World War II Timeline

Japan Invades China

Jul 7, 1937

SourceJapan Invades China in 1937 because they needed more raw materials to feul the Japanese War Machine. Japan's invasion of China is a textbook definition of imperialism. Japan was able to make some progress into China capturing major chinese cities such as Shanhai and Nanking but ultimately the Japanese agression would lead to sanctions on the nation. These sanctions, particularly oil sanctions from the US, would lead to Japan attacking the US at Pearl Harbor.

Rape of Nanking

Dec 13, 1937

Source After the capture Nanking by the Japaneese orders were given to the troops to destroy the city and its inhabitants. It is estimated that 200,000 Chineese men were killed and 20,000 women and girls were raped some injured or killed in the process. Shortly after the end of the war the Japaneese General who gave the orders was tried and executed.

German Blitzkrieg

Period: Apr 8, 1939 to Apr 8, 1940

SourceDuring the invasion of Poland the German military made use of a tactic involving highly mobile and swift invasions to rapidly eliminate the enemy. If done correctly preserves life and artillery. The lasting impact of Blitzkrieg warfare was that it lead to highmobile force often comprised of land based assualt vehicles and later tanks. Par of the goal of Blitzkrieg was to strike fear in the hearts of the enemy which it did.

German(and Soviet) Invasion of Poland

Sep 1, 1939

SourceHitlers influence in Europe was growing and he had already occupied Austria, the Rhineland, and eventually Czechloslovakia. Throughout Hitler's agression in the European Theatre France and England wished to avoid conflict so they followed the policy of appeasement. They allowed Germany to keep the land it had taken but had warned that the agression needed to stop. Hitler ignored these warnings and together with Stalin invaded Poland from both the east and the west decimating the country.

German Blitzkrieg Picture

Apr 8, 1940

See timespan for description

Operation Barbarossa

Jun 22, 1941

SourceHitler decided to plan a sneak attack on the Soviet Union and with the aid of the Axis forces launched an offensive toward Moscow with the idea that through Blitzkrieg strategies he would be able to take Moscow within eight weeks. Ultimately the invasion would fail and Hitler would bring a new foe to the Allied powers, Joseph Stalin and The Red Army.

Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

SourceJapan had been growing tired of economic sanctions that had been placed on them by the U.S. based upon their war with China. In response Japan planned on a suprise attack on the US Naval Base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This brought the US into the war in the Pacific and as a result of Japan's alliance with Germany and Italy aslo into the war in Europe.

Wannsee Conference

Jan 20, 1942

Source Nazi officials met to discuss and plan the details of the final solution of the Jewish question." Hitler had given written insturctions for this conference to be planned and eventually they came to a "solution", gas chambers. The impact of this event was the Holocaust had now become a Genocide not just an anti-sementic movement and millions were to die due to the actions of a few men.

Battle of Stalingrad

Jul 17, 1942

SourceIn the bloodiest battle of the War, an estimated 2million casualties, the Soviets held at the city of Stalingrad and started driving back the Nazi's on the eastern front. This marked the turning point of the war and made future large scale German invasions less likely due to the both the failure in the Soviet Union and the loss of life.

Operation Gomorrah

Jul 24, 1943

SourceThe British Royal Airforce in combination with the US Airforce made mass bombing runs on Germany cities, in specific Hamburg. The allies chose to target Hamburg because it contained many industrial and munitions plants and the Allies wanted to elimnate hitlers line of supply. In the end the Allies killed more than 30,000 people and destroyed 280,000 buildings. As a result, german supply lines were damaged but more importantly German morale was damaged.

D-day[Normandy Invasion]

Jun 6, 1944

SourceThe Allies planned and executed the largest scale seaborn invasion in history. Many allied forces died during the invasion but it was successful. The invasion of Normandy is often cited as the first signal of the end of the war in Europe.

Battle of the Bulge

Dec 16, 1944

Source Although the end of the war was nearing Hitler was not going to go down without a fight. The German troops launched a counteroffensive with the intent to split the allied forces. Many American lives were lost as a result of the Battle of the Bulge but the allies did hold. This was the last German offensive of the war and crippled the German military beyond repair. Future attacks on the Allies would be unlikely.

Battle of Iwo Jima

Feb 11, 1945

SourceIn February 1945 the Americans invaded Iwo Jima, a small island 500 miles from Japan because America needed a base from which it could launch and repair bombers in the Pacific. The island was defending by a force of 23,000 Japaneese who utilized a network of tunnels. The Americans eventually won and it lead to one of the most iconic photographs of the War. Iwo Jima would serve as a key base for American bombers.

Operation Thunderclap

Feb 13, 1945

SourceOperation Thunderclap was codename for what eventually would be refered to as the Firebombing of Dresden and other major eastern German cities. The goal was to help aid the soviet advance from the Eastern front. The firebombing of Dresden was the most destructive bombing of the war, including the nuclear bombs. Additionally little was gained strategically from the bombing as the Germany was already falling to the Allies and city contained very little industrial capabilities.

Battle of Okinawa Picture

Apr 1, 1945

See timespan for description

Battle of Okinawa

Period: Apr 1, 1945 to Jun 22, 1945

SourceThe Okinawa campaign last 82 days and was the last major pacific island battle of the War. Hundreds of Thousands of Japaneese, Americans, and Natives died during the campaign. The Japaneese utilized kamikaze tactics in masse. Fighter planes and even some ships without any regard for thier own survival charged to allied forces to die with "honor." The result of this was that the Japaneese were pushed back to thier mainland and thier defeat was inevitable.

VE Day

May 8, 1945

SourceGerman forces surrenedered to Allied forces across Germany. In both the United Kingdom and United States victory in Europe was celebrated. Germany would later be carved up by the Allied powers and a result would lead to future problems involving the nation.

Potsdam Declaration

Jul 26, 1945

Source The Allied forces issued a formal declartion to Japan. It stated that they were to provide thier unconditional surrender and a rebuilding of thier government or they would face "complete and utter destruction." Japan did not believe this threat at first and vowed to fight untill the end.

Dropping of the Atomic Bombs

Aug 6, 1945

SourceThe Japaneese had vowed to fight untill the very end and not wishing for the loss of millions of Allied lives President Truman authroized the Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombs were incredibly devestating and would lead to the Japaneese surrender, and as Truman hoped, put America in drivers seat of the post war developed world.

V-J Day

Aug 14, 1945

SourceJapan's Emperor Hirohito after seeing the destruction caused by the Atomic bomb agreed to the terms of the Potsdam declaration and offered the unconditional surrender to the nation. He urged his people that if they were to continue fighting "it would not only result in the ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation but would also lead to the total extinction of human civilization." Across the United States victory was celebrated and Truman celebrated the "death of facism."