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Invasion of Manchuria
The Japanese invasion of Manchuria began on September 18, 1931, when the Kwantung Army of the Empire of Japan invaded Manchuria immediately following the Mukden Incident. The Japanese established a puppet state called Manchukuo, and their occupation lasted until the end of World War II. This showed how powerful the Japanese were at the time. -
Midway
The battle of Midway was considered a major turning point of the war in the Pacific because the Japanese saw it as a stepping stone to capturing Hawaii. Thankfully US code breakers were able to to learn of the planned attack and Admiral Nimitz could prepare to defend. Over the four day battle the US suffered heavy losses but not as severe as Japan. This was an important battle because Japan lost the ability to fight an offensive war on the US. June 4th 1942 -
China falls to Japan
The Marco Polo Bridge Incident, also known by several other names, was a battle between the Republic of China's National Revolutionary Army and the Imperial Japanese Army. It is often used as the marker for the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War. -
Blitzkrieg into Poland
-It is also known as the lighting war. Through a Non-Aggression treaty, Germany and Russia had made a Secret Provision to work together and then split all of Poland’s territory in the end. Poland was not ready for the two countries to invade because their resources were outdated, allowing them to move through fast with reinforcements from air power.
-This is important because Britain and France had promised to defend them causing them to declare war on Germany on September 3, 1939. -
Battle of the Atlantic
Battle of the Atlantic started September 3, 1939. The allies wanted to prepare for the cross-channel invasion by bringing supplies to Britain. German U-boats made the Atlantic a dangerous place. Allies begin using Convoys and using newly invented Sonar to navigate. This is important because in the end the allies win the battle and preparations to the cross begin. -
Germany's Invasion of France
Germany captured Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg with their next target as France. When Germany blitzed into France it drove a wedge between Britain and France causing Britain to evacuate. Italy then declares war on France and starts to invade southern France. This is important because Germany's invasion into France caused France to surrender on June 22, 1940. This set Germany up to invade to Britain. Germany set up a Vichy government in France to control the Southern part of France. -
Battle of Dunkirk
Dunkirk started on May 26, 1940 after Germany drove a wedge between Britain and France. Britain then had to evacuate 340.000 troop out of Dunkirk France in order not to suffer dramatic losses. This is important because Britain retreating although saved them a lot, their retreated forced to them to leave a lot behind and give Dunkirk to the Germans. -
The Battle of Britain/ The Blitz
July 1940 Germany started to bomb British airfields, key ports and military bases, but Britain’s Royal Air Forces was able to hold of the Germans because they had better pilots and planes and they had the new radar. Germany gets desperate and starts bombing cities, and in the spring of 1941 Hitler gave up on an invasion. This is important because it angered Britain and made them a stronger power in the war in Europe. -
Germany takes Greece
Germany comes into Greece to help aid Italy, and the Allies are overwhelmed and loss. This is important because from there Germany now started to attack North Africa. -
Operation Barbarossa
This was the code name for Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union which the Germans had totally underestimates the powers of. This is important because Nazi Germany failed in this forcing them to fight a two front war. -
Pearl Harbor
Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl harbor. It lasted 2 hours and left decestating results. 20 American naval vessels including 8 huge battleships and more than 300 airplanes were destroyed. More than 2000 American soldier and sailors died and another 1000 were wounded. This is important because the day after President FDR asked for war against Japan and all but 1 in congress accepts except. The USA declares war on December 12, 1941. -
Bataan
After Pearl harbor Japanese aircraft began an aerial assault on American forces in the Philippines. General Douglas MacArthur began preparations to defend the archipelago against Japan. MacArthur knew they would lose so he surrenders promising to return. April 9, 75,000 troops were forced to make a 65- mile march to prison camps where many died. This is important because it showed the US that we were not as prepared as we thought we were to go against a highly trained military like Japan. -
Philippines 1942
US troops were led by General Macarthur who became Supreme allied commander in the Pacific. We last 3 months, but eventually run out of supplies causing us to retreat to Australia. This is important because this time the allies lost and Japan gains the Philippines on May 6th. -
Doolittle Raid
Started when 16 B-25 bombers attacked the Japanese capital Tokyo and places on Japanese mainland. James H. Doolittle commanded us with an unorthodox plan, but top secret training programs began to solve the problem of how to achieve take off on 450ft when the usual min is 1200ft. On April 18th they were ready. This is important because it raised American morale. It caused little real damage to Japan physical but did hurt their government. Doolittle was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. -
Coral Sea
A 4 day battle and the first air-sea battle in history when the Japanese were seeking to control the Coral Sea. They were planning an invasion of Port Moresby in southeast New Guinea but we found out letting is have aircraft carriers attack when Japanese landed. Both sides suffered damages. The Japanese didn't have enough planes to cover the attack. The allies win proved that American code breakers had an edge. This reduced Japan’s resources for a key battle a month later, the Battle of Midway. -
Stalingrad
Stalingrad was battle between Russia and Germany that was deadly street fight in the ruins of a big city. This is important because this is one of two battles that ended Germany’s ability to fight offensively on the Eastern Front because Russia captured 300,000 thousands German troops. -
Guadacanal
Guadalcanal was on the Solomon Islands which took six months. To communicate on the battlefield we used Navajo which is a very complex native language. This battle was important because we learn how to fight in jungles which would come in handy. -
El Alamein (2nd Battle)
The Second Battle of El Alamein was a decisive battle of the Second World War that took place near the Egyptian railway halt of El Alamein. With the Allies victorious, it marked the watershed of the Western Desert Campaign. This is important because it was a turning point in the North African campaign. It ended the long fight for the Western Desert, and was the only great land battle won by the British and Commonwealth forces without direct American participation. -
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was on of the decisions made by the Big Three at the Tehran Conference.They would create second front and go from Africa to Sicily to Italy. Churchill used a picture of a crocodile to show that they were going to attack the soft belly of the crocodile by going up through the middle. The US invaded Algeria and moved to the east led by Gen. Dwight D. “Ike.” This was important because the US and Britain trap Germany forcing Italy to retreat which is a big win for the Allies. -
New Guinea
The New Guinea campaign was one of the longest campaigns of the WW2. It began with the easy Japanese conquest of most of the north coast of the massive island. Then Allies went offensive and the Japanese were pushed back across to the north coast of Papua. By the end of the war the Japanese only had their base at Rabaul on New Britain and all of nearby New Ireland. This is important because New Guinea had been a key part of the Japanese defensive perimeter. -
Kursk
Kursk was a battle between Russia and Germany and was a famous tank battle that was a key to why we won the war. This is important because this is one of two battles that ended Germany’s ability to fight offensively on the Eastern Front because Russia captured 300,000 thousands German troops. -
Sicily
The United States and Great Britain, planned to invade Europe and finally defeat of Nazi Germany. The Allies decided to go against Italy first, hoping they could secure the Mediterranean and push away the Germans from the coast of France where the Allies planned to attack in the future. They started with gaining Sicily. This was important because after 38 days of fighting, the U.S. and Great Britain had driven German and Italian troops from Sicily and prepared to gain the Italian mainland. -
Salerno
Britain had resistance from their soldiers. We enter from the south and choose key spots to get a hold of. Salerno was chosen for it's proximity to air bases and they fact that ships could anchor in closer. Operation Avalanche was in place putting rockets launching from landing craft to provide cover, and the beach landings went smoothly. 2 days later the Germans counter attacked. Clark called in the 82nd Airborne for support. On the 15th, Salerno was the Allies' making the move inland stronger. -
Gilbert & Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands represented part of the perimeter of the Japanese Pacific empire This is important because it would create airfield and naval bases. When the Japanese heard of this they were uncertain of the location of each strike which caused the Allies in the end to win. -
Anzio
The Battle of Anzio stemmed from the Allied attempt to draw German troops off the Gustav Line during Operation Shingle. U.S. Major General John P. Lucas secured a beachhead near Anzio and Nettuno on Italy’s west coast. His divisions were quickly contained by Germans. Later attacks resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. This is important because in the end the Allies finally broke out of the beachhead in late May, starting the advance that led to the capture of Rome. -
D- Day
When 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches on the coast of France’s Normandy region. The Battle of Normandy resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control. The was huge and took lots of planning. The allies made a deception campaign to mislead the Germans about the intended invasion target. By late August 1944, all of France had been liberated.
This is important because D-Day is considered the beginning of the end of war in Europe. -
Guam
The Americans invaded the Japanese on Guam territory after a heavy attack of naval shells. The Japanese set off a fierce counterattack but it was not strong enough to push the Americans back into sea. The Americans continued to push back until the Japanese were in the Southern mountain regions of Guam. This then declared the island captured even though there were still months of fighting to continue. This was important for the Americans to reclaim their territory. -
Operation Dragoon
Cancelled at first, but in July it was reconsidered, as the crowded ports in Normandy didn't have the room to adequately supply the Allied forces. The French High Command pushed for a revival of the operation that would include large numbers of French troops. The operation finally approved in July to start in August.
The goal was to secure the vital ports on the French Mediterranean coast and increase pressure on the German forces by opening another front which was help would help with D-Day. -
Philippines 1944-45
The Battle of the Philippines was the American and Filipino campaign to defeat and expel the Imperial Japanese forces occupying the Philippines, during World War II. This is important because the 2nd target to attack was Mindoro, directly south of Luzon and Manila Bay. MacArthur's main goal in taking it was to be able to construct airfields on it for fighter planes that could dominate the sky over the most-important island of Luzon, which had major seaports and capital city of Manila. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Adm. Nimitz and Macarthur converge on the islands where the Japanese fleet meets US fleet in the gulf. This is the biggest naval battle in history and the US traps the Japanese in a straight and pounds them. This is where Kamikaze pilots first appeared. This is important because we retake the Philippines in February and almost destroy their entire navy. -
Battle of the Bulge
Germans hit a weak spot in the allied lines and created a 50 mile deep and 80 mile wide bulge. This was Germany’s last ditch efforts, but in the end the US digs in and stops them forcing them to retreat. In total the US loss 80,000 troops and Germany lost 120,000. This is important because it disables Germany to fight offensively once and for all, and started the crumble in Germany. -
Bastogne
The Siege of Bastogne was an engagement in December 1944 between American and German forces at the Belgian town of Bastogne, as part of the larger Battle of the Bulge. The goal of the German offensive was the harbor at Antwerp. This is important because the win allied win of this territory let the allies have control of major road networks. -
Yalta Confrence
Yalta Conference was in February 4, 1945 with the big three. During this conference Stalin demands control of Poland and much of Eastern Europe. FDR approve but they must help in the Pacific and free elections must be held in the areas of Russia control. This is important because now we have reinforcements and influence on Russia. -
Iwo Jima
A major battle when the US Marine Corps landed on the Pacific Island of Iwo Jima and eventually captured it. On this island there were two airfields which was a great tactical importance. The tiny island would take over month to take over. This was important because the Allies needed a base near the Japanese Coast and gaining this island was just what they needed. -
Okinawa
Okinawa was the last and largest, most bloodiest battle of the Pacific Island battles. It involved 287,000 US troops against 130,000 Japanese soldiers fighting for the air bases that would be vital to the projected invasion of Japan. -more than 100,000 Japanese casualties
-65,000 allied casualties (14,000 dead)
-both side’s commanding generals died This is important because the Allies won the battle and occupied Okinawa and it showed how deadly the invasion of mainland Japan would be. -
Hitler's suicide
Hitler’s Suicide was announced on May 1, 1945 when him and his lover Eva Braun took Cyanide pills, but he also shoots himself. Loyal guards burned and buried his body, but other German troops started to surrender. Hitler kills himself because the allies had begun to invade Germany and his camps were being liberated. His whole plan was falling apart and he knew he was going to lose the war. Hitler’s suicide is important because it leads to why Germany as a whole surrenders. -
German Surrender
Germany surrenders on May 8, 1945 on V.E Day. They agree to unconditional Surrender, and the war in Europe is officially over. This is important because now we can focus on the war in the Pacific. -
Potsdam
A meeting where the big three meet to plan the invasion of Japan, and Truman tells the allies about the two atomic bombs made during the Manhattan Project. The decision is made that if it is necessary they can use it. On July 26, the US gives Japan the option of “Unconditional surrender or face prompt and utter destruction” but they never actually mention atomic bombs. This is important because Japan ignores us and this leads to the reason we used our atomic bombs and why Japan surrenders. -
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the two cities where the atomic bombs were dropped. The first one was dropped on August 6, 1945 in Hiroshima destroying 80% of the city and killing 68,000 people instantly with more later causing a total of 118,000 total deaths. Then later on August 9, 1945 the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki killing 35,000 people instantly with thousands killed after. This is important because this was the major cause of why the Japanese surrender. -
Japanese Surrender
On August 15, 1945 the Japanese surrender unconditionally, and the peace treaty is signed September 2, 1945. This is important because timing worked out great for the US because we only had two atomic bombs which we had used already, so if they hadn’t surrendered the war could have kept on going with so many more casualties.
