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The Rape of Nanking
The Rape of Nanking is the name given for Japan's invasion of Nanking. The Japanese army invaded Nanking (China's Capital) destroying everything in their path. They would rape and then behead innocent Chinese civilians. In the end, the Japanese killed over 150,000 Chinese civilians. Japan fully took over Nanking at the end of December. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-rape-of-nanking#:~:text=In%20what%20became%20known%20as,or%20killed%20in%20the%20process. -
The Invasion of Poland
Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 1st, 1939. The invasion of Poland was fast. Germany would bomb the area and send their troops to secure it. Within a week the German army was outside of Warsaw. Poland was fully taken over by October 6th, 1939. This invasion was the start of the war it caused Brittain and France to declare war on Germany on September 3rd, 1939. https://www.historyextra.com/period/second-world-war/brutal-blitzkrieg-1939-invasion-poland-start-ww2-roger-moorhouse/ -
German Blitzkrieg
German Blitzkrieg was the style of warfare the Nazis used during the war. This style of war was an offensive style where you strike the opposing country fast and hard. This style of war is very effective but is very hard to pull off due to the country needing high communication. Also if something gets broken during warfare it is hard to get replaced due to the fast pace. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
The Battle of Britain
The Battle of Brittain was a fight between Great Brittain and Nazi Germany. The entire battle was done in the air. Heavy bombing by Nazi Germany all over Brittain; but the Royal Air Force fought back and won. The Battle of Brittain started on July 6th, 1940, and ended on October 31st, 1940. This was the first turning point in the war and the first defeat of Nazi Germany. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-britain-1 -
Wannsee Conference
This was a meeting between Hitler and his commanders. This was Hitler's conference where he discussed and enacted his "Final Solution". The Final Solution was the plan to eradicate all of the Jewish population. After this Hitler's plan was put into action. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wannsee-conference -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack done by the Japanese on the US. The Japanese sent their air force to bomb Pearl Harbor (a US port in Hawaii). This attack damaged 20 US naval vessels and over 2,400 Americans were killed. This attack made the US join the war. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March was a march that the Japanese had allied prisoners walk. This march was without food, water, or shelter for 3 days. Then they got on a train that was so tightly packed that no one could sit down. The walk was done to transport 76,000 prisoners to a prison. This walk killed around 10,000 people. https://www.ducksters.com/history/world_war_ii/bataan_death_march.php -
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a naval battle between Japan and the US. Japan tried to recreate the success of Pearl Harbor with another surprise attack this time at Midway, but due to US cryptbreakers intercepting this the US were prepared to fight off the Japanese. The US ultimately won the battle wich was a huge win in the pacific theater. -
The Battle of Stalingard
This was the most influential battle of the war. The battle was around a year long with over one million casualties. The battle was between Nazi Germany and the USSR. The battle was fought in Stalingrad USSR; Hitler's original plan was to take over Moscow but decided to go for Stalingrad. The USSR won the war in the end with a little over one million casualties and Stalingrad was completely destroyed. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
D-Day
The battle of Normandy better known as D-Day was an attack by the allies to win back France. This battle is one of the largest amphibious attacks of all time. The battle was fought long on the beaches of Normandy. Allied fighters had to run up the beach to try and secure a heavily fortified area while being shot at. The allied powers won the battle. This was the point where everyone knew the allied powers were going to win the war. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Dropping of the Two Atomic Bombs
The US dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. One in Hiroshima the other in Nagasaki. The US did this to stop the war from going on another year and causing more US casualties. The atomic bombs destroyed these two cities. These bombs killed over 80,000 people. The dropping of these bombs ended WW2 but ignited the Cold war. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-bomber-drops-atomic-bomb-on-hiroshima -
Battle of the Bulge
This was Germany's last offensive battle of the war. This battle was called the "Greatest American Battle of the war" by Winston Churchill. This battle was the highest number of casualties for America in the war. The battle was a last-ditch effort of Germany trying to split up the allied forces pushing into Germany. Ultimately the allies won and pushed toward Germany. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was a battle between Japan and the US. The battle was fought over control over Iwo Jima an island with a landing strip on it. The US soldiers had to fight against a heavily fortified Japan (Japanese soldiers fortified themselves into the mountain of Iwo Jima). Ultimately the US won the battle which was a major turning point in the pacific theater. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
VE-Day
VE-Day is the day that the German soldiers finally laid down their weapons. This day is seen as the official day the war ended. It was the final seas fire and the documents were drafted. This day is widely celebrated and marks the end of ww2 in Europe. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
VJ-Day
VJ-day is known as the victory over Japan. This marks the end of the war for the US. The VJ-day is August 15 1945 the day Japan finally surrendered to the allies unconditionally. VJ-day is celebrated in the US. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day