WWII TimeLine

Japanese Invasion of China

Apr 10, 1937

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-iiThe invasion of China started with a small battle on Marco Polo Bridge, Bejing, China. Japanese soldiers were trying to cross the wall into Wanping but China resisted causing a small battle. China was told to hold the bridge at all costs but were beat by the Japanese and over a small period of time 1 million Japanses were invading China.

Rape of Nanking

Dec 13, 1937

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-iiJapanese invade the city on Nanking, China. This is were mass murder and mass killings took place because the Japanese thought of their race being superior and all crime against other races were justified. Over 100,000-300,000 civilians and unarmed troops were murderd.

German Blitzkrieg

Mar 9, 1939

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-iiGerman used the main tactical advance known as a blitzkrieg meaning "lightning war". They were used to spearhead through enemy lines borderd by heavy machines and armor with airsupport close by. Once through the line the Germans used their speed and surprise to their advantage by circling the enemy and destroying them.

Germany Invades Poland

Sep 1, 1939

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-iiGermany invaded Poland on September 1st 1939. Soon the Britian and France joined the war. France hoping for Poland to hold out until spring, so they could set up defences were to late. Hitlers power army drove through Poland and into France sooner then they had expected and France was soon later captured as well.

Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-iiJapanese lauch surprise torpedo and bombarding on the U.S. naval base in Pearl Harbor Hawaii. During this time the U.S. were seeking to keep peace. On December 8th FDR deliverd the Infamy Speech, explaining what had happend. This is the day America declared war.

Bataan Death March

Apr 9, 1942

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-iiBataan the last held U.S. base in the Philippines was taken over and 60,000-90,000 U.S. and Filipino Prisoners of War were marched to a Japanese prison camp 60 miles away. They marched for over 1 week many being shot or stabbed when they fell from exhaustion. The march became known as the Bataan Death March.

Battle of Stalingrad

Aug 23, 1942

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-iiWith Germans holding the city the Russians had no choice but to try to bumrush them and take back the city. The battle was fought in close quarters from building to building and street to street. The Russians finally over took the city causing the Germans to flee or surrender. They soon advanced into Berlin there after.

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

Apr 19, 1943

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-iiDuring Germany's time of trying to liquidate the ghetto filled with Jews, by sending them to an extermination camp, the Jews gatherd arms and supplies of which they could and resisted. This would be the biggest resistance of Jews during the War. The poorly supplied Jews soon were killed and captured in May.

D-Day

Jun 6, 1944

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-iiAllied invasion of Normandy on France's coast. It was guarded by massive concrete bunkers, mines, and obstacles. Americans, Canadians, and the British stormed the beaches in the largest amphibious operation in history, 75,000 British and Canadians, and 57,000 Americans held the beach.

Operation Thunderclap

Aug 15, 1944

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderclap_planOperation Thunderclap was the code name for a cancelled operation which involved the bombing of Berlin which was estimated to take 220,000 cassualties and 110,000 german personnel. The operation was brought up again in '45 but was still thought impractical. A number of smaller bombings took place instead in Berlin, Dresden, Chemnitz, and Leipzig.

Battle of the Bulge

Dec 16, 1944

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-iiGerman troops were secretly planning a counteroffensive with 250,000 men, 1,000 tanks, and 1,900 pieces of artillery. Within 3 days they had demolished the 28th and 106th division. But both had given enough time for reinforcments to arrive and fight back the bulge 50 miles deep and 70 miles wide giving the battle the name.

Battle of Iwo Jima

Feb 19, 1945

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-iiAs Allies neared Japan they captured the surrounding island naval bases. Iwo Jima being just 8 square miles in length was one of these naval bases. It took the allies about a month to secure the island still with pockets of resistance in caves and thick areas. Only 300 of the 21,000 Japanese were captured alive and over 6,000 allied troops were killed another 20,000 wounded.

Battle of Okinawa

Mar 12, 1945

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-iiAllied forces sent 180,000 allies to fight 130,000 enemies. Okinawa was just 60 miles long and 8 miles wide. 107,000 japanese military and civilians died. Some being woman and children that jumped off of cliffs because of propaganda saying that the U.S. would torture them. 13,000 allied troops died and 36 allied ships sunk due to kamikaze attacks.

Dropping of Atomic Bombs

Aug 14, 1945

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-iiThe Americans were afraid to invade Japan becuase of the loss of soldiers they had already experienced. The Allies came through with a plan in August by dropping an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. When a surrender did not follow they then dropped a bomb on the city of Nagasaki. Both bombs obliterated the towns. The world was shocked by the amount of deaths and destruction a single bomb had caused. The Japanese then surrenderd on the 15th.

Liberation of Concentration Camps

Dec 13, 1945

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-iiWith the Allies winning the War, the Jews and undesirables in concentration camps were released. These camps were used for work and slave labor and also to exterminate the Jews. Hitler and his allied were to all be on board with the purifying of their race.