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Japan invades China
This is when the Kwantung Army of Japan invaded China. They established a so called "puppet state". They called it Manchukuo. This occupation of Manchukuo was unil the end of WWII. -
The Holocaust
The word, holocaust, was derived from greek words. These words were "holo" (meaning whole) and "kaustos" (meaning burned). Typically this was used to describe a sacrifice being burnt on the altar. Ever since this tragedy in 1945, it has been associated with the muder of 6 million Eurpean Jews. This was not the only group, some also contained homosexualls, and gypsies. They were all targeted by Nazi German's. -
Munich Conference
This allowed Nazi Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia and the country's borders. These borders were called "Sudentenland" and were inhabited by speakers of German. This was agreed upon in Munich, Germany. These agreements were decided upon by the major powers of Europe, minus Czechslovakia. This was a failed act. -
Non-Aggression Pact
This was between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. It lasted until 1941, when Operation Barbarossa happened. This pact gained its fame from being labeled a military alliance by anti-communists. This pact was an agreement on no military action against each other for ten years. Stalin saw it as keeping his country on peaceful terms, and Hitler saw it to make sure they could invade Poland without opposition. -
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Germany invades Poland
This was the start of WWII. Germany invaded Poland, and later so did the Soviet Union. This caused Britain and France to go to war with Germany. Poland lost to Germany and the Soviet Union. In the end, the Soviet Union and Germany split the country. -
Blitzkreig
This is a German word, meaning "lightning war". It was a new techinque in the military that the German's used in WWII. It was an attack based on surprise and speed, which is why it is referred to as a lightning war. This technique was used to improve Germany's manuverability and was based on the Schliefen Plan. -
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Battle of Britain
This was a German attack in Belgium’s forest. The name of the forest was the Ardennes. This was on the Western Front towards the end of WWII in Europe. This became the worst battle when comparing to casualities. This battle used large ammounts of Germany’s resources when beginning to make resources. -
Lend-Lease Act
This was set before WWII. It was a program put in place by the United States government. The US was attempting to remain neutral in the war. While trying to stay neutral, they wanted to give supplies to help out the Allied Powers. They gave them billions of dollars in weapons, and in return the United States got rights to air and naval bases, as well as promise for billions of dollars in the future. Although we did not fully receive any of the money until 2006. -
Operation Barbosssa
This was a name for the invasion of the Soviet Union done by the European Axis powers. They used 750,000 horses and 600,000 vehicles. They began planning for this operation in December of 1940. The Axis did not complete its objectives. Germany was pushed back from Moscow and couldn’t have an attack as large as this one on the front again. This led to Hitler’s demands for more operations and attacks. -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was and is still a United States naval base in Hawaii. This is on the island of Oahu. On this date, Japan ambushed the United States and bombed the harbor, This led to America joining into WWII. Reasoning Japan had for attacking was so that the US Pacific Fleet couldn't fight in the upcoming war that Japan was planning on waging with Britian and the Netherlands. The same day, Japan declared war on the US. -
Wannsee Conference
This was a gathering of Nazi officials, and was held in the suburbs of Berlin. Their purpose to this conference was to make sure that the cooperation of leaders in government would deport and murder Jews. These Jews that were to be murdered or deported, would be only in German occupied Europe. They oulined how they could round up the jews, like cattle, and place them where they would be killed. -
Bataan Death March
This was the transfer of 60,000-80,000 Filipino and American POW's. This was after the 3 month battle in the Philippines during WWII. 100-650 American POW's died before they even reached to where they were supposed to go at Camp O'Donnell. Death counts vary because they are unsure how many escaped and blended in with the civilian population. Survivors were put onto a box train and brought to the camp. It was a 60 mile march, followed by physical abuse. -
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Battle of Midway
This was an extremely important naval battle of WWII. This was initiated between the United States and the Empire of Japan. This was six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The US defeated a Japanese attack against Hawaii. They destroyed 4 Japanese carriers and a big cruiser. Through this they lost a carrier and a destroyer. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
This was fought between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany during WWII. Stalingrad was an important industrial city that the German’s wanted. It was one of the most important wars fought during WWII. If German’s won then they would get it’s oil. They also wanted it because it was named after Joseph Stalin. German’s let off 1,000 tonnes of bombs down on Stalingrad. -
DDay
D Day was the day that the Normandy Landings (or Operation Neptune) occured. This was definitely the largest seaborne invasion in history. This all started with the invasion of Western Europe that was occupied by Germany. After this, it led to the French Republic and helped to an Allied victory in the war. Planning began months before this. It was a aerial and naval attack, as well as an airborne assault. The target was a 50 mile stretch of the beaches of Normandy. -
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Battle of the Bulge
This was a German attack in Belgium’s forest. The name of the forest was the Ardennes. This was on the Western Front towards the end of WWII in Europe. This became the worst battle when comparing to casualities. This battle used large ammounts of Germany’s resources when beginning to make resources. -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
This was a capture of the island Iwo Jima by the American’s. The United States also needed to take over this island so they can defeat Japan. They wanted to capture the three air fields and the island and it lasted for five weeks. These five weeks were full of violent fighting. The island wasn’t useful to the Navy or Air Force. This led people to wonder why we went into the battle in the first place. -
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Battle of Okinawa
This battle took place south of the islands of Japan. It was between Japan Empire and the Allies. This was fought on land and in water, also known as an amphibious battle. This is the second biggest amphibious battle of WWII. It was one of the longest, too. Allies won over Japan, and took over Okinawa, hence forth occupying it. It's still Japanese territory today, but has military bases of America on it. -
VE Day
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Bombing of Hiroshima/Nagasaki
This was a month where the United States dropped Atomic bombs on Japan. These were the only two uses of nuclear weapondry in warfare. They were prepared to have a costly invasion of Japan. This was preceeded by a firebombing campaign that ruined many Japanese cities. The Japanese refused to accept the Allie's demands for surrender, the Pacific War drug on. -
VJ Day
This is the day that Japan surrendered. Therefore, ending WWII. This term was applied to both days because of the time difference in the America's and in the United Kingdom. September 2nd was the day of the offical surrender document, officially ending WWII. -
Warsaw Pact
This was an organization of Eastern European Communist states as well as central. This was established against NATO. This lasted until the Cold war ended. The Warsaw Pact was signed and the official copies were written in Russian, Polish, Czech, and German.