-
Genocide (Dachau Concentration Camp)
Genocide was a present theme throughout the war and notable with one of the nations most involved in the war, Nazi Germany. The first concentration camp stretched back to 1933 when Hitler took control. It was initially for political prisoners, yet quickly devolving. These concentration camps were responsible for the deaths of many people Hitler didn’t see fit for the society he had in mind, mainly Jews. They would be starved and be overworked to death. While not clear, millions died there. -
Rape of Nanjing
The Rape of Nanjing was an attack by Japanese forces onto the capital of China, Nanking. To Japan, the Chinese were viewed as subhuman and an inferior race. So, when General Iwane ordered the destruction of the city, they had no problem burning it and massacring the civilians of China’s capital, capturing more as prisoners. It was estimated that 300,000 were killed. When WWII ended, the general that commanded the attack, Matsui Iwane, was tried and executed for the war crimes he had committed. -
Munich Conference
Hitler advocated that the millions of German-speaking citizens in Czechoslovakia should be citizens of Germany instead. In response, the Prime Minister of Britain, Neville Chamberlain flew over to Munich to speak to Hitler to resolve the issue. British opinions were split as many thought that the treaty of Versailles was too harsh, World War I was too expensive, etc. The Munich Conference ended with Hitler providing a compromise, giving him Sudetenland. -
Germany annexes the Sudetenland
This was something that happened during the Munich Conference and negotiation was made. Germany would be given Sudetenland, impacting Czech’s defenses on the front lines and gathering and controlling a good part of their population. This was called the Munich Pact and it was signed to prevent the outbreak of another war. As a result, Czechoslovakia was taken over entirely, with Britain and France doing nothing to stop it. -
Invasion of Poland
After the capture of Czechoslovakia, the German forces went for other nations. Extra security measures were given to the nation of Poland. Even with this amount of caution, Germany still pushed forward and gained a portion of Poland. On September 1, Germany sent their army towards Poland. They proved to be successful and Poland fell to their hands. The impact on World War II is clear as it kickstarted it with a declaration of war just two days later. -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was Germany’s plan for its invasion of the Soviet Union, necessary to expand east. Over 3 million combined German and Axis troops stood, the largest invasion of the entire war. The red army was caught off guard, allowing Germany to gain an advantage. They failed to force a Soviet surrender. Hitler came in too confident and refused to account for the lack of long-term planning. With the defeat and others that would come, the tide of war was shifted to the Allied’s favor. -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was a US naval base, bombed by Japan in a surprise attack. 20 American naval vessels were destroyed and over 2400 Americans died. It was a result of years of tension between the US and Japan, and while an ambush was expected, they didn’t foreshadow that Japan would be aiming for Pearl Harbor. Unprotected, it easily got destroyed by Japanese forces. They wanted to hinder the US fleet. but it did little to do so and for the first time, the neutral nation was ready to enter the war. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a battle between the nations of Germany and the Soviet Union. After months of fighting back and forth, Germany decided to go on the attack. They claim Voronezh and the Soviets stood in offense in the city of Stalingrad. Once again, fighting ensued and it would continue on into winter until finally, Germany was forced to retreat. The battle resulted in 300,000 deaths in Germany and many more killed on the other side, making it one of the bloodiest in World War II. -
Tunisia Campaign
US and Commonwealth nations pressed on all sides of Tunisia, their goal to trap the Panzerarmee Afrika. Germany decided to intervene and took over Tunisia with its forces. Fighting ensues as the Allied push for offensive superior naval forces. The Tunisia campaign ended with the surrender of the Axis powers and roughly 70,00 casualties on both sides, and over 200,000 prisoners from the Axis. This with the loss at Stalingrad just a month prior sent Germany scrabbling for a defensive strategy. -
Women in the war (Fire Brigades Union conference)
World War II showed women's contribution to the war effort that was present for the entirety of the war, since 1939 when it first started. Women were given more rights and less discrimination and in 1941, women could be conscripted as auxiliaries in the military. A notable event is the Fire Brigades Union conference that happened in March of 1943. Women were able to be a member of the Union as a part of the Auxiliary Fire Service, revolutionary at the time. -
The Casablanca Conference
The Casablanca Conference was a meeting between the President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. They discussed military strategies coordinating the Allied powers. They wanted to stop Germany’s forces and their invasions. This conference finalized the Allied’s strategic plan and announced the policy of unconditional surrender. No longer would aggression be the main form of combat, but rather to defend and disarm the opposing side. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
The Normandy Invasion was the Allied's rush for victory as they knew the only way to secure it was Nazi Germany’s destruction. With the Soviet Union and forces of almost 3 million, they laid ready in the British Islands. On June 6, divisions came down to fight. In the end, the goal was reached. They were able to gain the control that Germany had kept for the entire war. It was the turning point of the war and D-Day is now remembered as the largest seaborne invasion in history. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The battle of Iwo Jima was between the US and Japan. It was a result of the Western Pacific Campaign, bringing the US within the B-29 bomber range of Japan. However, in order to prevent the B-29s to be halted by Japanese planes that could intercept them, the US went to capture Iwo Jima. On February 15, Allied forces led by the United States bombarded Iwo Jima, and as the battle rages on and comes to a close a month later, the US came out with a victory, with close to 25,000 casualties.