-
Rape of Nanking
The Rape of Nanking was also known as The Nanking Massacre. The Nanking massacre was set over a period of 6 weeks where Japanese soldiers brutally murdered thousands of people. It is also called the Rape of Nanking because 20 000 - 80 000 women were sexually assaulted https://www.history.com/topics/japan/nanjing-massacre#section_3 -
German Blitzkrieg
The German Blitzkrieg (also known as the lightning war) was a military strategy for creating disorganization within enemy forces. Blitzkrieg is when you use modern and heavy artillery in order to invade enemy territory without sparing too many of your own soldiers lives. The commonly used fast and powerful tanks and machine guns. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Fall Of Paris
The German army took it into their hands to take over Paris. One of the first rules they made was that curfew was at 8pm. Winston Churchill attempted to convince the government of France to not give in and that America would come to the French's rescue. By the time the German tanks reached the land of Paris, the majority of its people fled. -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was a US base near Honolulu, Hawaii. The Japanese launched a surprise attacked on this base. Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes destroying approximately 20 American vessels, 8 battleships, over 300 planes, and over 2 400 Americans died during this attack and around 1 000 injured. The day after the attack, the president declared they start a war with Japan. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a warfare between the Nazi Germany army and Russian forces. It is considered the largest, longest, and bloodiest engagements in modern warfare. Approximately 2 million people were injured or killed along with thousands of civilians. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
Wannsee Conference
The wannsee conference was where Nazi's went to talk about "The final solution to Jews". In this conference they talked about how they could sterilize Jews in order to stop them from bringing more into this world or by shipping them to Madagascar. There was also a suggestion where they would send all the Jews to a concentration camp in Poland where they would be worked to death. Some people objected to this plan because it was "too time consuming" https://www.history.com -
Bataan Death March
After the US surrendered the Bataan peninsula, around 75 000 Filipino and American soldiers were demanded to take a 65 mile march to prison camps. They were exposed to intense heat and brutal treatment from Japanese guards. Thousands of these soldiers died during this march. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march -
D-Day (Normandy invasion)
D-Day took place on 5 beaches along a 50 mile stretch of Normandy.On Omaha beach, the Americans suffered around 2 000 causalities, but by the end of the day around 156 000 allied soldiers successfully took over the beaches. www.history.com -
Battle of the Bulge
During this event, Hitler was attempting to split up allies using a surprise blitzkrieg. As the germans advanced, the american soldiers fought desperately to stop them. The allied line looked like a bulge while defending hence the name "Battle of the Bulge.". https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge -
Operation Thunderclap
Operation Thunderclap was dropping multiple bombs on the city of Dresden creating just a city of rubble and destruction. This act killed as many as 135 000 people. This was bombed because the Allies wanted to take out German cities that were known for manufacturing and war-production. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The battle of Iwo Jima was a military campaign between the US marines and the army of Japan. The american soldiers raided the island of Iwo Jima on February 19 and it lasted for 5 weeks. About 21 000 japanese soldiers died and around 7 000 americans. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
VE Day
VE Day is also called 'Victory in Europe'. This day was officially the end of the battles of World War 2. This day is celebrated on May 8 as it was the day that Germany surrendered. There was massive celebrations and the feeling of peace was spread throughout people. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ve-day-victory-in-europe -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
As the Allies advanced, they came across the concentration camps. The Germans tried hard to destroy evidence of the mass murders that happens by destroying the camps but many parts remained like the gas chambers.They would also transport prisoners in attempts to hide them. The allies liberated the camps and attempted to save the prisoners but when fed proper food, it was fatal as they couldn't digest it. https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/liberation-of-the-concentration-camps -
Dropping of The Atomic Bombs
The Americans were the first country to drop an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It supposedly spared many americans live and allegedly stop the war with Japan fairly quickly. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-hiroshima -
VJ Day
VJ Day is also known as the Victory over Japan day. This day was the day that Japan surrendered in World War 2. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
