WW2

Japanese invasion of China

Jul 7, 1937

Japanese invasion of China (1937-1945)
—What happened: There was a Japanese invasion in order to get more space and resources in what is presently known as China.
—Why it happened: For instance, Japan desired to become a pre-dominant power in east part of Asia by achieving hegemony as well as exploiting natural sources.
—Effects/Impact: The invasion saw unprecedented killings such as the Nankin massacre that increased hostilities in Asia and expanded World war.

German Blitzkrieg

Sep 7, 1939

German Blitzkrieg (1939)
-What happened: Germany utilized a number of quick and simultaneous military attacks, such as the attack in Poland.
-Why it happened: This was a technique known as the Blitzkrieg, which targeted fast overcoming of opposing forces using new technologies that resulted in the rapid acquisition of territories.
-Effects/Impact: However, this technique turned out to be very productive, impacting on the rest of military approaches that led to the fall of European countries.

Fall of Paris

May 10, 1940

Fall of Paris (1940)
-What happened: The victory of the Axis Powers became evident when German forces occupied the French capital city, Paris.
-Why it happened: This included the blitzkrieg that the Germans managed to carry out with such ease, enabling France to surrender.
-Effects/Impact: The conquest of Paris resulted in shifts in the balance of European powers as Germans occupied a major geographical and culture center.

Operation Barbarossa

Jun 22, 1941

Operation Barbarossa (1941)
-What happened: The German attacked the Soviet Union, which breached the nonaggression pact.
-Why it happened: He wanted to eliminate the assumed ideological and geopolitical threat and obtain resources in the East.
-Effects/Impact: It marked the beginning of bloody fights with enemies in the East front, which eventually led to the downfall of the German Empire.

Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

Pearl Harbor (1941)
-What happened: Japan’s bombs hit the American naval base at Pearl Harbor.
-Why it happened: The country also intended to gain access for Japanese companies in Southeast Asia and neutralize the danger from the Pacific fleet of the USA.
-Effects/Impact: This led to US’ involvement in WW2.

Wannsee Conference

Jan 20, 1942

Wannsee Conference (1942)
-What happened: Senior Nazis assembled for discussion about the “Final Solution,” to plan systematically to exterminate European Jews.
-Why it happened: It involves elimination of millions of innocent Jews and other categories of people who were labeled as undesirable.
-Effects/Impact: It was a turning point during the Holocaust that set stage for mass extermination camping and the killing of millions.

Warsaw Ghetto uprising

Apr 19, 1943

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (1943)
-What happened: In return, most Jewish inhabitants at the Warsaw ghetto fought the Nazis.
-Why it happened: The rebellion was very courageous as it took place days before they were set for deportation which would in the end have led them to the gas chambers.
-Effects/Impact: The rebellion may have been finally quelled but it represented a stubborn stance against persecution that went on to inspire other resistance movements.

D-Day

Jun 6, 1944

D-Day (1944)
-What happened: The allies stormed the beaches of Normandy in an enormous amphibian assault.
-Why it happened: It marked an important stage in the liberation of western Europe from Nazi rule thereby creating the second front against Germany.
-Effects/Impact: The Battle for Normandy on June 6th resulted in a great victory that liberated France and eventually brought about the downfall of Nazi Germany.

Liberation of concentration camps

Jan 27, 1945

Liberation of Concentration Camps (1944-1945)
-What happened: Liberating concentration and extermination camps in German-occupied territories was done by advanced allied forces.
-Why it happened: This led to liberation as a result of the allies’ victory and the realization of the level of Nazi crimes.
-Effects/Impact: World was terrified with the disturbing scenarios from the camps as it magnified the enormity of the holocaust and affirmed intentions to punish Nazi war perpetrators.

Battle of Iwo Jima

Feb 19, 1945

Battle of Iwo Jima (1945)
In fighting their way, through the entrenched Japanese defenders’ positions in Iwo Jima.
-Why it happened: Capturing Iwo Jima had strategic importance in taking airfields and bombing Japan.
-Effects/Impact: * It had high number of causalities on all its parties and after the airfields were captured, they were instrumental in subsequent battles of the Pacific.

VE Day

May 8, 1945

VE Day (1945)
-What happened: The defeat of Nazis and victory in Europe or VE day symbolized the end of the war in Europe.
-Why it happened: This is the reason Germany was defeated by the efforts of the Allied sides and breakdown of the Nazi regime.
-Effects/Impact: Celebration occurred after VE Day that ended the war in Europe and ushered in the era of post-war reconstruction.

Potsdam Declaration

Jul 26, 1945

Potsdam Declaration (1945)
-What happened: There were three declarations that the allied leaders issued, on the conditions for Japanese surrender.
-Why it happened: Japan faced a final ultimatum known as the “Potsdam Declaration” which demanded an unconditional surrender or instant annihilation.
-Effects/Impact: It declared war on Japan that paved the way for later nuclear blasts above Hiroshima and Nagasaki that brought an abrupt ending to the war in the Pacific.

Dropping of the atomic bombs

Aug 6, 1945

1. *Dropping of the Atomic Bombs (1945): *
2. *What happened: America bombed Japanese cities, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with nuclear bombs.
3. *Why it happened: Nuclear bombs destroyed cities intending to compel the Japanese to surrender by demonstrating the power and consequences of such technology.
4. *Effects/Impact: These bombings caused an ultimatum that led them to surender. The events created moral arguments as well as defined and shaped the world’s political atmosphere.

VJ Day

Sep 2, 1945

VJ Day (1945)
- *What happened: VJ day which symbolized defeat of Japan became a formal indication to end World War.
- *Why it happened: The USSR’S entrance into the Pacific War, coupled with the atomic bombings in Japan led to its defeat and consequent surrender.
- *Effects/Impact: End of the war, it was World war 2 which had come to an end with vj day; this initiated the post-war period when Japan set off for its reconstruction process.

Battle of the Bulge

Dec 16, 1945

Battle of the Bulge (1944-1945)
- German forces conducted a counter-offensive attack known as ‘Battle of the Bulge’ attacking the Allied forces and trying to split them.
-Why it happened: It was important for the Germans in slowing down an Allied move and perhaps, negotiate a separate arrangement with them
-Effects/Impact: Initially, the attacks by the Allied forces were pushed back but eventually they gathered more strength and pushed back the attack.