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Rape of Nanking
Nanking Massacre occurred in Nanking(or Nanjing) China, where Japanese soldiers pillaged the city and assaulted 20,000-80,000 women due to the ordered removal of troops by the Chinese government.
https://www.history.com/topics/nanjing-massacre -
Fall of Paris
German troops invaded Paris, and the city fell within just six weeks. Winston Churchill urged the United States to join the war, as a positive point for the Parisians, but the U.S. did not offer such help.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-enter-paris -
German Blitzkrieg
Military tactic that involves creating disorganization among enemies with concentrated and frequent attacks. Used mostly by the Germans, to create success by overwhelming enemies.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Pearl Habor
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. They destroyed many American battleships, and overall the effect was that this attack motivated the United States to join the war.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Wannsee Conference
High level meeting of German officers to discuss the "final solution" to the problems regarding the Jewish people. Decided on the mass annihilation of the Jewish religion.
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005477 -
Bataan Death March
U.S. surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese. Approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to make an arduous 65-mile march to prison camps. The marchers made the trek in intense heat and were subjected to harsh treatment by Japanese guards.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was the successful Soviet defense of the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd) in the U.S.S.R. during World War II. German troops were stationed here in order to take this prized city from Stalin, however the coming of winter ruined their plans and their unpreparedness ultimately made them lose this bloody battle.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
Occurred when the Germans came to the ghetto, and starting exporting it surviving members to concentration camps and killing centers. This lead to the creation of a Jewish Combat Organization, which was ultimately crushed by the germans, but it caused problems initially.
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005188 -
D-Day
Attack started by the U.S. in Normandy. Some say this battle determined the result of the war. The U.S. ambushed German flanks and ended up winning the battle.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Battle of the Bulge
Attack by Germans where they attempted to split the Allies troops in two. The Allies troops took upon the appearance of a bulge, giving the battle its name. Despite heavy casualties, the Allie troops were able to fend off the Germans.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The American amphibious invasion of Iwo Jima contained preparatory air and naval bombardment, three U.S. marine divisions landed on the island in February 1945. Despite the difficulty of the conditions, the marines wiped out the defending forces after a month of fighting.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Dropping of Atomic Bombs
American B-29 Bomber became the first deployed launch of an atomic bomb, dropping it on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The U.S. later dropped another bomb on Nagasaki, which resulted in Japans immediate surrender in the War as a result of this cruel new weapon.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
VJ Day
"Victoryover Japan Day" the day in which the Japanese finally surrendered to Allie powers. Ultimately marks the end of the War. -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
The liberation of concentration camps around Germany happened slowly overtime. The Soviets were the first to release prisoners from the camps, followed by other European countries, then the U.S.. While there were many survivors from all the camps, many died just days after being released from being to weak to digest food or survive.
https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007724 -
VE Day
The day that the majority of Europe celebrates the defeat/surrender of Nazi Germany. In Prague, Germany the Germans surrendered to their Soviet counterparts.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe
