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Japanese Invasion of China
The Marco Polo Bridge incident led the Japanese to invade China in 1937. At first, Japan was very successful since China’s major cities fell. However, China’s forces were getting stronger due to the US”s support after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In 1945, Japan surrendered after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the attacks from the USSR in Manchuria.
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Second Sino-Japanese War
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German Blitzkrieg
The German blitzkrieg was a successful military tactic that was executed to expand Germany’s territory. This strategy’s aim is to defeat its opponents in a series of short surprising campaigns, avoiding a long costly war. A blitzkrieg consists of lining up tanks, planes, and war machines along a narrow front, attacking enemies with strength and force. As a result of the blitzkrieg, Germany controlled most of Europe. link text -
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German Blitzkrieg
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Fall of Paris
After the successful German blitzkrieg, Hitler decided to launch another one in France. Since the French were predicting a German invasion elsewhere, the Germans easily attacked them. Within a few days, the Germans occupied Paris since no French forces were present due to their inevitable defeat. Thus, France surrendered to the Germans by signing an armistice which humiliated them.
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Operation Barbarossa
Hitler decided to invade the USSR since there was a wide belief of their army being weak and disorganized, and they were home to vital resources. Thus, he invaded them, catching their soldiers off guard due to the Nazi-Soviet pact. At first, Germany were able to easily advance, but the cold winter and strong opposition stopped them a few miles from Moscow. As a result, their defeat led to the turning point of WWII.
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Pearl Harbor
After the US knew about Japanese colonization in East Asia, they stopped sending them oil. As a result, Japan declared war on the US. Thus, they bombed the US Naval Bases in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Their intentions were to destroy the US’s Pacific fleet, preventing the US to interfere with them. The bombings resulted in great casualties and losses, leading the US to declare war on Japan.
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The Manhattan Project Begins
The Manhattan Project was the US’s government research project that produced the first atomic bombs. It started with a letter from Einstein that warned the President of the US of a research that could construct a very powerful bomb, which the Germans were working on. Thus, Einstein urged the US to do likewise. Although the project’s main goal was to bring the war into a speedy end, it promoted the production of deadly weapons.
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The Manhattan Project
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Bataan Death March
After the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, American and Filipino soldiers were forced into the Bataan Peninsula to retreat. Unable to fight aggressive Japanese offense, they surrendered. As a result, the Japanese sent them to marches from Mariveles to San Fernando, for there was a rail that could send them to death camps. On these marches, the Japanese would treat the soldiers harshly, causing their deaths.
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Battle of Midway
The US’s attack on Tokyo led Japan to plan an attack that destroys the American fleet in the Pacific, so they could protect themselves. The Japanese's plan was to attack the American base in Midway Island. They were unable to execute their plan since the US were able to break their naval codes. Thus, the US launched a counterattack, destroying Japanese weaponry that would allow them to advance in the Pacific.
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Battle of Stalingrad
Hitler ordered his army to attack Stalingrad since he hated Stalin. For the same reason, Stalin ordered his army to protect the city. At first, Germany dropped bombs that almost destroyed the city. As the battle progresses, the German army grew weaker, causing the Soviet army to surround the city and trap them. Germany surrendered since they were unable to defend themselves.
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Operation Gomorrah
Operation Gomorrah was the codename for the aerial bombing of Hamburg, which was Germany’s second-largest city and an important center for war industry. The operation was a joint campaign between the UK and the US that aimed to force Germany into surrender. As a result, the city of Hamburg was mostly destroyed. This operation made the Nazis reconsider their propaganda for the first time, calling for peace.
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Allied Invasion of Italy
Italy, an ally of Germany, was unstable after the fall of Sicily, for the Allies decided to invade it. During this time, Mussolini was replaced by Badgolio. The Allies first invaded Italy from Calabria. After a few days, Italy surrendered to the Allies by an agreement that ensured leniency if they provided aid to the them. In two years, the Allies worked their way north, freeing Italy from German occupation.
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D-Day
D-Day, otherwise known as the Normandy Landings, was one of the Allies’ plan of defeating Germany. After luring Germany into possible places for invasions, the Allies finally launched a lightning attack in Normandy, France, catching the Germans by surprise. Hitler thought that this invasion was a deception, for he did not send more troops. Thus, the Allies were victorious since they were able to trap Germany into a two front war.
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Battle of the Bulge
In the hopes of splitting the Allies by a major defeat, Hitler ordered a surprise blitzkrieg in the Western Front. At first, Germany was successful, yet the lack of resources and oil weakened their forces. Thus, the Allies were able to easily attack them, allowing them to advance into Germany. The German’s loss in the battle highlighted their weakness since Hitler used all of what he had in the hopes of the Allies’ decline.
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Operation Thunderclap
Operation Thunderclap was the codename for the bombing of Dresden, Germany. The operation was carried out by the air forces of the US and the UK over the course of three days. During this time, Dresden was one of the few unharmed East German cities that supplied resources to German soldiers in the Eastern Front. As a result, the Allied forces wanted to target a city where the Germans would feel it the most.
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Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was fought between the US and Japan that involved the occupation of Iwo Jima. This island was important to the US, for they needed a place for for their fighter planes and bombers when attacking Japan. Before the battle, Japan dug tunnels and hid in places to surprise the US. They were successful, however, the US was able to secure the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese after a long battle.
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Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was fought between the US and Japan on the island of Okinawa. To Japan, Okinawa was their last hope for winning the war, for it was the only island that is not yet secured by the US. Whereas, the US needed Okinawa to fulfill its plan to win the war. Desperate to win, Japan had a strong resistance that mostly included kamikaze attacks. The US finally secured Okinawa from Japan, ending the battle.
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VE Day
Victory in Europe Day marked the victory for the Allied forces in Europe after the surrender of Germany. Grand Admiral Donitz, who served as President of Germany after Hitler’s suicide, visited General Eisenhower in France. During his visit, he surrendered to the Wester and Russian demands in the presence of senior officers from Britain, America, Russia and France. The main reason for the German surrender was the USSR’s capture of Berlin.
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Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
The Japanese refused to surrender, for the US thought Japan would invade their country. To protect itself, the President hoped that the atomic bombs would quickly put the war to an end. As a result, the US first dropped ‘Little Boy’ on Hiroshima, and then dropped ‘Fat Man’ on Nagasaki. These bombs have released tons of radiation that resulted in many Japanese casualties, leading them to surrender.
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Drpping of the Atomic Bombs
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VJ Day
Victory over Japan Day is when Japan has finally surrendered to the Allied forces, officially ending WWII. The Japanese finally sought to surrender after the dropping of the atomic bombs. However, there were some Japanese that still wanted to fight, but their Emperor Hirohito refrained them to do so. If they were to still fight, then it would end in the extinction of human civilization as technological development advances.
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