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German Blitzkrieg
The German military method of a quick war. It was a swift, focused attack on the enemy, different from the slow-moving trench warfare of WW1. Offensive weapons: tanks, planes, and artillery. The plan was to bomb, and send tanks followed by soldiers. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/blitzkrieg-lightning-war#:~:text=Germany%20quickly%20overran%20much%20of,artillery)%20along%20a%20narrow%20front. -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
Germany invaded Poland in the fall of 1939, part of Hitler's plan to take most of Europe, focusing on the states with ethnic German citizens. They used this fact to justify this action, accusing Poland of persecuting ethnic German citizens. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/invasion-of-poland-fall-1939 -
Fall of Paris
The fall of Paris was a German invasion of France. The Maginot Line was formed, which was lined with fortifications, however, the Ardennes Forest wasn't covered as it was thought that the Germans wouldn't come through there as it was a full forest. But that's exactly what they did, bombing and invading France until the Nazis captured Paris, which was the end for France. https://www.history.co.uk/history-of-ww2/fall-of-france -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was an air-based attack on Britain. The main focus was shipping and industrial centers as if Germany could destroy them, it would weaken Britain. The Luftwaffe also attacked RAF bases and infrastructures. Eventually, the Nazis bombed cities, mainly London as the plan was to take London to take Britain, ultimately Germany had to give up, moving back to the east.
https://www.military-history.org/feature/world-war-2/battle-of-britain/the-battle-of-britain-a-brief-guide.htm -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. Although Stalin and Hitler had signed an alliance, which stated that they would never attack the other, in true Hitler fashion, he didn't stick to his word. However, this mission was a failure as Germany ended up not being able to take the USSR, which is one of the main turning points as it showed that Hitler wouldn't be able to take the east
https://www.britannica.com/event/Operation-Barbarossa -
Pearl Harbor
One of the turning points in the war. It was an attack on the naval base, Pearl Harbor, by Japan. It was meant to be a way to slow the US from stopping the Japanese from expanding. Many ships were destroyed, including the USS Arizona. This ultimately pushed the US to join the war, something they had been avoiding due to the Great Depression.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference was a meeting held by Nazi and SS leaders, planning the "Final Solution", which was the extinction of all Jews. After this meeting, concentration camps for Jews were established, in which they murdered millions of Jews in gas chambers, labor, and executions.
https://www.yadvashem.org/holocaust/about/final-solution-beginning/wannsee-conference.html -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a naval battle between the US and Japan. Japan had ambitions to expand its empire, wanting to gain Midway Island. The reason was that if Japan gained Midway, they would be able to attack Hawaii, then the US. The battle happened over the span of 5 days, June 3-7. It ended in US victory, Japan losing 4 of its 7 aircraft carriers, along with around 3,000 men while the US only lost around 300.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org
https://www.history.com -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the battles between the USSR and Germany during Germany's attempted invasion of the USSR. For a mysterious reason, Hitler sent his troops to Stalingrad, bombing it which destroyed it. This killed many civilians and destroyed many factories, Stalingrad being an industrial city. This battle ended in hand-to-hand combat, which resulted in a blood bath, in which most of the German soldiers were killed.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Stalingrad -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
D-Day is the largest scaled invasion in history. It brought every branch of the military together, in order to take back France. One of the most famous things that happened was the storming of Omaha Beach, in which soldiers came on boats and stormed the beach, in order to take the German fortifications. It ended in the liberation of France, which was the defining point in which it became clear Germany would not win
https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was the last offensive by Germany. Hitler's plan was to try and split up the Allies, attempting to slow down their eventual win. It took place in the Ardennes Forest, chopping to pieces due to the fighting. In the end, the Allies won, their victory cementing their overall victory in the war.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Operation Thunderclap
Operation Thunderclap was a plan by the Allies to bomb and totally destroy Berlin. The plan was to destroy Berlin to the point of submission, thinking that if you take Berlin, you take Germany. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01402399108437441?journalCode=fjss20 -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was a fight between the US marines and the Japanese Imperial Army. In Feb of 1945, the marines invaded Iwo Jima, bombing it. They also set fire to the mountain caves, in which Japanese soldiers were, burning them alive essentially. After weeks of fighting, the Americans took Iwo Jima, where one of the most famous WW2 photos was taken, the first time a foreign flag had been placed on Japanese soil.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
VE Day-Victory in Europe
VE, short for Victory in Europe, marks the day that Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allies. After this surrender, many Nazis were put on trial for war crimes. VE day was met with much celebration as after nearly 6 years, the war was finally over. However, to the Soviets, VE day is May 9th as the document wasn't signed in Moscow time until after Midnight, placing it on May 9th, not the 8th.
https://www.historyextra.com/period/second-world-war/brief-guide-ve-day-victory-europe-ww2/ -
VJ Day-Victory over Japan
VJ Day, short for Victory over Japan marks the day that Japan surrendered to the US unconditionally. An unconditional surrender means there are no guarantees to the surrender, this essentially means that they aren't safe from "punishments". When President Truman announced this, it was over the radio, leading to much celebration.
https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/VJ-Day/#:~:text=V%2DJ%20Day%2C%20or%20Victory%20over,the%20world%20erupted%20in%20celebration.