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Japanese Invasion of China
Japan eager to obtain some of Chinas precious resources invaded Manchuria with little push-back. Throughout the next six years Japan would end up controlling the entirety of Northern China. Eventually a battle was sparked known as the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. This one battle sparked an even great war between the two forces known as the Second Sino-Japanese War. https://www.history.co.uk/history-of-ww2/sino-japanese-war -
Rape of Nanking
During the Sino-Japanese war, when Japan took control of Nanking, General Matsui Iwane ordered the city be destroyed. And that it was. Along with the burning and destruction, Japanese soldiers would kill approximately 200,000 men and rape then kill around 20,000 women. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-rape-of-nanking -
Germany's invasion of Poland
After WWI and the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was left in broken pieces. So once they had gained enough power they became very hungry for expansion. Their first endeavor began in Poland where they setup a fake conspiracy that Poland was planning to attack Germany. The Germans then began to invade Poland who was too late to mobilize their military. Despite the disadvantage they left many casualties. Eventually Warsaw surrendered to Germany on September 27, 1939. Britain had declared war. -
German Blitzkrieg
In German the word Blitzkrieg means "lightning war." This offensive war strategy was used by Germany to invade Poland and France much quicker than expected. The goal of Blitzkrieg is to claim victory as fast as possible by focusing power on one point with ground and air support. Radio communications amongst the army is what made Blitzkrieg such a viable strategy. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact
On August 23, 1939 Russian leader Joseph Stalin signed the Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact, which stated that they were to remain peaceful with each other for the following ten years which would allow Russia to have more time to build its military and would secure Germany a relatively easy invasion of Poland. It also ensured Russia would reap some of the claimed Eastern Europe. This pact was broken soon after in 1942 when he sent about 3 million Nazi's into Soviet Russia. -
Operation Barbarossa
Hitler still curious to expand sent a massive attack/invasion on Russia with over three million soldiers On June 22, 1941. With his army at peak performance, he made good distance and made it two/thirds of the way to both Moscow and Leningrad. However Soviet counter-attacks and brutal weather conditions forced the Germans to retreat leaving them with a two front war to deal with. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941 early in the morning Japan launched an air assault on a U.S. naval base in Hawaii. these devastating aerial attacks ended up killing and/or wounding nearly 3500 people including civilians and soldiers While this was a surprise attacks American-Japanese relations were not great due to Japans takeover in China and various economic/trading feuds. The day after Roosevelt asked to declare war on Japan. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Wannsee Conference
In July 1941, many Nazi officials met in Wannsee. The topic that was to be discussed was their plan to deal with the Jewish people in which they hated so much. There were many cruel and inhumane plans discussed from sending them all to Madagascar to holding them in concentration camps in Poland eventually leading them to their death. In 1942 these plans were put into action where they started using gas vans. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wannsee-conference -
Bataan Death March
Soon after Japans attack on American soil, at Pearl Harbor, Japan started invading US territories in the Philippines. After the US surrendered the Bataan Peninsula, the around 75,000 soldiers were forced to make 65-mile journey through blazing weather to Japanese camps where they would be held as P.O.W.'s. The journey already being difficult enough, the Japanese soldiers would if not kill then torture those who fell behind. US forces would only claim Bataan back in 1945, at the end of the war. -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
Warsaw, the largest of many gated and guarded Jewish ghettos put up shortly after invading Poland managed to smuggle in weapons and supplies to stage an uprising which would inspire many more. While those who fought managed to kill hundreds of Germans who out-manned them in almost every aspect, on May 16, 1943 the Nazis took over and sent many to their death. They also symbolically exploded Warsaw's Great Synagogue. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Operation Gomorrah
In July 1943, U.S. and revengeful British Airforces bombed a critical industrial city in Germany, Hamburg through what was called "Operation Gomorrah." British bombers would raid the city by night and American forces bombed the city by day. The barrage of raids on the city left it in ruins will upwards of 200,000 casualties including civilians. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched -
Operation Thunderclap
Operation Thunderclap was originally a plan by the U.S. to bomb Berlin. While this plan was never realized, later on it was modified to bomb Dresden and other German cities. These bombings left many dead civilians with an overwhelming amount of torn down buildings in flames. Operation Thunderclap was arguably a needless act of terror by the US where the only casualties were German civilians. -
D-Day
D-Day, or what was previously known as Operation Overlord, was the day the Allied forces landed in Normandy. What would come was a chaotic and bloody battle between masses of Allied soldiers against fierce German soldiers in harsh conditions. Despite Germany having a clear advantage with fortified defenses along the "Atlantic Wall" and missing 1300 bombs, Allied forces managed to overcome which ultimately led to the start of the end of WWII. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Battle of the Buldge
The Battle of the Bulge was named after Germany's last ditch tactic to split the western forces into two by attacking in a bulge-like formation through a densely wooden region in Belgium called Ardennes. However the harsh terrain was not the main difficulty of the fight for either side. Instead it was the intense winter weather. Hitler's final offensive failed on Christmas day when weather cleared and Allied air support came. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Battle of Iwo Jima
As Japan became an ever growing threat the US decided to find a base of operations near mainland Japan incase they decide to invade. Iwo Jima with three airfields would serve well. Before taking on Iwo Jima they bombed the island to ensure little to no push-back. However when the landed the land was unfamiliar and due to Japans tactics they suffered a great ambush. The battle raged on for days but with Japan losing too much supplies the US secured the island despite disproportionate casualties. -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was the final battle of WWII and was one of the bloodiest. After the Allies captured Iwo Jima and other island hopping, Okinawa was the last piece they needed to invade mainland Japan. Similarly to Iwo Jima when first arriving they received no fight, however also like Iwo Jima, it was all a plan which led to battles with almost 10,000 casualties. At the final battle at Hacksaw Ridge, Allied forces won the battle marking the last battle in WWII. -
V-E Day
V-E Day, or Victory in Europe day's name is pretty self-explanatory. After mass German surrender in multiple locations, the world celebrated the end of Nazi Germany. European citizens from both the east and some from the west would raise victory flags, while those in Russia would celebrate a day late, but receive the news through Stalin directly via radio. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
The Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
After Japan suffering a big hit from the loss of Okinawa, they stood virtually no chances to comeback and reign victorious. However they planned to fight to the bitter end. Knowing this America used the hydrogen bombs they had ready from the "Manhattan Project" and dropped the first of two on Hiroshima killing an estimated 80,000 initially. With Japan still holding on the strings, another was dropped on Nagasaki killing 40,000 just three days latter. Many more were killed from the after effects. -
Potsdam Declaration
On August 10, 1945 Japan accepted the terms of the unconditional surrender that was discussed during the Potsdam Conference, the final major meeting regarding the war. Some of the terms that were decided, was harsh punishment for war crimes/criminals and disarmament of the Japanese military and soldiers were to go home and live on. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-accepts-potsdam-terms-agrees-to-unconditional-surrender -
V-J Day
"Victory over Japan Day" or V-J Day, like V-E Day is the day not only Japans surrender but WWI's end is celebrated. After Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan "formally" gave up and unconditionally surrendered on August 14, 1945 on a US Naval ship. Morale around the world was very high, with massive celebrations and US President claiming "This is the day when Fascism finally dies, as we always knew it would.” https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day