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Japanese Invasion of China https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan/World-War-II-and-defeat
The Japanese captured Nanjing, the Chinese captial. This resulted in 15 million deaths and massive destruction to all parts including, industrial infrastructure, agriculture, and shelters. The Japanese were seeking raw materials. They wanted to grow their industries but needed materials to do it with. This ended up leading to this invasion. -
German Blitzkrieg https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-german-lightning-war-strategy-of-the-second-world-war#:~:text=Blitzkrieg%2C%20meaning%20'Lightning%20War',of%20the%20Second%20World%20War.
The German Blitzkriegs air power and airborne infantry was to overcome fixed fortifications that were believed by the defenders to be impregnable. Because they thought a rapid victory could come only through forceful and abrupt action, due to Prussia's relatively limited economic resources. One of the two impacts were to quickly capture and secure their dominance in mainland Europe. They were also able to greatly reduce their loss of materials and life using this strategy. -
Fall of Paris https://www.theguardian.com/world/1940/jun/15/secondworldwar.france
The German armies defeated the Maginot Line, forcing it deep into Paris. The French knew they were no match to the German army. The Germans were better trained, quicker, and had more advamced equipment. This resulted in the French deciding not to fight in order to spare the devastation it would've caused. This greatly impacted the French because it was a huge loss and would take mnay years to regain their momentum again. This established that Germany had a more tactical and powerful army. -
Pearl Harbor https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/pearl-harbor#:~:text=Pearl%20Harbor%20was%20the%20site,country%20into%20World%20War%20II.
The Japanese military launched a suprise attack on the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Pearl Harbor occured because of Japan wishing for a short war. They wanted to weaken the US naval strength and capture their oil supplies. This ended with 2403 US deaths and 19 destroyed and damaged US Navy ships. In the end the Japanese failed their mission to disrupt the Pacific Fleet. -
Wannsee Conference https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/wannsee-conference-and-the-final-solution
On January 20, 1942, 15 high ranking Nazi party and German government officials gathered at a villa in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee to discuss and coordinate the implementation of what they called the Final Solution of the Jewish Question. This happened so that they could organize a mass killing, but in a "professional way." This effected many people by the deaths of people, and leaving them terrorized for many others. -
Battle of Stalingrad https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad
Soviet forces launched a counteroffensive against the Germans arrayed at stalingrad in mid-November 1942. With more than 220 000 soldiers encircling the German army, In February 1943 91 000 German soldiers surrended. Hitler launched a major offensive into southern Russia, seeking to destroy what was left to the Soviet Army and ultimately capture the caucasus oilfields. Russians do consider it to be one of the greatest battles of their great patriotic War. -
Battle of Iwo Jima https://www.nationalww2museum.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/iwo-jima-fact-sheet.pdf
U.S Marines invaded Iwo Jima on this date. After months of naval and air bombardment. The Japanese defenders of the island were dug into bunkers deep within the volcanic rocks. The U.S did this because it was strategic, since it was an island and easy to attack. Iwo Jima then served as a emergency landing for more than 2200 B-29 bombers, this saved lives of 24 000 U.S airmen. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion) https://www.loc.gov/collections/veterans-history-project-collection/serving-our-voices/world-war-ii/d-day-june-6-1944/
Over 850 000 men and 148 000 vehicles carrying over 550 000 tons of supplies landed on the Normandy Shores. Fighting by the brave soldiers, sailors, and airmen of the allied forces of the western front, and Russian forces on the eastern front, this led to the defeat of German Nazi forces. The goal was to drain Germaan resources and block access to key military sites. One of the two lasting effects would be the day of remembrance, and the downfall of the end of the war. -
Battle of the Bulge https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-the-Bulge
the Battle of the Bulge marked the last German offense on the Western Front. The horrific losses on the German side prevented Germany from resisting the advance off Allied forces following the Normandy Invasion. The Battle Of The Bulge happened because Hitler hoped that the German counter attack would surround the British and American armies and stall the Allied offensive against Germany. Lasting effects include Germany surrendering to the Allied forces. -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
The Liberation of Auschwitz concentration camps , were camps used to exterminate humans. More than 10 million people were killed due to this camp. They liberated concentration camps because obviously killing people, and working them to death was not okay, and this would have to stop. Lasting effects include remorse, sadness, and more given the time that was happened there. -
Operation Thunderclap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderclap_plan
Operation Thunderclap was a plan that was proposed to bomb Berlin, doing this would cause many casualties. Saying this, the bombing did not happen. They planned this for the main reason of causing logistical chaos to support the Russian advance on the Eastern Front. There were no lasting effects since this subject did not happen. -
Battle of Okinawa https://www.usni.org/battle-okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was an invasion of Okinawa and other islands in the Ryukyus. This happened because the U.S wanted to secure the island, though removing the last barrier standing between U.S forces and imperial Japan. With the U.S having a firm hand on Japan, they could finally bring their full might uopn Japan, with air strikes, blockading lifeline, etc. The Battle reduced the population by 10%, greatly increased the ratio of women to men, and sorrow. -
VE Day https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/VE-Day/#:~:text=On%20Victory%20in%20Europe%20Day,World%20War%20II%20in%20Europe.
This day celebrates the formal acceptance by the allies of World War 2 of Germans unconditional surrender of its armed forces on this date. VE Day became a thing mainly to mark the end of World War 2 in Europe. Lasting effects include marking the start of the political, economic, and physical reconstruction of the continent. This also includes the 50 countries that signed the Unitedd Nation Charter and pledged to maintain international peace and security. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
There were multiple bombings, both on the 6th and 9th of August, 1945. The United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japenese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombings killed between 129 000 and 226 000 people. Most of whom were civilians, nd remain the only use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict. This tradegy happened because the US wanted to force a quick surrender by the Japenese to reduce the number of American lives lost. Leukaemia increased noticeably after the bombings -
VJ Day https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/v-j-day
V-J Day, or victory over Japan day, marks the end of WW2, one of the deadliest and most destructive wars in history. VJ Day happened for the main reason of needing Japan to surrender. The only way to do this would be to bomb them, and kill them a different way. Lasting effects include happiness, and the news that Japan surrendered brought a feeling of relief, to allied servicemen.