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The Japanese Invade China
The Japanese invaded China as a way to increase expansion in East Asia, according to ushmm.org. In an article on bbc.co.uk, it is stated that the "undeclared war" started with a small altercation between Japanese and Chinese soldiers at the Marco-Polo bridge. This invasion allowed Japan's military to dominate East Asia. Picture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9yKqcs699k -
Rape of Nanking
According to history.com, the Japanese gained control of Chinese capitol Nanking. In order to destroy the Chinese resistance, Japanese soldiers destroyed the Nanking city. This consisted of burning the city, raping "at least 20,000 women and girls of all ages", and killing and butchering male Nanking civilians. Picture: http://www.documentingreality.com/forum/f226/dead-woman-expelled-baby-26332/ -
German Invasion of Poland
Germany started WWII off with a bang, by invading Poland. According to ushmm.org, Britain and France declared war on Germany just a couple days later but within a month Germany had seized Poland entirely with the help of Soviet forces. This invasion gave the Germans a boost to their ego that would motivate them to invade other countries in the near future. Picture: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26083023 -
German Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg was a German military tactic used to cause chaos amongst enemy forces by using mobile forces. According to history.com, it was first used in the invasion of Poland in 1939 and then perfected in the attacks on Belgium, the Netherlands, and France in 1940. This tactic allowed for Germany to successfully take over several countries. Picture: http://luftwaffesim.com/german-blitzkrieg-warfare-designed-for-quick-victory/ -
Fall of Paris
The fall of Paris was caused mainly by the fact that General Maxime Weygand pushed for capitulation in the French city. According to history.com, this allowed Germany to pass through unchallenged. Therefore France lost control of Paris as Germany swiftly seized the city. Picture: https://ww2resource.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/6-the-fall-of-paris/ -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was a failed attempt to attack Russia on the Germans' side. The Germans could have maybe been successful if it weren't for the harsh weather in Moscow that seemed to be holding back German soldiers at every cost. According to history.com, after failing Operation Barbarossa, Germany now faced a two two-front war that it could not win. Picture: http://majoreventsofww2.weebly.com/operation-barbarossa.html -
Pearl Harbor
Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as a way to weaken the U.S. military. This in turn caused the U.S. to join World War II by declaring war on Japan. Just days later Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. Picture: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history/pictures/pearl-harbor/battleships-burning-at-pearl-harbor-2 -
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference was the meeting of 16 Nazi officials to discuss the "final solution to the Jewish Question" according to history.com. There were many solutions such as sterilization or deportation to a secluded island but what was decided was concentration camps to work the Jews to death. Gas vans also earned their importance. This was the start of the Holocaust. Picture: https://www.amazon.com/Wannsee-Conference-Final-Solution-Reconsideration/dp/0312422342 -
Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March happened in response to the U.S. surrendering to the Japanese while on island of Luzon. As stated on history.com, there were about 75,000 Filipinos and American troops forced to trek a 65 mile march to prison camps where they were mistreated quite harshly by Japanese guards. Because of the Bataan Death March, thousands died. Picture: https://www.pinterest.com/freycarol49/war-bataan-death-march-1942/ -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising mainly consisted of Jewish fighters desperately trying escape death at the hands of Nazis. For almost a month German troops had suppress the thousands of revolting Jews. According to history.com, the uprising had no chance but it was honorable and inspiring for more than 70 years to come. Picture: https://historyimages.blogspot.com/2012/02/warsaw-ghetto-uprising-1943.html -
Operation Gomorrah
Britain the United States teamed up to destroy Hamburg, Germany. According to history.com, the British were doing raids at night while the U.S. were bombing by day. This proved to be a hard defeat on the Germans but a big victory for the Allies. Picture: https://mholloway63.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/this-week-in-ww2-operation-gomorrah/ -
D-Day
The day that the Allied powers began liberating Western Europe from Nazi control in World War II. It all started in Normandy, France and within in 3 months France was freed. According to history.com, after Normandy, the Allied Powers were preparing to invade Germany. The U.S. was prepared to battle Germany with the help of the Soviets. Picture: https://www.army.mil/d-day/ -
Battle of the Bulge
This was the Germans last major attempt to push the Allies from northern France to western Belgium. With 250,000 German soldiers against only 80,000 American soldiers, they were able to push the American forces into a retreat. Eventually Americans bombed German positions, winning the battle. Picture: http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2015/12/remembering-the-bulge-key-facts-of-a-major-wwii-battle/ -
Operation Thunderclap
The Allies initiated firebomb raids that would destroy Dresden, Germany and killing 135,000 people. According to history.com, it was the most destructive bombing of the war, topping Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is said that this bombing was unnecessary because the Germans were already close to surrendering so there were 135,000 people unnecessarily killed at the hands of Americans. Picture: https://75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/2014/07/ -
Battle of Iwo Jima
American soldiers make their first strike on the Japanese by attacking Iwo Jima. They mainly needed Iwo Jima as a base near the coast of Japan. According to history.com, after a month of battling the 23,000 Japanese soldiers that defended Iwo Jima, the American Marines wiped out the Japanese defenders. Picture: http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/22/world/cnnphotos-iwo-jima/ -
Battle of Okinawa
This was the last and biggest Pacific battle of World War II. The Japanese traded their typical tactics for a new special attack through kamikaze tactics. It was important that the U.S. won this battle and the Japanese knew this so they were willing to issue suicide attacks in order to win. However it was all for nothing because according to history.com, the U.S. won. Picture: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/04/21/national/history/ex-nurse-recalls-battle-okinawa-aims-share-misery-war/ -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
Dachau was the first concentration camp established by the Nazis and it was the first liberated by the Allies. According to history.com, American soldiers were so baffled by conditions that they machine-gunned two groups of German guards. It is said that there were 250,000 prisoners that passed through this camp but only 30,000 survived to be liberated. Picture: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/the-holocaust/pictures/holocaust-concentration-camps/buchenwald-survivors-1945 -
V-E Day
Great Britain and the United States celebrate Victory in Europe day. This was the day that the Germans finally surrendered their arms. Both countries, Great Britain and the United States, rejoice in defeating the Nazis once and for all. Picture: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/what-ve-day-2016-meaning-7909008 -
The Atomic Bombs
The U.S. air force dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima, Japan. Just days later they then dropped bombs on Nagasaki, Japan. Between the two bombings there were 120,000 civilian casualties. According to ushmm.org, the Soviets declared war on Japan, Japan surrendered to the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union. Picture: http://historydaily.org/facts-about-the-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-bombings/ -
VJ Day
The day the Japans surrendered to the Allies, also known as Victory over Japan Day. This is a day to celebrate the Allies' victory over the Axis powers. This surrender concluded the long second World War. Picture: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3136356/VJ-Day-lovers-kissed-5-51pm-Analysis-shadows-iconic-photo-reveals-precise-time-couple-locked-lips.html
