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Japan invades China
The Japanese invaded Manchuria following the Mukden Incident, Japanese excuse for starting this invasion was that the Chinese troops fired on the Japanese at the Marco Polo Bridge. Both Shanghai (China's most important port) and Nanjing (Chiang Kai-shek's capital) fell on December 1937. The "Rape of Nanking" started when the Japanese army ransacked Nanking murdering thousands. -
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The Holocaust
The Holocaust was a period where more than 6 million European Jews and other groups were murdered by the German Nazi regime. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler believed that Jews were an inferior race, they were a threat to German racial purity and community. During this time they also had concentration camps where they would kill Jews and other groups. Jews would also have to wear the Star of David on the outer side of their clothes so they were easily identified. -
Munich Conference
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Non-Aggression Pact
Before World War II broke out in Europe, Germany and the Soviet Union signed the German-Soviat Non-aggression Pact. By signing this pact both countries agreed for ten years to take no military actions. Stalin viewed this pact as a way to build up his Soviet military while being on good terms with Germany, while Germany saw it as an oppurtunity to invade Poland unopposed. -
Blitzkrieg
A term used by the german for "lighting war." A tactic used to create disorganization among enemy forces, through the use of mobile forces. Germany did not master this tactic the first time on Poland in 1939, they successfully employed this tactic with the invasions of Belgium, the Netherlands and France in 1940. -
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Germany invades Poland
Along Poland's 1,750- mile border, 1.5 million German troops invaded. During that time, the German Luftwaffe bombed the Polish airfields, and German warships and U-boats attacked Polish naval forces. British and France were not convinced that Hitler's reasoning for the invasion was a defensive action. -
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Battle of Britain
The battle started when German and British air forces bombed the United Kingdom. There were two attacks on London, one on September 7th and another on September 15th. The first one was a success but the second attack failed because a large group of British fighters appeared. Hitler later suspended the Battle of Britian because the failed attack in London.
**All information from www.history.com -
Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act means for providing U.S. military aid to foreign nations during World War II. By the United States offering defense materials, it permitted the U.S. to support its interests without overextending in the battles. Countries like Britian and China recieved weopans due to this law. The president was able to transfer war materials without payment because of the Neutrality Act of 1939. -
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Operation Barbarossa
Adolf Hitler sent his armies eastward to invade the Soviet Union. Over three million German soldiers and three thousand tanks crossed the frontier into Soviet territory, the distance of the invasion was of two thousand miles. Barbarossa forced Nazi Germany to fight a two-front war against a coalition with superior resources. -
Pearl Harbor
Before 8 a.m. hundreds of Japanese fighter planes swormed the American naval base at Pearl Harbor where they dropped bombs. They detroyed 20 American naval vessels, eight battleships and almost 200 airplanes in just two hours. Over 2,000 American soldiers and sailors died in the attack and 1,000 wounded. The day after, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan where Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. -
Bataan Death March
The U.S. surrender of the Bataan Peninsula to the Japanese during World War II. Approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops were forced to make a 65-mile march to prison camps. The prisoners had to march in very hot weather and were treated very harshly by the Japanese guards. -
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Battle of Midway
Due to America code breaking Japan, they were able to counter Japan's planned ambush. The victory gave the United States and it's allies the opportunity to move into an offensive postion. Japan wanted to sink the rest of the American aircrafts that did not destroy at Pearl Harbor. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
This battle was a successful Soviet defense on the city of Stalingrad. Major turning point of the war in favor of the Allies, with nearly 2 million casualties combing military and civilians. Russians built up their defense with reinforcements around Stalingrad so when German Sixth Army arrived they tried to fight their way through. By the end both sides had lost while, Germany was able to raise their flag in the center of the town.
**All information from www.history.com -
D-Day
Between June 1944 to August 1944 the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany's control. (Operation Overlord) The battle began on June 6, 1944, also know as D-day, over 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches on the coast of France's Normandy region. It required extensive planning and was one of the most amphibious miliktary assaults in history. By spring northern France had been liberated and the Allies defeated the Germans. -
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Battle of the Bulge
Starting with a German surprise blitzkrieg on Europe to seperate the Allied armies ordered by Adolph Hitler. December 16th was the day that the German armies started a war in the west against Ardennes. This battle was America's most costly battle and caused for 100,000 causalties. The Germans withdrew from the war due to low resources.
**All information from www.history.com -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
The reason America ivaded Iwo Jima was because they needed a base close to the Japanese coast. Japan used the environment to their advantage by fighting from networks of caves, dugouts, tunnels, and underground installations. After a month of fighting the marines defeated the Japanese. For the publications they photographed the American flag being raised symbolizing their victory. -
Battle of Okinawa
Was the biggest battle fought on the Pacific island during World War II. It involved t 287,000 troops from U.S. and 130,000 soldiers from Japan. After the 82-day campaign, the Allies had lost 14,000 troops and Japan had lost more than 77,000. The Japanese was attacking by plaanes and using a war tactic designed to gain time. -
V-E Day
V-E Day stands for Victory in Europe Day. It's to mark the day when the Nazis were defeated in both Great Britian and the United States. About one million Germans attempteda mass exodus to the West but they were stopped by Russians and taken captive. Approximately two million prisoners were taken in before and after the German surrendered. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
During World War II, on August 6, an American dropped the world's first atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. The bomb wiped out around 90 percent of the city and 80,000 Japanese citzens were killed immediately. The bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima was called "Little Boy," the Japanese did not believe we had another bomb, three days later America dropped "Fat Man" on the city of Nagasaki. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
Three days after America dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, they also dropped another A-bomb on Nagsaki. The bomb had killed about 40,000 people, between the two bombs they killed more than 120,000 people. On August 15, Japan's Emperor Hirohito made an announcement on radio stating his country's surrender in World War II. He also said "a new and most cruel bomb" during his surrender. -
V-J Day
It was announced on August 14, when Japan surrendered to the Allies, which was the ending on World War II. August 14 and August 15 are known as V-J Day, Victoryover Japan Day. V-J Day had also been celebrated on September 2 because that is when Japan formally surrendered. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw pact involved the Soviet Union and several of its European satellites. It was established so that the Soviets were in command of the armed forces of member states. The Warsaw got it's name from where it was signed. The treaty was signed by the Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria. It set up a unified military command under Marshal Ivan S. Konev.
