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Japanese Invasion of China
The Japan-China War started as the result of accusations made by the Japanese. The Japanese claimed that Chinese troops opened fire on them near Beijing.Japan used this claim as reason to start an invasion of China. By the end of 1937, Japan had managed to capture all of the major cities in China. After the capture of China's major cities, Japanese forces did not advance much futher into China, due to the fact that their forces were limited. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/china_war.htm -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
In the early morning hours on September 1,1939, Germany invaded Poland. Hitler's reason for invasion was German expansion. He wanted to continue Germany's expansion into Poland. German forces invaded by land and air. Poland forces were outnumbered and were using the same tatics that were used during World War I. They were unable to hold back the German forces. Poland fell under the control of the Germans. On September 3, France and England declared war on Germany. -
German Blitzkrieg
German Blitzkrieg was a military strategy used by the Germans. Blitzkrieg consisted of suprise attacks that would coincide with air attacks.This allowed the Germans to make rapud advances into enemy territory. This strategy proved to be very effective. http://www.2worldwar2.com/blitzkrieg.htm -
Fall of Paris
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/francesurrenders.htm' http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-enter-paris
The German troops were easily able to take control of Paris. French troops had decided to focus their efforts elsewhere.Over 2 million residents of Paris had fled by the time the Germans got there. This victory allowed the German troops to gain valuable land once claimed by the Allies. -
Operation Barbarossa
http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the German invasion of Russia.It was the largest military attack during World War II.Hiltler invaded Russia because wanted to gain more land for the German poeple.Russia was not prepared for an attack and as a result suffered heavy loses.Germanys forces were advancing at the start of the invasion.Once German troops were miles away from the capital,Russian forces launched a powerful counterattack,which drove the German forces out. -
Pearl Harbor
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor' December 7,1941,Japanese forces launched an air attack on the American naval base near Honolulu,Hawaii.The suprise attack destroyed 20 naval vessels,which included eight battleships and almost 200 planes.Over 2,000 American soldiers were killed and many others wounded.Japan was trying to expand its territory,and America placed sanctions and embargos on Japan.This angered Japan,and they responded with the attack of Pearl Harbor.The next day, President Roosevelt declared war on Japan -
Wannsee Conference
'http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks4/the-final-solution/planning-the-final-solution/the-significance-of-the-wannsee-conference/#.VTB48I01tFk The Wannsee Conference was a meeting of Nazi officials in Berlin.They met to discuss what they called the "Final Solution",which discussed the plans and strategic steps to take in order to kill the entire Jewish population in Europe.As the result of the Wannsee Conference,the participants accepted and agreed to the mass murder of all the Jews in Europe. -
Battle of Midway
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway'
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_midway.htm
The Battle of Midway was a naval battle between Japan and the U.S. The Japanese planned a suprise attack on U.S. naval forces but due to code breakers, the U.S. was able to plan a counter attack. The battle resulted in an U.S. victory and destroyed Japan's navy. -
Battle of Stalingrad
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad The Battle of Stalingrad is considered to be the turning point in the war. The Soviets successfully defended Stalingrad, which is a vital industrial and transportation center. The battle stopped the Germans from making futher advances into the Soviet Union. The Battle of Stalingrad claimed around 2 million soldiers and civilians. -
Operation Gomorrah
'http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched
On July 24, 1942, Hamburg, Germany was bombed by the British. The raid would be led by American forces during the day and British forces at night. Operation Gomorrah destroyed Hamburg. When the raid was over, 17,000 bombers had dropped 9,000 tons of explosives on the city off Hamburg and over 30,000 civilians were killed. -
Allied invasion of Italy
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/invasion-of-sicily
On September 3, 1943 the Allied forces invaded Italy. The forces hoped that the invasion of Italy would redirect German troops away from France's border. The Allies successfully defeated the German and Italian troops and forced them from Sicily. This allowed the Allies to plan an attack on Italy's mainland. -
D-Day
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day
On June 6,1944, about 156,000 Allied troops landed along five beaches of Normandy. The invasion was one of the largest by sea. The Germans were able to hold off the Allied forces only for a short amount of time. American troops suffered the greatest casualties Omaha beach. More than 4,000 Allied troops were killed during the invasion. D-Day was a victory for the Allies. This victory allowed the Allies to advance through Normandy toward Paris. -
Operation Thunderclap
http://freeukrainenow.org/tag/operation-thunderclap/
On February 13,1945,British bombers dropped tons of explosives onto the city of Dresden. Around 2,400 tons of explosives and around 1,500 tons of bombs were dropped. More than 35,000 civilians were killed during this attack. The town of Dresden was destroyed. Dresden was of no military importance, but instead it was an attack on civilians. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_iwo_jima.htm
Iwo Jima is a small island south of the main island of Japan.Japan controlled the island which had two airfields on it.America wanted control of the island for tatical purposes. On February 10,1945, American troops invaded Iwo Jima. America suffered the lose of almost 7,000 men. The American troops took control of the island after almost a month. -
Battle of Okinawa
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_okinawa.htm
American forces wanted to gain control of Okinawa. The island had several air bases that would be vital for an invasion of Japan. Kamikaze plane attacks were targeted toward the navy off the coast. Both sides experiences heavy losses. Although the Japanese were able to defend Okinawa for some time, American troops gained control of the island. -
Liberation of concentration camps
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dachau-liberated
On April 29,1945, Dachau was liberated by the Allied troops after a brief exchange of gunfire with the Nazi officers. Dachau was the first camp to be liberated. The camp held around 5,000 prisoners. The prisoners were used for labor and medical experiments. At least 32,000 prisoners died while at Dachau.The liberation of other concentration camps followed. -
VE Day
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe
May 8,1945 marks the day of the victory for the Allies in Europe. German troops thoughout Europe finally surrendered. British prisoners of war were also released. -
Dropping of the atomic bombs
'http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-hiroshima
On August 6, 1945 the first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima.The bomb killed 80,000 people. Three days later, another atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. Nearly 40,000 people were killed in Nagasaki.Japan surrendered as a result of the bombs. -
VJ Day
VJ Day also known as "Victoryover Japan Day" marked the day when it was announced that Japan had surrendered, thus ending World War II. -
Battle of the Bulge
'http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-the-bulge
On December 16,1945 the Germans launched an attempt to push the Allied forces from northern France into Belgium.The Germans attcked along a stretch of land that was wooded.Fog prevented Allied air forces from helping.The Americans were greatly outnumbered and had to retreat. The battle caused a great loss of soldiers for the Allies.
