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Japanese invasion of China
Japan claimed they were fired on by China and used this as an excuse to invade China. Shanghai and Nanjing soon fell -
Germany Invasion of Poland
1.5 million German soldiers invaded Poland at 4:45 a.m. on this day. At the same time, the German navy attacked the Polish naval forces in the Baltic Sea, and bombed Polish airfields. Hitler planned this invasion as part of his plan to take over Europe, as he already had Austria, Czechslovakia, and Sudetenland. The invasion of Poland angered Britain and France and they declared war on September 3, 1939, initiating what would become World War 2. -
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German Blitzkrieg
Meaning lightnening war, it is a tactic that uses tanks, artillery, and mobile forces to quickly attack and disorientate the enemy. In addition to be very effective and quick, the Nazis used this because it conserved artillery and saved human lives. Blitzkrieg was a major part of German's success early on in the war. It quickly led to the fall of Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Yugoslavia, and Greece. However, it failed to defeat the Soviet Union. -
Fall of Paris
German troops marched into Paris and took the city without encountering any resistance. This was part of Hitler's plan to take down France. The capture of Paris caused the France government to flee to Bordeaux, and the France government signed armistice on June 22 and there was no resistance by June 25. -
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Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was an operation to invade the Soviet Union. Hitler ordered his army to invade the Soviet Union. The attack covered 2,000 miles from the Black Sea to the North Cape. The purpose of the attack was to enslave the slavic people and to gain land for Germany. This operation was a turning point because it was a complete failure due to the cold weather. The failed invasion left Germany fighting on two fronts in a war that it would lose. -
The Bombing of Pearl Harbor
When it was almost 8:00 a.m., Japanese fighter planes attacked Pearl Harbor. The bombing lasted almost two hours and more than 2000 American soldiers and sailors died with another (at least) 1000 wounded. The purpose of this attack was to greatly weaken U.S. influence in the Pacific. After this incident FDR asked Congress to declare war on Japan and war was declared. Germany, Italy, and Japan in turn declared war on the United States. The U.S. finally joined WWII. -
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference was a gathering of 15 high-ranking German officials, most notably General Reinhard Heydriech, to discuss the "final solution," also known as the systematic annihilation of European Jews. The conference was held to inform and garner support for the final solution and to imform that Hitler himself tasked Heydrich and the RSHA with implementing it. This conference implemented the sending of Jews to concentration camps to die. -
Bataan Death March
This was the day that the Bataan Death March started. It lasted for more than one day.
See WWII TImeline Google Doc for more and for clearer picture of map and for another picture -
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Battle of Midway
This was a battle that took place on the island of Midway. The Japanese wanted to destroy the American aircraft carriers that were not destroyed at Pearl Harbor and seize Midway Island. However, U.S. codebreakers managed to get vital information about the planned attack and U.S. forces were ready. The Battle of Midway was a U.S. victory that inflicted heavy Japanese losses. it can be called a turning point in the war in the Pacific. -
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The Battle of Stalingrad
The battle of Stalingrad resulted from a Geman attempt to capture the city of Stalingrad. If was a key strategic point and an important industrial and transportation center. Due to its importance in the war and the fact that it was named after Stalin, Stalingrad held great symbolic importance and both sides were determined not to have each other have it. It was one of the bloodiest battles ever. However, it is regarded as a turning point where the Allies finally gain momentum. -
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Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
Before the uprising, the Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto were being deported and people learned that deportation meant death. Many people started to plan an uprising. On January 18, 1943, several Jews ambushed the Nazis in the Ghetto and they withdrew and deportations from the ghetto were suspended. However, on April 19, SS forces came to deport all Jews. Jewish resistance fighters held off the Nazi army but the Nazis eventually won. The uprising inspired revolts all across Nazi occupied Europe. -
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Operation Gomarrah
Operation Gomarrah was a bombing operation against Hamburg, Germany by the British and the Americans in hopes of making Germany surrender and to destroy factories and shipyards. It caused a huge firestorm that destroyed most of the city and was a huge blow to the German morale and HItler refused to visit the city. -
D-Day
On D-Day, 156,000 soldiers from America, Britain, and Canada landed on 5 beaches in Normandy in France. This was part of Operation Overlord, intended to liberate Western Europe from Hitler. More than 4000 Ally troops died, but this day liberated France, started the end of WWII in Europe. -
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Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of Bulge was a battle resulting from a desperate German surprise bliztkrieg attack in the Ardennes. The Germans hoped to divide the Ally armies with this attack. Unfortunately, the only Ally forces in this area were two American divisions and there was bad weather. However, the Allies won the battle through a series of brilliant defenses and German shortage of feul. This would be the last major Nazi offense and it brought ruin onto the German army and helped end the war. -
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Operation Thunderclap
Operation Thunderclap was a planned operation to bomb inportant population cities in Eastern Germany. The hope was that it would cause the surrender of Germany. However, due to doubs, it was shelfed until the Allies wereinformed that Operation Thunderclap could possible assist the Russians. So, planes bombed Dresden, Germany, home of a rail center, and caused a firestorm. There was a lot of public outcry against the destruction of Dresden and it ended strategic bombing by Allies. -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
This battle was the first attack on the Japenese Home Islands and took place on the island of Iwo Jima. It was motivated by the desire for a military base in the Pacific and especially airfields. The Japanese using extensive underground tunnels and hidden bunkers and artillery. Eventually, however, the U.S. forces won and captured Iwo Jima. This battle showed how far Japanese soldiers would go to defend Japan and influence Truman to use the atomic bomb. -
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Battle of Okinawa
This was the bloodiest battle in the Pacific and was part of the Ally campaign to invade Japan and was an invasion of Okinawa Island. Their was initially no signs of people; however, they soon encountered fierce Japanese resistance. Japanese suicide missions made the death toll extremely high. This was the finally large campaign in the war with Japan. After this the Allies were ready to start an invasion of Japan, something that never happened due to predictions of massive loss of life. -
VE Day
Standing for Victory in Europe Day, this was the day that the U.S., Great Britain, and Nazi occupied cities celebrate the German armed forces surrender. However, the Soviet Union celebrated VE Day on May 9 due to the fact the some German - Soviet fighting would continue into May 9. People celebrated because they were very happy that the war in Europe was over. After this day, the Allies could focus on the war in the Pacific. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
At 8:15 "little boy", an atomic bomb, was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The bomb instantly killed an estimated 80,000 people instantly and destroyed 90% of the city. The controversial use of the bomb was ordered by President Truman in hopes of eliciting Japan's unconditional surrender and avoiding the massive loss of American soldiers' lives that would result from a invasion of Japan. Unfortunately, it did not lead to Japan's surrender, and this caused the bombing of Nagasaki. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
"Fat Man", another atomic bomb, was dropped over Nagasaki at 11:02. Although more powerful than "Little Boy," the bomb did not do as much damage due to the mountains that Nagasaki was surrounded by. The bomb was dropped, again, in hopes to make the Japanese surrender. This time Japan did surrender, ending WWII. -
VJ Day
Standing for Victory over Japan Day, this was the day that Japan surrendered unconditionally surrendered to the Allies. On this day, people celebrated the defeat of Japan because they were glad that the war was finally over. August 15 and September 2 are also sometimes called VJ Day. After VJ Day, soldiers could return home and he U.S. and the other countries could start focusing on improving themselves.
