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The Holocaust
During Hitler's reign, the Holocaust was the mass murdering of millions of Jews. The Jews were tortured in many painful and treacherous ways. After a while, the Nazis started to make concentration camps for the Jews taken prisoner. The event ended when WWII was over. -
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Japan invades China
Known as the Second Sino-Japanese War, the invasion started when the Holocaust was still in effect. The war ended with China being the victor. After the Pearl Harbor bombings, China officially joined the Allies and declared war on the Axis Powers. It made up more than 90% of the casualties in the Pacific Theatre. -
Munich Conference
A conference for Hitler's Nazi Germany to obtain portions of Czechoslovakia for a new "Sudetenland." The conference, however, failed as an act of appeasement to Germany. The actual state of Czechoslovakia felt that it was betrayed by the UK and France, since it wasn't invited to the conference. This led to the term the "Munich Betrayal." -
Non-Aggression Pact
The Non-Aggression Pact was signed by the Soviet Union and Germany. The pact said that Germany would not attack the Soviet Union before the war started. Less than two years later, however, Hitler attacked the Soviet Union. After that, the pact was broken. -
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Germany invades Poland
The event that started the war, the invasion was an Axis victory. Both Germany and the Soviet Union annexed and divided the whole of Poland. After the Polish defeat in the Battle of the Bzura, the Germans somehow gained an advantage. By doing this, Germany started the Second World War. -
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Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was the name given to the conflict between Germany and the United Kingdom. Entirely fought by air force, the battle was the most sustained for aerial bombing during that period. Germany was seeking out to gain air superiority in order to win the war. But by preventing the Germans from gaining air superiority, the British won the battle. -
Lend-Lease Act
An act intended to provide supplements, the act was made during the war. The act gave France, Russia, Great Britain, and China materials between 1941 and August 1945. For America, however, leases were given to Allied bases during the war. This act made the US stop its own neutrality during the war. -
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Operation Barbarossa
The name given for the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union during WWII. Although the Nazis came up with the operation, the Soviet Union beat them in the end. The Soviet Union did win, but they suffered an agonizing loss of soldiers. The Germans, however, suffered around 5 times the loss of soldiers. -
Pearl Harbor
The name of the harbor attacked by the Japanese Navy during WWII. This tragic event caused the US to enter WWII. Over 2,000 Americans (citizens and soldiers) lost their own lives during the attack. The result of this was the US bombing Hiroshims and Nagasaki. -
Bataan Death March
After the Battle of Bataan, the Imperial Japanese Army captured 60,000-80,000 Filipino and American POWs. They forcibly moved the POWs from Mariveles to San Fernando. A third of the whole group died during the march. This was soon judged to be a Japanese war crime. -
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Battle of Midway
A crucial naval battle in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Set 6 months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the US went up against Japan's Imperial Fleet. The battle was a US victory, with Japan suffering over 3,000 lives lost. This event took place after the Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombings. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
A battle between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, for the control of the city of Stalingrad. Since Operation Barbarossa was a bust, Germany decided to obtain vast expanses of land in order to defeat the Soviet Union. What they didn't realize was that Russia made up about 1/3 of Europe. In the end, the Soviet's won the battle. -
D-Day
Also known as Operation Neptune, D-Day was when the Allies invaded Normandy. A seaborne invasion, the Allies won with the liberation of France from Nazi control. Although the weather was not compatible, it would mean a long wait for tthe Allies. In the end, the Allies won regardless. -
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The Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was an offensive German campaign in France. The Allies didn't expect the surprise attack, and the casualties that followed were heavy. The Germans didn't expect to run out of supplies during the battle, either. The Allies won the battle while Germany surrendered. -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
A major battle between the US and Japan, the Battle of Iwo Jima was one of the fiercest battles that took place in the Pacific Theatre. After landing on the island, the US Armed Forces eventually captured it. The reason why was so the US could plan attacks on an island closest to Japan. There were some heavy losses from both sides in the end, however. -
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Battle of Okinawa
While the US was island hopping to Japan, they decided to use Okinawa (340 miles away) as an air base for the upcoming attack. Like the Battle of Antietam, this was one of the bloodiest battles that took place on the Pacific. Due to the ferocity of the fighting, the battle was referred to the "typhoon of steel" in the US and Japan. The nickname refers to the number of warships the US had during the battle. -
V-E Day
Also known as Victory in Europe Day, this day marks the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in Europe. The surrenders also mark the WWII ending in Europe. During the Battle of Berlin, Nazist leader Adolf Hitler committed suicide in order to evade capture by the US army. Also in association with V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day. -
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Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The bombings were thee direct result of the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor. This was the only time that A-bombs were used during WWII. The number of Japanese casualties was 60 times the deaths during the Pearl Harbor bombings. This is the revenge that the US was looking for. -
V-J Day
Also known as Victory over Japan Day, this event celebrates the day that Japan surrendered to the US, thus ending WWII. Ever since the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the US has been trying to get back at them for a long tiime. This event is associated with V-E Day, also knoown as Victory in Europe Day. -
Warsaw Pact
A pact intended for friendship and cooperation, the pact was used to make eight communist states cooperate together. The pact was made during the Cold War. The pact was made by Soviet Russia. The pact soon became the Collective Sceurity Treaty Organization.