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Second Sino-Japanese War
The second Japanese Invasion of China started shortly after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, where a battle was fought between the Chinese National Revolutionary Army and the Japanese Imperialist Army. Japan then moved more troops into China, and China fought with aid from the US and Russia. 10 to 25 Chinese civilians and 4 million military personnel died during this war. -
Tripartite Pact
The Tripartite Pact was signed in Berlin between Germany, Italy, and Japan. This was an agreement to form an alliance between the three countries. -
Pearl Harbor Attack
The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service threw a surprise attack against the US Naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This attack led to the US formally joining the Second World War. -
The US and Britain's Declaration of War on Japan
The governments of both the US and Britain formally declared war on Japan, following the attack against Pearl Habor and several British Colonies in the Asia-Pacific region. -
Battle of Singapore
The Japanese Army invaded the British colony of Singapore and occupied the entire island. Through this even, Japan showed it's power and influence over the Asia-Pacific Region. -
Battle of Midway
The American Navy defeated the Japanese Navy in the island of Midway Atoll, in the Pacific Ocean just six months after the Pearl Harbor Attack. This battle set Japan in a difficult position in the coming years as Japan lost a large number of ships and men. -
Japan Expelled from Burma
The British and Chindit forces fought together to expel the Japanese from the British colony of Burma. -
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima
The Japanese Empire continuously refused to surrender and the US government dropped an atomic bomb, Little Boy on Hiroshima with the hope of ending the war at an earlier date. Over the next two to four months, between 90,000 and 146,000 people were killed due to the radioactive effects of the atomic bomb. -
Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki
The Japanese government still refused to surrender despite having lost the city of Hiroshima. This led to the US dropping a hydrogen bomb in the island of Nagasaki. Between 39,000 and 80,000 people were killed in the next two to four months. -
Japan Surrenders
Japan signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender. This formally ended World War II.