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Japan invades China
Japan invaded Manchuria on China’s eastern seaboard in 1932. Within a few days Japanese armed forces had occupied several strategic points in South Manchuria. By February, Japan had taken over all of Manchuria. Thousands of Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed. -
The Holocaust
The planned killing of 11 million people by Nazi Germany. These people included mostly Jews, homosexuals, disabled people, Jehovah’s witnesses, communists, and other nonwhites. They were rounded up by the thousands, shoved onto trains, and forced to work in concentration camps and death camps, then killed in large gas chambers. The holocaust was led by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. -
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Munich Conference
An agreement that permitted Nazi Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia, which was mainly populated by Germans anyway. It was held in Munich, Germany and was signed by Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The phrase “Munich Betrayal” is used to describe the relationship Czechoslovakia had with France and Britain, because Czechoslovakia wasn’t invited to the conference. -
Non-Aggression Pact
This was treaty between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. It lasted until the German invasion of the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa. It was considered a military alliance and surprised the world. The two enemy countries agreed to take no military action against each other for the next 10 years. -
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Germany invades Poland
Started World War II in Europe. It caused Britain and France to confirm war on Germany. Poland lost and Germany and the Soviet Union divided the country. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler said that the invasion was a defensive action, but Britain and France didn’t believe him. -
Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg is a German word that means lightning war. It was a new military technique that the Germans used in World War II. It was an attack based on speed and surprise, which is why it is referred to as a lightning war. This technique was based on the Schlieffen Plan and was used to improve Germany’s maneuverability. -
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Battle of Britain
The attack on Great Britain by the German Air Force. Germany’s objective was to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force. It was the first major attack that was fought entirely by air forces. -
Lend-Lease Act
a program which the United States supplied allied Nations with materials and supplies between 1941 and August 1945. It was also known as An Act to Further Promote the Defense of the United States. It was signed a year and a half after World War II started in Europe. $50.1 billion worth of supplies were shipped in total. -
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Operation Barbarossa
The code name for the invasion on the Soviet Union by the European axis powers during World War II. Even though the Soviets were in a terrible condition, the Axis did not complete its objectives. Germany was pushed back from Moscow and couldn’t start an attack as large/long as this one on the Eastern Front again. This failure led to Hitler's demands for more operations and attacks, but they all failed. -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was and still is a US naval base in the state of Hawaii on the island of Oahu. On December 7th, 1941, Japan surprise attacked the United States and bombed the harbor. This attack led to America entering World War II. The reason Japan attacked is so that the US Pacific Fleet could not fight in the upcoming war that Japan was planning against Britain and the Netherlands. The attack was made of two aerial attack “waves”. The same day, Japan declared war on the United States. -
Wannsee Conference
A meeting of the high-ranking members of the Nazi German government. It was held in the Berlin district of Wannsee and was help to let the leaders of government departments that Reinhard Heydrich was now in charge of the final solution to the “Jewish question”. The officials were expected to agree and give full support. -
Bataan Death March
This march was after the three month battle in the Philippines during World War II. They transferred 60 thousand to 80 thousand Pilipino and American prisoners of war. 100-650 prisoners of war died before they reached camp O’Donnell. Death counts vary because they don’t know how many escaped or blended in with the population. Survivors were put onto a box train and brought to the camp. It was a 60 mile march followed by abuse. -
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Battle of Midway
A naval battle between the United States and the Empire of Japan, although it was a clear victory for the US. This battle weakened the Japanese Navy for the rest of World War II. Though both sides suffered losses, the United States were the only ones that built its forces back up. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
: Battle between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany over the control of the city of Stalingrad, an important industrial city at the time. It was one of the most important battles of WWII. The battle lasted five months and 1.6 million people were reported dead or wounded. -
D-Day
The day that the Normandy landings occurred. This was the largest sea-born invasion in history. It began with western Europe and led to the French republic. This helped to an allied victory in the war. It was an aerial, naval, and air-born assault. -
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Battle of the Bulge
Germany attacked the allied forces (United States, United Kingdom, and Canada) by surprise in Belgium towards the end of World War II. It is the worst battle for the United States in terms of casualties (89,500). -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
The American seizing of the Japanese island, Iwo Jima, also known as Operation Detachment. It was a violet, five-week battle. This was the first American attack on Japanese home territory, although Japan refused to surrender. -
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Battle of Okinawa
A battle between Japan and the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. At least 15000 civilians in Okinawa were dead or injured. The United States had about 18900 killed/missing and about 53000 injured. It was the second biggest amphibious battle in World War II. -
V-E Day
Marks formal acceptance by the World War II allies of the Nazi Germany surrender of its armed forces. This also marked the end of World War II in Europe. Germany’s surrender was signed on 7 May in Reims, France and on 8 May in Berlin, Germany. Hitler had committed suicide and wasn’t the one to sign it, but was authorized by his successor, Reichspräsident Karl Dönitz. -
The Bombing of Hiroshima/Nagasaki
Nuclear attacks on Japan by the United States. The US and other allies were fighting against Japan and two atomic, nuclear bombs were dropped; one in the city of Hiroshima and one in the city of Nagasaki. The bombs were created through the Manhattan Project and were much more powerful than anything else. The bombs killed about 560000 people altogether, most of which were civilians. -
V-J Day
The day that Japan surrendered to the allied forces. Events that led up to victory over Japan include Pearl Harbor, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. On August 6th, a first bomb was dropped. Three days later, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing 40,000 Japanese. The next day, the Japanese government issued a statement accepting the Potsdam Declaration, which said if Japan didn’t surrender, it would face destruction and if they did, there would be peace. -
Warsaw Pact
Also known as the Treaty of Friendship, the Warsaw pact was established in Warsaw, Poland against NATO and lasted until the end of the Cold War. The members included the Soviet Union, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Albania.