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Invasion of Manchuria
The Japanese army invaded Manchuria on September 18, 1931. After the war, Japan continued using Manchuria as a "puppet state", until the Soviet Union and Mongolia intervened. This invasion occurred after America refused to trade with Japan, so they expanded into China in order to obtain more natural resources. -
Tri-Partite Agreement
An international agreement to stabilize the economy. The agreement was between the U.S, France, and Great Britain. The agreement would stabilize the economy within the nations, and in the international market. The agreement took place in September of 1936 -
Rape of Nanking
A period of the mass murder and mass rape of the people of China. Japanese troops invaded Nanking, then the capital of the Republic of China. Many people were murdered, raped, and even experimented on while they were still alive, and it was only recently uncovered. 5 million Chinese were killed. December 13, 1937, to January 1928. -
Anschluss
The annexation of Austria into Germany. Austria actually wanted to be a part of Germany, and they asked to be annexed. Germany obliged, and they sent their military to go into Austria, along with Hitler. The Austrians were awaiting Germany's arrival, and were cheering when they finally did. The annexation took place on March 12, 1938. -
Munich Pact
An agreement to the German annexation of Sudetenland. British prime minister Neville Chamberlain, French prime minister Edouard Daladier, and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler signed the Munich Pact on September 29, 1938. This permitted the annexation of Sudetenland, a region in Czechoslovakia which mostly contained people of spoke German. -
Kristallnacht
Also known as the "Night of Broken Glass". From November 9 to November 10, 1938, Nazis in Germany torched and vandalized Jewish homes, schools, and businesses. Almost 100 Jews were killed. Almost 30,000 Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps. -
Non-Aggression Pact
An agreement made between Hitler and Stalin. This was a peace agreement, which promised that neither Germany nor the Soviet Union would attack each other. Hitler did this to make sure Germany would not fight another two-front war with France and the Soviet Union. This took place on August 23, 1939. -
Invasion of Poland
Also known as the 1939 Defensive War. German, Slovak, and Soviet forces invaded and bombed Poland. The Polish did their best to defend, bu their enemies had a considerable advantage, considering that they had already won against Poland once before. The invasion took place on September 1, 1939. -
Evacuation of Dunkirk
The evacuation of Allied soldiers during WWII from Dunkirk. The operation took place when Belgian, British, and French troops were cut off and surrounded by German troops. The evacuation took place between May 26, and June 4, 1940. -
Lend Lease Act
An act where the U.S. lended military aid to the Allies, but did not actually fight in the war. This enabled the U.S. to aid in WWII, but not get to overextended in the battle. The act was proposed in late 1940, and put into action on March of 1941. -
Operation Barbarossa
The German invasion of the Soviet Union. Originally named Operation Fritz. It was launched on June 22, 1941, after Hitler believed he was powerful enough to take on Stalin. His defeat signaled a crucial turning point in the war. -
Pearl Harbor
A surprise attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor. The attack was completely unexpected, as the U.S. was under the impression that they were allied with Japan. Japan had been planning the attack years before they actually did it. This happened early in the morning on December 7, 1941. -
Battle of Midway
A naval battle that occurred between June 4 and June 7, 1942. It took place six months after Pearl Harbor, and was a battle between the U.S. Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy. It took place in the Pacific Ocean, and the U.S. was victorious. -
D-Day Invasion
The largest seaborne assault in history. The Allies stormed Normandy beach on June 6, 1944. It was an invasion of Northern France, and the soldiers were deployed on the beach and massacred. It was code named operation Neptune. -
Liberation of Paris
A military battle that took place during WWII. Also known as the battle for Paris and Belgium. Before this, Nazi Germany owned Paris. the battle went on from the 19 of August, until the German army surrendered the French capital on the 25 of August. -
Battle of the Bulge
Germany's last offense on the Western front. It took place in a deeply forested area, and, for the U.S, is the second most bloody battle in history. The Germans planned to encircle the enemy, forcing them to die, or initiate a surrender, however, this is not how it went, and the Allies won the battle. It took place near the end of WWII, on December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945. -
Hitler's Suicide
Hitler committed suicide by drinking cyanide, then shooting himself with a gun at point blank range. His death occurred right before the end of WWII. After his death, Germany was officially out of WWII. This took place on April 30, 1945. -
Surrender of Germany
The official surrender of Germany to the Allies. This essentially brought and end to the WWII conflict in Europe. May 8 is considered to be the victory of Europe in WWII, since this is when German troops officially retreated back to Germany. The actual surrender took place on May 7, 1945. -
Hiroshima/Nagasaki
The bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, and Nagasaki on August 8, 1945, by the U.S. The U.S. got consent from the U.K. before the bombings. While it wasn't technically a morally good decision that President Harry S. Truman could make, it was his best option, as many more people (on both sides) would have died if he hadn't.