics/nanjing-massacre -
Japanese invasion of China
It began when China started a full-scale resistance to the expansion of Japanese influence in it's territory. Japan used a blockade on China's main seaports. The U.S. helped China bomb Japanese strongholds. Japan surrendered on September 2nd, 1945.
Impact: The U.S. was the mediator and was dragged into the war- the United Front Collapsed https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Sino-Japanese-War -
Germany's invasion of Poland
On September 1st, Germany invaded Poland, attacking with 2,000 tanks and 1,000 planes. Why? France and Britain followed a policy of appeasement- the objective being to maintain peace in Europe by making limited concessions to Germany. Germany violated the Munich Pact, then issued a German-Soviet Pact, which gave Germany the right to invade Poland without Soviet intervention. https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005070 -
German Blitzkrieg
"Lightning War"- blitzkrieg is a military tactic designed to create disorganization among enemy forces through the use of mobile forces and locally concentrated firepower. It was first tried with Poland, and was successfully mastered in Belgium, Netherlands, and France in 1940.
Impact: It required tough economic planning
Effect: Dangerous because lines of communication can be cut http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Fall of Paris
Paris awoke to the sound of German voices in the loud speakers warning that they would attack at 8 pm. 2 million Parisians fled and the others were arrested. The U.S. froze the American assets of Axis powers, Germany, and Italy.
Impact: Germans now ruled Paris https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-enter-paris -
Pearl Harbor
A U.S. naval base in Hawaii was surprise attacked by Japanese forces. It marked the start of WWII when Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan.
Impacts: U.S. left the base's most vital supplies on shore-they were able to rebound quickly. Japanese damaged 20 American vessels and over 300 planes- 2400 Americans dead http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Bataan Death March
75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to make an extraneous 65-mile march to prison camps through intense heat and endured harsh treatment by Japanese guards.
Impact: Eventually, the commander of these treks was executed http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
The Wannsee Conference
A conference held to find a final solution to the Jewish question. Germans decided to use "gas vans", which was the most efficient way to kill the most amount of people.
Impact: Killed thousands of innocents, provided key evidence in the Nuremburg Trials https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wannsee-conference -
Battle of Midway
This was a 4- day sea and air battle that took place near the island of Midway. It was one of the most decisive U.S. victories against Japan during WWII.
Impact: U.S. suffered 300 casualties https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-midway-begins -
Warsaw Ghetto uprising
Residents of Jewish ghettos in Warsaw, Poland, staged an armed revolt against deportations to exterminated camps.
Impact: Inspired other camps to revolt too
Effect: Lost nearly 7,000 Jews http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/warsaw-ghetto-uprising -
Allied invasion of Italy
The British army invaded the "toe" of Italy first, but proceeded to many other areas. On that day the Italian government secretly agreed to the Allies terms for surrender, but no public announcement was made until September 8th. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-invade-italian-mainland -
Battle of the Bulge
Hitler attempted to split the allied armies by using a surprise blitzkrieg. The Americans, caught off guard, took on the appearance of a bulge.
Impact: One of the costliest action ever fought- 100,000 causalities https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
D-Day
Codename Operation Overlord- 156,000 American, British, and Canadian forces landed on 5 beaches of France's Normandy Region. It was one of the largest military assaults in history. They purposely mis-lead Germany about the intended invasion target.
Impact: It was the beginning of the end of war in Europe http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
Americans started to discover Nazi camps while fighting in different locations. They began to liberate them, finding several hundreds of thin, dehydrated, striped prison garbed prisoners. The soldiers found dead, rotting people in their graves they dug. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/liberation_camps_01 -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Americans invaded the weak island of Iwo Jima. The U.S. Marines wiped out the entire forces within a month.
Impact: Sparked American interest in B-29 bombers https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Battle of Okinawa
On Easter Sunday, the U.S. Marines, Navy, and Army (180,000) troops pushed to the island of Okinawa to completely defeat Japan. This battle was worse that D-Day. It was the last major battle of WWII and the bloodiest. Japan surrendered on August 14th, 1945.
Impact: Development of Kamikaze warfare https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
V-E day
Marked the day of the victory in Europe- along with the formal conclusion of Hitler's war. People celebrated in the streets
Impact: People worried less about their live's http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/veday_germany_01.shtml -
Dropping of the Atomic Bomb
The U.S. became the first and only nation to drop the atomic weaponry on Hiroshima. 80,000 Japanese killed and 35,000 injured.
Impact: Marked the end of WWII but ignited the Cold War https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-hiroshima -
Potsdam Declaration
On this day, after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan agrees to the Potsdam Conference terms of surrender. President Truman orders a halt to all atomic bombing.
Impact: One of the reasons WWII ended https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-accepts-potsdam-terms-agrees-to-unconditional-surrender -
V-J day
Marked the day that Japan surrendered to the Allies- also known as Victory over Japan Day
Impact: It was the day fascism finally ended https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
