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JAPANESE INVASION OF CHINA
The swift and violent invasion of Chinese territories by Japanese forces. The conflict started with a Japanese owned railroad exploding and being blamed by Chinese nationalists. This gave Japan its opening to enact a well-thought out plan to invade China and push into Asia. The impact of this invasion were the countless war crimes against innocent Chinese peoples, the establishment of Manchuria as a "puppet state" and the source of inspiration for Nazi Germany. -
THE RAPE OF NANKING
One of the single most brutal massacres and examples of war crimes in all modern human history. During the Japanese advance into the heart of the Republic of China, many Japanese soldiers died in battles. Upon taking the capital, Nanjing, the Japanese soldiers sought both relief and revenge. They killed hundreds of thousands of innocents, raped women, burned, and pillaged on a scale until now unknown. The impact was one of the greatest human tragedies ever, and the oncoming fall of China's gov. -
THE INVASION OF POLAND
The lightning-fast invasion and fall of Poland at Nazi-Germanic and Soviet hands. Hitler wanted to invade and retake Polish land for Germany after they lost it in WWI, and with help from the Soviet Union, they steamrolled Poland with superior numbers, machines, and blitzkrieg strategy in action. The impact was the growth and further industrialization of Nazi-Germany, and the official beginning of WWII. -
THE FALL OF FRANCE
The official day of the Franco-Austrian Armistice and the surrender to Nazi-Germany. In The Battle of France, the Nazis outflanked French forces using their Blitzkrieg tactics and a surprise attack that rendered French forces obsolete and tactics useless in resistance. The invasion only lasted around six weeks. The impact was the fall of a major superpower, the growth of Nazi-Germany's control, and the true growth in scale of WWII. -
THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR
The surprise attack by the Japanese air force in Pearl Harbor. The Japanese, hoping to take preventative action against U.S. involvement in WWII and in the Pacific Theatre, bombed and destroyed many vessels by areal attacks in Pearl harbor, but failed to fully cripple the U.S.'s forces in the Pacific. The impact was the sinking of many high-value U.S. ships, the increased industrialization of the U.S., and the long awaited involvement of the U.S. in WWII. -
THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH
The force-march of thousands of U.S. and Filipino P.O.W.'s cruelly overseen by the Japanese. After The Siege of Bataan, the first major battle for the U.S. in WWII, the Filipino and U.S. soldiers ultimately surrendered the fight, and were forced to walk miles without rest for 10 days to a P.O.W. camp further inland by the Japanese. Thousands were shot, stabbed, tortured, or dead by disease. The impact was the capture and death of thousands, a victory for the Japanese, and the investment of U.S -
THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY
The incredible naval-areal battle between Japan and the U.S. in Midway. In an action to defend their Midway bases and strength in the Pacific, the U.S. fought an impossible naval battle with Japanese forces while outnumbered, yet sank the nigh-invincible Japanese fleet and secured incredible victory. The impact was the destruction of a large portion of Japan's naval fleet, the maintenance of U.S. security, and the beginning of the U.S. steamrolling through Japan to enact revenge. -
THE BATTLE OF STALINGRAD
The bloody struggle over the Russian city of Stalingrad between Nazi-Germany and the Soviet Union. The Nazis understood the industrial importance of Stalingrad to the Soviets, and pushed to try and seize control. Both sides, equally brutal and uncaring in civilian casualties and brutality, fought what is now considered the bloodiest battle in human history and WWII. The impact of this battle was a major Nazi defeat, the turn of the Soviets, and the turned tide of WWII for the Allies' favor. -
WARSAW GHETTO UPRISING
The uprising of Polish Jews against the Nazis in the Warsaw Ghetto. It started after the people of Warsaw refused to go with Nazi police and fought back in the largest scale resistance seen in WWII. As a result, the Nazis retaliated by mercilessly slaying anyone in their path and razing Warsaw in mere days. The impact was a quick morale boost for the Nazis, a crushing defeat for the Polish peoples left, and the establishment of communist gov. in Poland. -
OPERATION GOMORRAH
The heartless and brutal bombing and utter destruction of Hamburg by Allied forces. Named after the bilabial city destroyed by god in hellfire, Operation Gomorrah was the dropping of incendiary bombs on the second most populated German city by Allied troops for days to crush Nazi-Germanic morale and end the war. The impact was the utter annihilation of Hamburg, the deaths of thousands of innocent German civilians, and the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. -
ALLIED INVASION OF ITALY
The amphibious invasion of Italy by the Allied forces. This huge push for Italy happened due to the belief that Italy was an easy entrance to the rest of Europe, and if the Allies won the battle they would force an Axis power to fall and would set off a domino effect with momentum and stamina. The impact of the battle was the swift takeover of Italy, the set up of military bases in Italy for the Allies, and the beginning of the push back into Europe. -
D-DAY
The historic sea-based invasion of the Nazi's Normandy beaches by the Allies. The invasion of Normandy was a massive air and marine battle on the beaches with the purpose of regaining control of France and altering the tide of the war through removing the Nazi's of their control in Europe. The impact of D-Day was the bloody victory for the Allies, the retaking of France, the beginning of the liberation of Europe, and the beginning of the end for the Nazis. -
OPERATION THUNDERCLAP
The Allies' plan to viscously bomb Berlin into ruin that never came to pass. The idea of Operation Thunderclap was proposed by Allied generals as a quick and concise way to pressure Hitler into ending the war, but the plan was ultimately scrapped after criticism over the unimaginable civilian casualty rate it would have. The impact of this plan was very little, as it didn't go through, but it helped pave the way for other similar plans like Operation Rolling Thunder in Vietnam. -
THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE
The last major Nazi-Germanic offensive against the Allies in WWII. The Nazis sent the majority of their forces out to break through the U.S. troops and stab the Allies in their hearts through Belgium, and were temporarily successful until the regrouping of the Allies and destruction of the Nazi's flank. The impact of the battle was the turning point of the war in favor of the Allies, the now defensive Nazi tactic, and one of the most brutal battles in human history. -
THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA
The major naval and marine battle on the island of Iwo Jima between Japanese and U.S. forces. The Allies adopted an island-hopping strategy as their offensive, and Iwo Jima was a necessary island, thus U.S. and Japanese forces waged brutal war until the Americans killed almost all the Japanese forces. The impact was the establishment of Iwo Jima military bases for the U.S., and the leadup to the biggest battle at Okinawa. -
VICTORY IN EUROPE
The day of celebration in the Allied Nations of Europe and across the world. The reason for this event is the official surrender of Nazi-Germany and the acceptance of the surrender by the European Allies, with the conflict finally coming to an end and peace being ushered in. The impacts of this were the wide spread celebrations, the end of the battlefront in Europe, and for the most part the end of WWII in Europe. -
THE ATOMIC BOMBINGS
The first and last offensive atomic bombings held by the U.S. against Japan near the end of the war. The bombings were an effort by the U.S. to end the war and beat Japan into submission. The atomic bombs were dropped by lone bomber aircrafts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The impact of these events was the ultimate defeat and surrender of Japan, the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians and soldiers, and the end of WWII. -
VICTORY OVER JAPAN
The day of celebration in the U.S. and other Allied countries on the day of the official surrender of the Japanese. The Japanese surrendered due to the dropping of the two nuclear bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The impact of this day was the official end of WWII and the world-wide relief that the war was finally over. For Japan, the impact weighed heavy in hundreds of thousands of deaths and new terms and conditions for peace to live by.