World War II

Japanese invasion of China

Dec 13, 1937

Six weeks of brutal battle ended in what is known as the Nanjing Massacre. Japanese invaded the one of China's most prosperous cities sexually assaulting and killing thousands of people. Afraid of losing many soldiers in battle Chiang Kai-Shek ordered them to leave the city. The Japanese took control of the city until the end of World War II.
Citation: "Nanjing Massacre." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact

Aug 23, 1939

The world watched in surprise as Germany and Soviet Union entered into a Nonagreesion Pact this date. The two countries agreed to take no military action against eachother for the next 10 years.This allowed Germany to invade Poland unopposed. Seeing the agreement between these two France and Britian aligned with Poland agreeing to fight if Poland was attacked.
Citation: "German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Germany Invades Poland

Sep 1, 1939

Hitler ordered troops to invade Poland by land and air to regain territory lost. Once control of Poland was taken by the Nazis they began to kill off those who did not believe like Hitler, especially Jews. Concentration camps were made, Poland was not euqipped for such a battle. Great Britian stepped in with bombings througout Germany 3 days later. World War II had begun.
Citation: "Germany Invades Poland." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

German Blitzkrieg

Sep 1, 1939

Blitzkrieg is a german word meaning lightning war. It's a tactic used to invade Poland in 1939 , Belguim, Netherlands and France in 1940 during World War II. It was intended to help preserve ammunitions and limit loose of life during war. It was a quick way to attack. Citation: "Blitzkrieg." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Operation Barbarossa

Jun 22, 1941

Hitler urged his forces towards the Soviet Union for an invasion. Three million Nazi soldiers marched into the Soviet Union through Barbarossa. However, the opponent had better weapons and soldiers. The Germans wanted to enslave the Slavic people and kill all Jews. The Germans took territory before the weather intervened and in the end they lost Operation Barabossa. Soviet Union now entered the war.
Citation: "Operation Barbarossa." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

The Japanese attack on America at Pearl Harbor was a surprise to Americans due to the distance fromJapan. Japan wanted to destroy the American Pacific Fleet so that they could gain control of this area. Twenty American ships weere disabled; more thank 300 planes destroyed and more than 2,500 injured or killed. The result was that America entered the war siding with the Allies.
Citation: "Pearl Harbor." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Wannsee Conference

Jan 20, 1942

This was a meeting of Adolf Eichmann and 15 Nazi leaders.in a suburb of Berlin called Wannsee. The purpose was to come to a final solution of the Jewish question. It was unanimous that Jews who survived the camps would be killed in other ways. This began the use of gas vans in Poland killling more than 1,000 people per day.Notes from this meeting were used in the Nuremburg war crime trials.
Citation: "The Wannsee Conference." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Bataan Death March

Apr 9, 1942

After the U.S. surrender of the island of Bataan to Japan,about 75,000 American and Filipino soldiers were made to march 65 miles to a prison camp in intense heat. The American POWs were treated harshly by the Japanese soldiers. Thousands dies during this march due to the maltreatment of their captors, lack of food, water and the heat which they were not used to.
Citation: "Bataan Death March." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Battle of Midway

Jun 7, 1942

Six months to the day America had its revenge on Japan for Pearl Harbor. The U.S. had been able to decode Japanese military messages allowing them to beat Japan at Midway. This led to Allied forces being able to push Japanese troops back so that they could control Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Citation: "BBC ON THIS DAY | 7 | 1942: Japanese Beaten in Battle of Midway." BBC News. BBC, 07 June 1942. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

Apr 19, 1943

From April 19 to May 16, 1943, the Jewish residents of the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw staged an uprising against the taking of Jews to extermination camps. More than 400,000 Jews were placed in an area of about 1 quare mile watched by armed guards in Warsaw. Food was scarce. and thousands died from starvation or disease. A group smuggled in guns.and used these to defend themselves in the revolt.
Citation: Warsaw Ghetto Uprising." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Operation Gomorroah

Jul 24, 1943

The British respond to the bombing they underwent from the Germans by dropping 2,300 tons of bombs on Hamburg in just a few hours. The British would bomb by night and Americans by day. Casualties were 167 civilan lives for Britian and more than 1,500 Germans lives. The bombings continued until November, 1943. Diaries from German high ranking officers reflect despair.
Citation: "Operation Gomorrah Is Launched." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

D-Day

Jun 6, 1944

Approximately 156,000 American, British and Canadian soldiers invaded a 50 mile stretch of the beaches of Normandy. The codename was Operation Overlord. It was the largest assauly from water in history. Securing this area made way for land forces to gain control of most of France. By August, these soldiers were ready to meet with Soviet troops to invade Germany thus turning the tides in favor of the Allieds.
Citation: "D-Day." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Battle of Bulge

Dec 1, 1944

Hitler attempted to split the Allied forces by a surpirse blitzkreig from Adrennes to Antwerp. The Allieds went to secure their control of the bridges and as the forces gathered it appeared to be a bulge. General Patton's leadership of the led to the surrender of German troops. The Germans lack of fuel helped the Allieds win this battle.
Citation: "Battle of the Bulge." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Operation Thunderclap

Feb 13, 1945

This is name of the plan to bomb Dresden, Germany. RAF air strike dropped more than 3,400 tons of bombs on the city. This caused the city to burn for 2 days. The purpose was to do away with a major German communications site. Although many believe it was overkill as the Germans were on verge of surrender at this time.
Citation: Andrews, Evan. "Audie Murphy's World War II Heroics, 70 Years Ago." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Battle of Iwo Jima

Feb 19, 1945

This battle lasted until March 26, 1945. The island is made of many caves, tunnels and underground installations.The Japanese used these as a defense. This islandwas used as a place that Japanese damaged aircraft could land for repair. All of the garrison were taken prisoner or killed but two who gave up in 1951. Commerated by the American troops placing the flag at Mount Suribachi.
Citation: "Battle of Iwo Jima." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Battle of Okinawa

Apr 1, 1945

This battle ended June 22, 1945. This was the last big battle in the South Pacific for vital air bases. Losses on both sides were both land and sea. Commanding officers on both sides were lost by either battle shots or suicide.
Citation: "Battle of Okinawa." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

VE Day

May 8, 1945

Great Britian and America celebrated Nazi defeat on this day. Flags were hung flown high as German and Soviet soldiers laid down their guns. A concern of the Germans was being captured by Soviet troops.Russia took more than 1 million POWs while 13,000 British POWs were released.Germans in Silesia did not surrender to Russia until the 9th.
Citation: "Victory in Europe." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Dropping of the atomic bombs

Aug 6, 1945

America dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima this date wiping out 90 percent of the city and instantly killed 80,000. Three days later America bombed Nagasaki in same manner. The Emperor announced via radio Japan's surrender. This was the first time the Japanese people had heard his voice. The bomb at Hiroshima was called "Little Boy" and the bomb at Nagasaki was called "Fat Man".
Citation: "Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Potsdam Declaration

Aug 10, 1945

This date in history Japan agreed to surrender unconditionally Emperor Hirhito announced the acceptance of the terms of the pact and President Trumann ordered the halt to all atomic bombs that were on their way to Japan. Although Japan had given up to American Fighting againse Soviet Union continued in Manchuria for several more months.
Citation: "Japan Accepts Potsdam Terms, Agrees to Unconditional Surrender." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

VJ Day

Aug 14, 1945

This is the day of Victory over Japan. This was the day Japan announced its surrender. However, the formal surrender took place aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in the Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.
Citation: "V-J Day." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.