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Japanese invasion of China
The Second-Sino Japanese War was a military conflict between Japan and China (located on Mainland China and Burma). Tension began due to the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and led to this war. The Chinese ended up winning the war but both sides were left with heavy casualties (Japanese surrender). -
Rape of Nanking/Nanking Massacre
The Nanking Massacre was a mass rape and murder carried out by Japanese troops against the residents of Nanking. The massacre went through a six week period with an estimated 300,000 killed. This horrific massacre left Japan in shambles. -
Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack by the Japanese against the United States on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory. This event led the US to get involved in the war. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
The Allie powers set out on an operation to begin the liberation of German-occupied northwestern Europe from Nazi control (Allie Victory). This was the largest seaborne invasion in history and paved the path for more Allie victories in the future. -
Battle of Bulge
Being the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front, Germans attack caught Allied forces heavily off guard. Both sides took many casualties but led to an Allie victory. The German collapse opened up an opportunity for the Allies to break the Siegfried Line. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The US Marines landed in the Volcano Islands in Japan to seize Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army. This major battle took five weeks, but ended as an Allie victory with lots of blood shed on both sides (some of the bloodiest fighting of the Pacific War). -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
During and through the end of the war, the Allie powers worked on Nazi-controlled liberating concentration camps. There were many people that died in the camps but also many that made it out alive thanks to the Allies. The final concentration camp was Liberated on April 11, 1945 (near Weimar, Germany). -
VE Day
VE Day (known as Victory in Europe Day) was the public holiday celebrated due to the Allie's acceptance to to Germany's surrender of its armed forces. This led to the end of WWII in Europe and left many citizens celebrating. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki
President Harry S. Truman was warned that if the US sent troops into Japan that it would lead to heavy casualties and many American lives. After receiving the agreement of the UK, the US dropped two bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki leaving over 120,000 Japanese dead. This devastating event led to Japan to surrender bringing an end to WWII. -
VJ Day
VJ Day (also known as the Victory over Japan Day) is the day that Japan surrendered in the war leading it to an end. Japan's surrender was made on August 15, 1945 and signed on September 2, 1945. There were also many celebrations all over the world because of this (similar to VE Day).
