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Japan invades China
When the Japanese invaded Manchuria in 1931, it sparked the second Sino-Japanese War. Japan invaded the northern part of China immediatley following the Mukden Incident; when China was accused of detonating dynimatie on a Japanese-owned railway. -
The Holocaust
The "Holocaust" is a term used to refer to the systematic murder of 6 million Jews and other miniorities by Nazi Germany and it's followers. Nazi's beleived that the "German race" was the "superior race" and wanted to continue on those characteristics, but also exterminate anyone otherwise; including homosexuals, and the handicap. -
Munich Conference
The Munich Conference was an agreement that the German-Fascist leader, Hiter could annex the Sudentenland & promised not to invade anywhere else. The agreement was bewteen France, United Kingdom, Italy and Germany. The conference was brought about after Germany wanted to take parts of different countries and make them German territory because "the german-speaking inhabitants were being mistreated by the Czech government." -
Non-Aggression Pact
Nazi-Germany and the Soviet Union met to sign a pact not to attack each other. Germany signed the pact mainly to protect itself from having to fight a two-front war in WW2. In coroperation with signing the pact, Soviet Union was given land of the Baltic States and Poland. -
Germany invades Poland
Germany invaded Poland in 1939. Many Germans did not support to sign a non-aggression pact with Poland because Poland was awarded much German territory after WW1. Hitler brought about the non-aggression pact in the first place to kill any chance of the French-Poland military against Germany before Germany could "fight back". -
Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg was a military tactic used by Germany in World War 2. It means "lightning war." A lightning war is where a military marches through enemy territory and takes over that area as quick as possible. It saves resources like artillery, ammunition, and food. It also saves the lives of many soldiers in your military. It proved very effective for Germany in World War 2. It caught countries being attacked off guard and was a great factor in why Germany controlled most of Europe in World War. -
Battle of Britain
A significant turning point in World War 2 when German and British air forces fought over the United Kingdom in the summer and fall of 1940. It was the largest sustained bombing to that date. The Germans attacked British airfields hoping to crush British morale. The British on the other hand did not give up hope. The reprieve given to British airfields gave them a needed break and even though Germany kept bombing for months, by October it was clear the British won and Germany was forced to stop. -
Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act allowed The United States to send aid to other countries. The main countries were on the allied side with the United States. Great Britain was the main country we sent aid to because they were our closest ally and another world power that traded with us and had to do with our economy. -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name given by Nazi Germany to invade Soviet Russia. It was one of the largest German attacks using "Blitzkrieg" and one of the largest attack in World War 2. The attack had a major backfire on Germany from Russia. -
Pearl Harbor
On Dec 7, 1941, Japan attacked the U.S. Navy base in Hawaii by planes without warning. A good amount of people died and sunk nearly 20 naval vessles and around 200 aircrafts. The attack lasted about 110 minutes and was a total surpirse to everyone. Japan through the first punch but the U.S. would have a major comeback. -
Wannsee Conference
On January 20, Nazi Germany Officals (the top 15) met at the city of Berlin in Germany to discuss why the questioned Jews and to talk about the 'Final Solution"; which is a term used to refer to Hitler's plan to anniahlate the Jewish people. A few of the people whp joined the meeting included: SS General Reinhard Heydrich, Heinrich Himmler, General Heinrich Muller, SS Lieutenant Colonel Adolf Eichmann, ext. -
Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March occured on the Bataan Peninsula. The Americans owned the Bataan Peninsula and the Filipinos were joined with them. The Japanese then attacked the peninsula and the Americans and Fillipinos had no other joice but to surrender to the Japanese. The Japanese then forced the Americans and FIllipinos to march in harsh conditions to the brutal Japanese prison camps. The march alone killed many and being in a Japanese prison camp was pretty much a death sentence. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of MIdway was a major turning point in World War 2 for America. After Pearl Harbor the Japanese were just pounding on American forces. America seemed to be permanently on the defense and defending themselves from the enemy. But, America threw a hard jab right back at the Japanese. They intercepted radio signals about a Japanese ambush and demolished the Japanese forces. The Battle of Midway put America on offense and changed who was the top dog of the ocean. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major turning point on the Russian side of the war. Russia was getting beating after beating from Germany and needed a moral boost. Germany was pushing deeper and deeper into Russia until they hit Stalingrad. The Russian forces were low on supplies, but despite the adversity won the battle and started pushing back on German forces and turning the table of the war. This battle gave Russia the moral boost that they needed and was a major turning point for the Allies. -
D-Day
D-Day was the beggining of the Battle of Normandy. D-Day was the storming of the Normandy beaches along a 50 mile stretch. It occured on June 6, 1944. American, Canadian, and British forces made up the forces that attacked the beaches. There were 5 beaches total that were raided by the Allied forces. D-Day marked the beginning of the Allied forces taking back western Europe and giving freedom to all of those that were captured by the Nazi Reich. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was the last major Nazi attack against the Allies in World War 2. It was also the last ditch attempt by Adolf Hitler. Hitler ordered a massive attack against American forces when Hitler was convienced that the Allies were not strong and that an attack would break up their alliance. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was a major plus for America in World War 2. America was in need of a base near Japan to help make it easier to move supplies and have a closer base to where all of the fighting was going down. Outnumbering the Japanese by a lot to a little, American marines invaded the island. The Japanese fought back using a system of bunkers, tunnels, and hidden artillery. In the end American won the battle with nearly all of the Japanese soldiers killed or missing. -
Battle of Okinawa
The last major pacific battle was the Battle of Okinawa. The American forces invaded Okinawa to gain a better position to bomb Japan. A lot was at stake and the Japanese were not going to let up without a fight. The battle lasted for 82 days when the Japanese finally surrendered to the Allied forces. This battle was known as the bloodiest battle of the pacific and caused a lot of damage to both militaries and the island of Okinawa.llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll -
V-E Day
On May 8, 1945 the Nazi Reich fell to the Allied forces. Throughout Europe every German soldier officially laid down there weapons and surrendered. The war in Europe was finally over with and all the fighting was seized. Everywere throughout Europe people hung banners and flags and celebrated the ending of such a burden on all Europeans. POW's were released from the prison camps and were sent home to their families where they rejoiced and celebrated. -
Bombing of Hiroshima/Nagasaki
The straw that broke the camels back was the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the American forces. The atomic bomb was the bomb used on both cities in Japan. In Hirsohima the atomic bomb demolished 90 percent of the city and killed 80,000 people immediately,but despite the amount of deaths and destruction Japan refused to surrender. So America dropped one more atomic bomb in Nagasaki which finally made Japan surrender to the Allied forces, Hirohito said, "a new and most cruel bomb" -
V-J Day
V-J day occured on August 14, 1945. After the American forces dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan finally decided to surrender to the Allied forces. It was months after Germany surrendered until the Japanese surrendered, but it was not until September 2, 1945 that Japan officially surrendered abord the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Back in America everone was going crazy and were very eccstatic about Japan surrending to the Allied forces. The war was finally over. -
Warsaw Pact
The rise of communism around the world urged America to form NATO. NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Association. In respond to the creation of NATO the Soviet Union and other communist countries decided to make their own group which was the Warsaw Pact. The Warsaw Pact and NATO divided Europe and kept Europe divided into Communist and non-Communist throughout the Cold War. The main goal of the Warsaw Pact was to make a defense strategy against an enemy attack.