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Battle of Midway
What happened:
In June 1942, the U.S. Navy decisively defeated Japan in a naval battle near Midway Atoll, sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers.
Why it happened:
Japan intended to lure and destroy the U.S. fleet to secure dominance in the Pacific.
Effects/Impact:
It was a turning point in the Pacific War, shifting the balance toward the United States and halting Japanese expansion. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/ -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
What happened:
In spring 1945, Allied troops began discovering and liberating Nazi concentration camps like Auschwitz and Buchenwald.
Why it happened:
As Allied forces advanced into German-held territory, they encountered these camps.
Effects/Impact:
The world was horrified by the scale of the Holocaust. It highlighted the atrocities committed and reinforced the need for international human rights protections. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/ -
Fall Of Paris
What happened:
Paris fell to German forces on June 14, 1940, just a month after the invasion began.
Why it happened:
Germany's fast and unexpected assault left France unprepared to defend its capital.
Effects/Impact:
The occupation of Paris symbolized France’s collapse and led to a four-year occupation until liberation in 1944. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii -
Japanese Invasion Of China
What happened: In July 1937, Japan invaded China, beginning with a skirmish at the Marco Polo Bridge. This marked the start of full-scale war between Japan and China.
Why it happened:
Japan sought to expand its empire and access natural resources to fuel its growing economy and military.
Effects/Impact:
The invasion led to years of brutal occupation and millions of Chinese civilian and military deaths, setting the stage for Japan's increasing aggression in the Pacific. -
Rape of Nanking
What happened:
In December 1937, Japanese troops captured the Chinese city of Nanking (now Nanjing) and committed horrific atrocities, including mass murder and rape.
Why it happened:
Japanese soldiers were given free rein in the city, driven by militarism, racism, and a desire to terrorize the population into submission.
Effects/Impact:
An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 civilians and prisoners were killed. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii -
German Invasion of France
What happened:
In May 1940, Germany invaded France using fast-moving blitzkrieg tactics, bypassing strong defenses and quickly overwhelming French and British forces.
Why it happened:
Hitler aimed to secure Western Europe and eliminate France as a military threat.
Effects/Impact:
France fell in six weeks. Germany occupied the north, while the Vichy regime governed the south under German influence. -
Wannsee Conference
What happened:
On January 20, 1942, Nazi officials met in Berlin to plan the “Final Solution” — the systematic extermination of Jews.
Why it happened:
The Nazi regime wanted to coordinate and accelerate the genocide across occupied Europe.
Effects/Impact:
This meeting marked the formal start of industrialized mass murder, leading to the deaths of six million Jews during the Holocaust. -
Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact
What happened:
On August 23, 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact, secretly agreeing to divide Eastern Europe between them.
Why it happened:
Hitler wanted to avoid a two-front war, and Stalin needed time to strengthen the Soviet military.
Effects/Impact:
The pact led directly to the invasion of Poland and the outbreak of World War II. -
Operation Barbarossa
What happened:
On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, breaking the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact.
Why it happened:
Hitler believed the USSR posed a long-term threat and wanted to conquer its land and resources.
Effects/Impact:
The invasion opened the Eastern Front, where some of the war’s bloodiest battles occurred, eventually leading to massive German losses and turning the tide against the Nazis. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/en -
D-Day – Normandy Invasion
What happened:
On June 6, 1944, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, in the largest amphibious invasion in history.
Why it happened:
The Allies needed to open a Western Front to liberate Nazi-occupied Europe.
Effects/Impact:
D-Day marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany, leading to the liberation of France and pushing German forces back toward Berlin. -
Pearl Harbor Attack
What happened:
On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Why it happened:
Japan aimed to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet to prevent interference with its territorial expansion.
Effects/Impact:
The attack killed over 2,400 Americans and brought the U.S. into World War II, joining the Allies against the Axis Powers. -
Battle of the Bulge
What happened:
In December 1944, Germany launched its final major offensive in the West through the Ardennes Forest, creating a “bulge” in Allied lines.
Why it happened:
Hitler hoped to split Allied forces and recapture key supply ports.
Effects/Impact:
Despite initial success, the Germans were repelled. The costly battle depleted Germany’s forces and hastened the Allied victory in Europe. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/en -
Battle of Iwo Jima
What happened:
Between February and March 1945, U.S. forces fought to capture the Japanese island of Iwo Jima in a brutal battle.
Why it happened:
The U.S. needed a base close to Japan for bombing raids and emergency landings.
Effects/Impact:
The high casualties foreshadowed the cost of a mainland invasion, influencing the decision to use atomic bombs later. -
Dropping of Atomic Bombs & VJ Day
What happened:
The U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9), killing over 100,000 people instantly. Japan surrendered on September 2, marking VJ Day.
Why it happened:
The U.S. wanted to end the war quickly and avoid a costly invasion of Japan.
Effects/Impact:
Japan’s surrender ended World War II. The bombings also began the nuclear age and raised ethical debates about warfare that still exist today. https://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/ -
VE Day
What happened:
Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allied forces, ending the war in Europe.
Why it happened:
Surrounded on all sides, German military and political structures collapsed after Hitler’s suicide.
Effects/Impact:
VE Day brought joy and relief to millions. It also shifted Allied focus entirely to Japan and the Pacific Theater. https://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/