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The Japanese Invasion of China
Source In 1937, after yearrs of approachment from Japanese forces trying to control China's natural resources, China finally fought Japan after the Marco Polo Bridge incident, which led to a full-blown conflict. This is known today as the Second Sino-Japanese War. The two reigning policital factions banded together and fought against Japan, and it lasted until 1940, when Japan decided to attack Pearl Harbor. -
The German Invasion of Poland
SourceThe German invasion of Poland was a strategy used by Hitler that would soon be know as "blitzkrieg". This attack started with large amounts of bombing to take out aircrafts and means of communication. Soon after massive amounts of troops would storm the remaining Poland forces. Due to the mix of this and mistakes on Poland's part, Hitler quickly began to instill the ideas of the Nazi's into the people of Poland. -
Battle of Britain
Source The Battle of Britain, with the title coined by WInston Churchill, was an immense air batle in the skies of Britain. Attacking forces from Germany's airforce, the Luftwaffe, continuously bombed the country, but it ended up with Britain winning the battle with air superiority. Many people died and the entire country was put in ruins, but they held on and Hitler eventually postponed the invasion indefinitely, -
Fall of Paris
On this day, citizens of Paris hear large megaphones producing the sounds of a German speaker, announcing the occupation of Nazi's in France. Paris was soon adorned with Nazi banners and symbols, with troops taking and interrogating people from the street. Paris would then remain under Nazi control until the Liberation after D-Day. -
Operation Barbarossa
Source Operation Barbarossa was a massive advance against the Soviet Union, with Germany's goal being to enslave the Slavic people and exterminate the Jewish people. They invaded, but were extremely unprepared for the conditions of both themselves and the country they were in. They were eventually stopped by the same weather that stopped Napoleon, and now had to fight on two fronts, -
Pearl Harbor
SourcePearl Harbor was a naval port in the Hawaiian Islands, controlled and occupied by the United States Naval Forces. On December 7th in 1941, Japanese forces attacked the base with sudden strength and managed to perform a devastating blow. They destroyed multiple ships, including destoyers and cruisers, Thousands of people died, along with at least 300 airplanes. -
Wannsee Conference
Source The Wannsee conference was a meeting of high ranking German officials that decided upon the Final Solution: not to an end of war, but to an end of all Jewish people in Europe. -
Battle of Midway
Source The Battle of Midway is considered the actual turning point of the war in the Pacific, with the United States taking the offensive and Japan taking the defensive. We had before made a breakthrough in code breaking technology and so we intercepted the Japanese plans, which then led to US intercepting them on their way to the islands. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Source The Battle of Stalingrad was a succesful defense of one of Russia's cities after Germany had forced its way to it. Historians consider it turning the tide and stopping the Germanic machine, but unfortunately over 2 million people died, both citizens and soldiers. It is one of the most crucial battles of the entire war in Europe. -
Operation Gomorrah
Source Operation Gomorrah was essentially a bliztkrieg against the Axis powers, mainly against Germany with the city of Hamburg, British aircraft dropped multiple bombs and explosizes against the city, adding up to 2,300 tons. It was equivalent to how many bombs Germany used in it's five most desructive raids against Britain, Meanwhile, American bombers made bombing runs up northern Germany. -
Invasion of Normandy: D-Day
SourceThe invasion of Normandy was a huge undertaking by the Allied forces: it resulted in the liberation of France from Nazi Powers. It was constructed in the weeks before the invasion itself, including a massive program to deter the Germans and make them think that another place was the actual target. It was also delayed by weather on the day before, In the following weeks, they marched across France with as much as 850,000 men and 150,000 vehicles. -
The Battle of the Bulge
SourceHitler decided to run his in attempt to splilt the Allies forces. Hitler used the suprise attack that is blitzkrieg. His forces moved quick enough to create a "bulge" in the American forces. This is how the name of the battle came about. However, due to many shortages the American forces came back. American turn around lead to a draw if not a win. Even with this turn around America lost roughly 100,000 people. -
Operation Thunderclap
Source Operation Thunderclap was a mission to bomb the eastern-most cities in Germany to intervene in the supply line for the Germans on the Eastern Front. There were two waves of bombs, and it destroyed what was thought to be the only intact city in Germany after bombing runs on others. Multiple people died and the entire city was engulfed in flames. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Source[http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima](Source) The Battle of Iwo Jima was needed so America could have a bse for bombers for refueling or for escort planes to land. Three military divisions landed on the island and prevailed through it, even with higher difficulties. This battle brought one of the most famous and renowned pictures in American photoagraphy. -
Battle of Okinawa
Source The Battle of Okinawa was perhaps one of the most difficult attacks against the Japanese forces. The Japanese had earlier changed tactics, changing from a front on the edge of the island to fighting more deeper inland. THis was made to both save time and hopefully destroy the opposing force with terrain that was nto known to US troops. By the end of this campaign, both sides suffered over 60,000 casualties. -
Victory in Europe
Source World War II ended in Europe on this date, with the Axis powers finally surrendering to the might of the Allies. While pockets of troops had surrendered days after it was declared, what most Germans were afraid of was being taken prisoner by the Soviet Union. While they did try to flee West, they were eventaully caught and the Soviet's took back 2 million prosioners with them. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
SourceThe bombing of Hiroshima was the first event of an atomic bomb being used in battle, Before this, the Manhattan Project had been underway for several months, with directors being the Office of Scientific Research and Development and the War Department. The first bomb that was actually used coined the name Little Boy, and weighed over 9,000 pounds and when blasted had enough energy equal to 12-15,000 tons of TNT. The city itself was almost completely destroyed, with over 5 square miles gone. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
SourceJust three days after the bombing of Hiroshima, the United States bombed another Japanese city, the city of Nagasaki. Originally, the proposed city was Kokura, but dude to weather, Nagasaki was the next target. The bomb this time was nicknamed Fat Man, and weighed 10,000 pounds and produced a 22,00 kiloton blast. -
Victory in Japan
Source After months of bloodhshed and mass killings brought upon by both the United States and Japan, the treaty to end the war was finally signed by Japan, formally and finally ending World War II across the globe. one of America's most iconic photo's was taken on this day, along with the many citizens rejoicing in the news.
