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Japanese invasion of China
The Japanese used the excuse that the Chinese fired first to start their invasion on China. The Japanese were relentless with their invasion because in just 5 months they had control of major Chinese cities and had 1 million people under their control. Soon the Chinese began to harbor American airbases that bombed the Japanese. Japan eventually surrendured leaving 1 million troops in China.
Source:
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/china_war.htm -
Rape of Nanking
After the battle in Shanghai, Japanese forces attacked and invaded Nanking. The troops were given the order to kill all captives. Young soldiers were encouraged to toughen up for future battles by practicing on POWs. Soldiers would smile while decapitating, lighting on fire, and conducting bayonet practice on POWs. Young troops then turned to women and girls commiting sexual abuse. No one was spared through this chaotic event.
Source: http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/nanking.htm -
Germany's invasion of Poland
About 1.5 million German soldiers invaded Poland. To guarantee their victory, the Germans tried a technique called blitzkreig. Hitler hoped that the invasion would provide more living space for Germans. He signed a non-aggression plan with the Soviet Union and agreed to split Poland between them. Hitler invaded West Poland which was the USSR's region and succeeded. He broke the non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union.
Source:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-invade-poland -
German Blitzkrieg
German's used he tecnique known as blitzkreig to invade Poland. Due to using the technique the German's were successful in their invasion of Poland. Blitzkreig, also known as lightning war, is a technique to create chaos towards the enemies while concentrating on weapons.
Source:
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Fall of Paris
Chamberlin thought that he had stopped Hitler by appeasing to him, but was obviously proven wrong. When Germans had invaded Paris about 2 million people from Paris had left. Although those who were trapped in Paris still had some hope that they would be saved. The only thing that America did to the situation was freeze all of Germany and Italy's assests.
Source:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-enter-paris -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the Nazi's code name for their invasion on Russia. It was the turning point for World War II. It made the Germans fight a two front war. One of the biggest mistakes the Germans made was setting out to enslave the Slavic population and get rid of Jews. Germans had advance to Moscow but they were struggling due to their lack of preparation in combat and for Russia's winter. Operation Barbarossa failed.
Source:
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa -
Bataan Death March
After Pearl Harbor the Japanese began their invasion on the Philippines. Within just one month the Japanese had already gained control of the capital of the Philipines, Manila. 75,000 soldiers were forced to march in the heat for 65 miles while being horribly treated by the Japanese. Thousands died on what is known as the Bataan Death March.
Source:
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
Pearl Harbor
On Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese. After the attack more than 2,000 American soldiers were killed along with another 1,000 that were wounded. As a result, Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan and Congress approved. Pearl Harbor had pushed America to its limits and finally joined the war.
Source:
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Wannsee Conference
The second commander of the Soviet Union had a meeting with 15 of the top Nazi leaders. They would meet to come with the FInal Solution. They hoped that The Final Solution would solve all their Jew problems. The second commander, Heydrich, suggested that all the Jews be deported to the East. They would be treated harshly, starved, and put into labor. Their execution would consist of a firing squad or the gas chamber.
Source:
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/holocaust/h-wannsee.htm -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad may have been the best turning point in the war. The success of the Soviet Union to prevent the Germans from moving into their land was considered the greatest battle in the war. Although the war was the greatest, but the bloodiest battle. There were nearly 2 million casualties for both military and civilians.
Source:
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
Operation Gomorrah
Operation Gomorrah was known for bombing Germany day and night during what is known as " Blitz Week". British planes would head to Germany to bomb by night while during the day Americans would bomb them. After the Germans had killed people in Britain it was time for Britain to get back at them. The bombing went on until November eventhough the British were losing bombers and aircrafts almost everyday.
Source:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched -
Allied Invasion of Italy
Allied forces landed on the island of Sicily ready to take back Italy from the Germans. When the Allied troops got to Italy the Italian goverment agreed to surrender if they were treated with mercy if they helped fight the Germans. Italian troops captured Mussolini and he was executed. On May 1st, Germans in Italy surrendered and six days later all of Germany surrendered.
Source:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-invade-italian-mainland -
D-Day
D-Day also known as Codenamed Operation Overlord was one of the largest assaults that required extensive planning. This is the day when British, American, and Canadian forces went to Western Europe to win it back from Nazi Germany. Allied soldiers fought through Normandy to defeat German resistance. The Allies won the battle in Normandy but at the cost of 209,000 casualties.
Source:
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge is when Hitler tried to spilt up the Allied armies using the blitzkreig technique he used in the invasion of Poland. They attacked at the Ardennes and left two unexpierenced American division. The Americans held off the Germans miraculously, but left casualties. This battle left the United States with 100,000 casualties, which is the most they ever had.
Source:
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Operation Thunderclap
Operation Thunderclap would be four days and four nights of straight bombing. Churchill hoped that this would confuse the Germans and interfere with their plans. Unfortunately for the Germans their air defense was disgraceful and citizens stayed in building for sleeping accomodations.
Source:
http://ww2orc.tripod.com/id15.htm -
Battle of Iwo Jima
At the battle of Iwo Jima Japanese troops concentrated more on inland defense that fighting the Allies at the beach line. Iwo Jima was defended by approximately 23,000 Japanese troops. After a month of fighting the American troops had defeated and wiped out the Japanese.
Source:
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was the largest and last battle of the Pacific Islands. The casualties reached up to 77,000 deaths for the Japanese and 65,000 casualties including 14,000 dead for the Allies. Japan had spent most of the battle defending themselves, while Americans fought head on.
Source:
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
VE Day
VE Day is known as Victory in Europe Day. On this day Europe offically announced that the Nazi Germans had surrendered to the Allies unconditionally. The announcement officially ended all war that was going on in Europe. Although there was still a ration on food and supplies there were celebrations and parties going on in Europe. There was very little criminal behavior throughout that day since most everyone in London was celebrating.
Source:
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ve_day.htm -
Dropping of the atomic bombs
Dropping of the atomic bombs was one of the most devastating times of the war. The United States had dropped an atomic bomb in two places, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Hiroshima had 80,000 people immediately killed and the city in ruins. However, three days later when Nagasaki was bombed they had casualties of 40,000 people. This was one of the final straws towards Japans surrender.
Source:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-hiroshima -
VJ Day
August 14 and 15 is known as Victory over Japan Day. This was the day Japan officiall announced their unconditional surrender to the Allies. Many of the Americans then had been patiently waiting for that day since the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Although later this day became known as the "End of the Pacific War" due to the Japanese becoming one of our closest allies and it being offensive to them.
Source;
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
