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Rape of Nanking
The Imperial Japanese Army attacked Chinese civilians in Nanjing (Nanking), China. Buildings were burned and looted. Entire families were massacred, including infants and elderly people. Between 20,000 to 80,000 women were raped. By the end, 200,000 to 300,000 were murdered. The Japanese declared that order had been restored in January of 1938, but they continued their actions up to the first week of February. https://www.history.com/topics/asian-history/nanjing-massacre -
German Blitzkrieg
German forces swept through and attacked Poland, Norway, Belgium, Holland, and France. They used new technology, such as tanks, machine guns, and atomic bombs to successfully defeat their targets. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
Through propaganda, Germany accused Poland of having persecuted ethnic Germans and that they were conspiring with Great Britain and France to dismember Germany. With this excuse, Germany invaded Poland. Germany possessed more than 2,000 tanks, 900 bombers, and 400 fighter planes. During this invasion, the term "Blitzkrieg" would be created. Britain and France would also declare war on Germany. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/invasion-of-poland-fall-1939 -
Fall of Paris
Germany attacked and captured France, along with Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. During this time, Britain's army retreated. After several years of German occupation, the Franco-Italian armistice was concluded just outside of Rome. News of this got out to Germany and hostilities between the three countries were ended. https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-France-World-War-II/The-fall-of-France-June-5-25-1940 -
Battle of Britain
The battle was between Britain's Royal Air Force and Nazi Germany's air force, the Luftwaffe. It was the first battle in history solely fought in the air. It took place over both countries and the English Channel. By October, Britain was victorious. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-britain-1 -
Operation Barbarossa
Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggressive treaty. Hitler used Stalin's forces to invade other countries, and Russia was given manufactured goods. After the fall of France, Hitler planned to invade Russia. Although Germany had badly damaged Russia, they were unprepared to fight long-term and had to give up. https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/operation-barbarossa-and-germanys-failure-in-the-soviet-union#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20important,shock%20of%20massive%20initial%20defeats. -
Pearl Harbor
177 aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Hawaii. This attack was followed by a second wave of 163 Japanese aircraft. Within two hours, 21 US warships had been sunk or damaged, 188 aircraft destroyed, and 2,403 American servicemen and women killed. https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-happened-at-pearl-harbor#:~:text=What%20Happened%20At%20Pearl%20Harbor,the%20island%20of%20Oahu%2C%20Hawaii. -
Wannsee Conference
Shortly after Germany's invasion of Russia, the conference was held to establish the "Final Solution" to the Jewish problem. This solution included new methods of mass murder using poison gas. It was quick and effective, exactly what the Germans wanted. https://www.yadvashem.org/holocaust/about/final-solution-beginning/wannsee-conference.html -
Battle of Midway
Aircraft from four Japanese aircraft carriers attacked and severely damaged the U.S. base on Midway. The U.S. carrier forces were prepared for battle. The Japanese were eventually forced to retreat. The Japanese lost 3,057 men, four carriers, one cruiser, and hundreds of aircraft. The U.S. lost 362 men, one carrier, one destroyer, and 144 aircraft. This U.S. victory stopped the growth of Japan in the Pacific. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/battle-midway -
Battle of Stalingrad
Hitler launched a major offensive into southern Russia, seeking to destroy what was left of the Soviet Army and capture the Caucasus oilfields. The German Luftwaffe heavily bombed Stalingrad and by October, most of the city was under German control. The Russians managed to obtain resources and fought off the enemy. The Germans surrendered, with the loss of 500,000 men, including 91,000 taken prisoner. https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-battle-of-stalingrad -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
The Normandy beaches were chosen by planners because they lay within the range of air cover. Six divisions were to land on the first day: three U.S., two British, and one Canadian. Two more British and one U.S. division came after the assault division and cleared the way through the beach defenses. Eventually, the Germans were defeated by the allies. https://www.army.mil/d-day/history.html -
Battle of the Bulge
Hitler launched more than 200,000 German troops and nearly 1,000 tanks in his last attempt to spread the Nazi ideology. The Germans struck in the Ardennes Forest, a 75-mile stretch of the front. They were up against four inexperienced and battle-worn American divisions. At the critical road junctions of St. Vith and Bastogne, American tankers and paratroopers fought off repeated attacks. The U.S. was victorious. https://www.army.mil/botb/ -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Three U.S. Marine divisions with more than 80,000 men were assigned the task of taking the island, which was barely 10 square miles in area and dominated by 556-foot Mount Suribachi. The Japanese responded quickly from their dug-in positions and swept the beaches with concentrated fire. 5,931 Marines were killed in action, died of wounds or missing in action, and were presumed dead. In the end, the U.S. was victorious. https://www.usmcmuseum.com/battle-of-iwo-jima.html -
Battle of Okinawa
More than 60,000 soldiers and U.S. Marines of the U.S. Tenth Army stormed ashore at Okinawa, in the final island battle before an invasion of mainland Japan. By the time Okinawa was secured by American forces, the United States had sustained over 49,000 casualties including more than 12,500 men killed or missing. Okinawans suffered with 150,000 civilians killed. Of the Japanese defending the island, an estimated 110,000 died. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/battle-of-okinawa -
Dropping of the atomic bombs
U.S. President Truman dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities, of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He believed this would end the war and ultimately save more lives. Many deaths would later be caused by radiation poisoning. https://www.historyonthenet.com/reasons-for-dropping-the-atomic-bomb