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Japanese Invasion of China
When Japan tried to spread their influence to China, China resisted which created conflict. The Japanese wanted to discard China's nationalist government, so they began taking land from Eastern Chinese territories until 1938. During a stalemate, Japan was then turned to the Pacific Theater in 1941. Overall from this battle, almost 300,000 people died and the Chinese capital was destroyed.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Sino-Japanese-War-1937-1945 -
Rape of Nanking
After a victory in Shanghai, the Japanese wanted to take control of Nanking. With the city of Nanking deserted by military troops, numerous families and innocent people were slaughtered and raped. In 1938, the Japanese officially took the city and controlled it until the end of the war.
http://www.history.com/inside-wwii-interactive -
German Blitzkrieg
"Blitzkrieg" is a German military tactic which creates disorganization. It was useful and popular by the Germans because it resulted in a low loss of human life and artillery. The Blitzkrieg was first used in 1939 in Poland and it overall destroyed many towns and cities.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
German Invasion of Poland
In 1934, Hitler signed a nonagression pact with Poland after he came to power in Germany. However, Hitler broke the pact in order to get rid of any chance of a French alliance with Poland. He then invaded Poland and forced Poland's troops to surrender after just a few weeks. Germany controlled Poland until January 1945.
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005070 -
Operation Barbarossa
In 1941, Adolf Hitler ordered for German divisions, tanks, and soldiers to invade the Soviet Union. This was because destroying the Soviet Union, the communist threat, and capture of Soviet land were all goals for the Germans. From the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, intense war raged on. In late 1941, the Soviet Union attack the Germans which pushed them back, yet they continued on until 1942 when the expanding came to an end.
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005164 -
Pearl Harbor
In late 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, a military base in Hawaii. Japan wanted to destroy America's naval fleets to avoid conflict with them in the future during the war. On December 7, 1941, hundreds to thousands Japanese aircraft attacked the bases and killed about 2,400 American soldiers. This attack then caused America to join World War II, which is exactly what Japan was trying to prevent.
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10008234 -
The Wannsee Conference
During this conference, Nazi officials discussed a final solution to the Jews. The meeting was focused and had a clear outcome. While the word "extermination" was never mentioned during the discussion, it was certainly implied. In Poland, "gas vans" were killing up to 1,000 Jews a day. The minutes of this meeting were then later used as evidence during the Nuremburg Trials.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wannsee-conference -
Battle of Midway
The tension between the United States and Japanese navies was caused by the attack on Pearl Harbor. This tension then created the Battle of Midway. After breakthroughs in coding, America was able to prepare and prevent Japan's planned attack on the remaining fleets. While America lost more than 300 seamen, this was an important turning point since it allowed the Allies to move into an offensive position.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
Battle of Stalingrad
This battle, held in Stalingrad in the U.S.S.R., was extremely successful from the Russian's point of view. Lasting for about 7 months, the Russians were able to end German advancement into the Soviet Union and mark the turning point for the Allies. This battle was one of the bloodiest in history with almost two million casualties, both military and civilian.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
People of the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw, Poland rebelled against extermination camps from April to May in 1943. More than 400,000 Jews were forced into a 1 square mile space after the German invasion of Poland. Many resistance fighters used weapons to try to fend off the Germans. On May 16, the Germans destroyed the camp after sending survivors to extermination camps. 7,000 Jews died due to the uprising while 50,000 were sent away.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/warsaw-ghetto-uprising -
Operation Gomorrah
In 1943, British bombers raided Hamburg, Germany at night to get revenge after Germany killed 167 British civilians while America bombed it during the day. 2,300 tons of bombs were dropped by the British which killed more than 1,500 Germans. Britain carried 791 aircraft into this battle and only lost 12. American troops also bombed Northern Germany twice during the day. Overall, Operation Gomorrah was extremely successful.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
In 1944, US, British, and Canadian troops commenced with Operation "Overlord." Commanded by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the troops landed in Normandy, France in order to open a second front in western Europe. The invasion used 155,000 troops, 50,000 vehicles, 7,000 naval craft, and 11,500 aircraft. As a result, the Allies were successful in liberating Paris and reaching the border of Germany.
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005158 -
Battle of Iwo Jima
In 1945, the American troops invaded the coast of Iwo Jima in order to gain a base near the Japanese coast. Iwo Jima protected itself with about 23,000 troops and a network of caves and underground passages. The Japanese decided to stay inland rather than fight on the beach line. Overall, the Americans suffered from 5,900 dead and 17,400 wounded and were able to completely wipe out the Japanese troops.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Operation Thunderclap
In early 1945, the German city Dresden was bombed by a series of Allied attacks. These bombings were a result of the Yalta Conference when the Allies decided to destroy the Nazi's military production. The city was left burning for days after 800 American and British aircraft used over 3,400 tons of explosives. About 135,000 people were killed which makes these bombings the most destructive of any during the war.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/firebombing-of-dresden -
Battle of Okinawa
In mid-1945, the last, largest, and bloodiest battle of the Pacific War took place. 287,000 American troops went up again 130,000 Japanese soldiers. Japan used a technique known as kamikaze in which involved suicide bombers. After 82 days of fighting, Japan lost 77,000 and the Allies lost 65,000. There was also a huge loss in civilian lives in resulting in about 100,000 dead.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
VE Day
In 1945, both the US and Great Britain declared victory in Europe. On the eighth of May, which is now known as VE Day, German troops surrounded in areas all over Europe. They did not surrender to the Soviets, however, until May ninth. Stalin stated in a radio broadcast that the "The age-long struggle of the Slav nations… has ended in victory. Your courage has defeated the Nazis. The war is over.”
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe -
Potsdam Declaration/Conference
From mid-July till early August of 1945, Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin, "The Big Three," held the last World War Two meetings. In this, they discussed the German economy, punishment for war criminals, and boundaries and repairs. The meetings usually consisted of plans for Europe after the war yet they talked about how they required a surrender from Japan.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/potsdam-conference -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
Ever since Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor, the United States had always wanted revenge. In order to get it, America dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, one in Hiroshima and the other in Nagasaki. On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima faced the wrath of extreme radiation exposure and a force equivalent to 15,000 tons of TNT. On August 9, Nagasaki faced the same issues. This caused Emperor Hirohito to officially surrender.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
VJ Day
In mid-1945, Japan had faced the wrath of two atomic bombs dropped by the United States. Japan's casualties were getting too high, especially after the bombings, and Emperor Hirohito decided to surrender to the Allies. Both August 14 and 15 are now known as V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day. This surrender finally brought the Pacific Theater to an end. -
Battle of the Bulge
In late 1944, Hitler wanted to split the Allied forces by using a surprise blitzkrieg. The American troops were caught off-guard and their line resembled a bulge, which is why it is now called the Battle of the Bulge. Three German armies, deadly and desperate, then launched a huge battle. The Allies were able to hold them off, yet they suffered from over 100,000 casualties.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge
