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Japanese invasion of China
A fight that began near Peiping in China. The invasion started the Second SIno-Japanese War. This was the largest Asian war in the 20th century. The war was the outcome of a long period of Japanese imperialism that aimed to dominate China. Japan finally surrendered in 1945.
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Second_Sino-Japanese_War -
German Blitzkrieg
German Blitzkrieg is German term for "lightning war". German Blitzkrieg is a military tactic designed to create chaos within enemy forces. Lightning war is accomplished through the use both tanks and foot soldiers. German Blitzkrieg, or lightning war, is used to prevent long wars. With tanks and other weapons the enemy is attacked and then so shocked by the attack that foot soldiers then come in and take control of the area. Germany overran much of Europe in the 1940s.
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc -
Fall of Paris
The night that Germans enter and take control of Paris. Over 2 million citizens of Paris fled. The Germans had plan to take over Paris. German police began interrogating and arresting Parisians. Then Canadian troops came in and assisted the liberation of the citizens of paris.
http://www.history.com/this-day-In-history/germans-enter-paris -
Pearl Harbor
Attack on American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked destroying nearly 20 American naval vessels were destroyed. More than 2,000 American soldiers/sailors were killed. The attack was intended to neutralize the US pacific fleet. Germany and Italy declared war on the US. Two years into conflict the US joined WWII.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Wannsee Conference
The onference that took place in Berlin with the top 15 Nazi generals to establish the Final Solution. The Final Solution was code name for the deliberate annhilation of the Jews. The idea of the Final Solution was to get rid of the entire Jewish population. The Jewish population was estimated to be at 11 million people in Europe. Hitler authorized this plan in 1941. This resulted in more discrimination and death of tthe Jews.
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/mobile/en/article.php?Moduled=10005477 -
Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March took place after the U.S. surrender of the Bataan Peninsula. After the surrender over 75,000 Fiipino and American soldiers were forced to march to prison camps. The soldiers marched through terrible conditions and treated poorly by Japanese gaurds. Many of the soldiers died.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-II/bataan-death-march -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a Soviet defense of Stalingrad. Some consider it to be the greatest battle of the Great Patriotic war. The purpose of the battle was for the Soviets to gain control of Stalingrad. The Soviets were succesful. There were nearly two million deaths.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-II/battle-of-stalingrad -
Allied Invasion of Italy
Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery began the invasion of the Italian Peninsula. The Italian government had secretly agreed to surrender but no one was aware until the 8th of September. Benito Mussolini was to build Fascist Italy into a new Roman Empire. The Italians surrendered and were treated well with certain other agreements. The Italians had to help the Allies in getting rid of the Germans in Italy.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-Invade-Italian-mainland -
D-Day
Allied troops landed on the coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the boarders of Normandy in France. Dwight Eisenhower considered it to be a crusade. The purpose was to defeat Hitler and his troops. The death toll was quite high following D-Day. More than 9000 allied soldiers were killed.
http://www.army.mil/d-day/ -
Battle of the Bulge
Took place in Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and the Ardennes. This was the longest battle fought on the Western Front in Europe during WWII. It was also the largest fought battle by the US. Hitler's goal was to break up the Western allies. After many brutal attacks, the Battle of the Bulge resulted in an allied victory.
http://historynet.com/battle-of-the-bulge -
liberation of the concentration camps
The soviets liberated Auschwitz on January 27th, 1945. Auschwitz was the largest killing center and concentration camp. A large majority of Auschwitz prisoners were forced into death marches lead by the Nazis. Upon arrival the Soviet soldiers found very few living prisoners. The majority of Auschwitz had been destroyed.
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?Moduleld=10005131 -
Battle of Iwo Jima
American invasion that was intended to gain a needed base near the Japanese coast. American air and naval forces landed on February 19. Conditions were difficult but American troops proved superior and won the battle after a month. It took about 36 days for US troops to defeat the Japanese. After succeeding, an American flag was raised on Mount Suribachi.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
VE Day
The day in which German troops finally surrendered. After losing a large amount of soldiers in Prague, Germans finally surrendered to their Soviet enemies. The surrender was declared with a final cease-fire. The Germans were exhausted. To this day VE is still celebrated by Europeans.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
dropping of the atomic bombs
The American fighter plane, Enola Gay, dropped the first atomic bomb. The bomb was dropped over Hiroshima. Truman was disappointed in the Japanese response to the demand for unconditional surrender. Instead of invading the Japanese mainland, Harry S. Truman decided it would be less dangerous to drop the bomb. Over 80,000 people were killed.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-is-dropped-on-hiroshima -
VJ Day
The day the Japanese uncondtionally surrendered to the allies. VJ day is also known as VIctoryover Japan day. This effectively ended WWII. Since then the surrender has been recognized on August 14th and 15th. It is also recognized on September 2nd which is when Japan formally surrendered aboard the U.S.S. Missouri.
http://history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
