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Japanese Invades China
Japan invading ChinaWhat happened: Japanese troops invaded China
Why did it happened: The Japanese claimed to be fired from Beijing.
The effects of the event: One million Chinese people were under control of Japan within five months. All of the major cities were captured and the major communication systems. 2 million Japanese soliders were in China.
Interesting Facts: The United States sent supplies to the Chinese because of what Japan did to Pearl Harbor. 60 Million Chinese people were to be named homeless. -
Germany Invades Poland
Germany invades PolandWhat happened: Germany invaded Poland from the land and the air. Why it happened: Adolf Hitler sought out to gain lost territory. The effects of the event: The Polish army was defeated within weeks. They surrendered on September 27th, 1939. Interesting Facts: Germany had control over 2,000 tanks and over a thousand airplanes to attack Poland with. In response, Great Britian, bombed Germany three days later. -
German Blitzkrieg
German BlitzkriegWhat happened: It was a military Tactic to create disorganization of enemy forces through the use of mobile forces. Why it happened: Had shorter military campaigns and preserved human lives. The effects: After used by the Germans it was adopted by many other military troops. Interesting Facts: It's also called "Lightning War." -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation BarbarossaWhat happened: Germany invades the Soviet Union. Why it happened: The intention was have the destruction of the Jewish peole as well. The Effects: They signed a non-agression pact so Germany could focus on the French attacking and The Soviet Union had time to build their defenses. Interesting Facts: Germany thought that it was going to be an easy victory which was promised by Hitler. By the end of October, over 500,000 square miles of the Soviet territory was captured by the Germans. -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl HarborWhat happened: Japan launched a surprise torpedo attack on the U.S. Naval Base in Hawaii. Why it happened: Japan wanted to expand their territory. Effects: Americans lost 170 aircrafts and 18 ships due to Japan attacking. Interesting Facts: This was the same day, America joined World War II. The Japanese had over 360 aircrafts attacking the United States. -
Wannsee Conference
Wannsee ConferenceWhat happened: It was a meeting of senior officials of Nazi, Germany. They discussed the "Final Solution of the Jewish Question." Why it happened: Hitler authorized the European-wide scheme for mass murder. Effects: Gained knowledge that police and military units were already killing tens of thousands of Jewish people. Interesting Facts: German Army and SS were killing Jews in Serbia. -
Bataan Death March
SourceWhat happened: Filipino and American Troops on Bataan were forced to march 65 miles to prisoner camps. Why it happened: The troops lacked naval and air support, surrendering 75,000 troops to the Japanese. Effects: Thousands of troops died because of the brutality of their captors. The captors starved, beat, and even bayonetted some as they were too weak to walk. Interesting Facts: At the camp, the majority of the troops died from diseases. -
Battle of Midway
SourceWhat happened: A battle between the Japanese and U.S. where the United States won and allowed them to play offense. Why it happened: This was a counterattack for when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Effects: The Japanese lost because they were caught off guard while they were restocking and refueling their planes. Interesting Facts: The United States sunk four carries, 322 aircrafts, and over 5,000 sailors. America lost 147 aircrafts and over 300 sailors. -
Battle of Stalingrad
SourceWhat happened: Nazi, Germany and the Soviet Union fought for the control of Stalingrad, a city in Russia. Why it happened: Hitler wanted the city because it was named after Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union. Effects: The total casualities were over 2 million. Interesting Facts: Considered the greatest and bloodiest battle of the war. -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
SourceWhat happened: Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto started to fight against the Nazi oppressors. Why it happened: The Jewish people were forceably removed from their home, most of them in Poland and were forced to remain in the concentration camps. Effects: They fought for a month with little to no resources. Later on, many were deported to extermination camps. Interesting Facts: Still to this day, this uprising is symbolic. 400,000 Jews were crammed into the Warsaw Getto. -
Operation Gomorrah
Operation GomorrahWhat happened: British bombers bombed Hamburg, Germany. Americans bombed by day called "Blitz Week." Why it happened: British got it's revenge from Germany killing 167 civilians. Effects: 1,500 Germans were killed within the first British raid. Interesting Facts: The Americans who bombed Germany, made matters worse for Germany. It continued until November. -
Normandy Invasion
Normandy InvasionWhat happened: American, British, and Canadian troops landed on beaches and invaded France. Why it happened: To gain allies Effects: France joined the allies and attacked Germany. Interesting Facts: It's one of the largest invasions in History. It was called the beginning of the end of the war in Europe. -
Operation Thunderclap
Operation ThunderclapWhat was it: It was a code to cancel an operation during World War II. Why did it happen: It was shelved but never implemented. Effects: It had 220,000 casualities and over half of them were deaths. Interesting Facts: It was considered again for the Soviet but rejected, again. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo JimaWhat happened: Three U.S. Marines division landed on the shore of Japan and it was defended by 23,000 Japan Army and Navy troops. Why it happened: The U.S. used islands to rest and be ready for the next attack. Effects: Marines wiped out the troops a month later. Interesting Facts: Japanese fought inside caves, tunnels, and dugouts, while the Marines had the beach. -
Battle of Okinawa
What happened: It was a battle of the U.S. Army troops versus the Japanese soldiers. Why it happened: So the American troops could gather the land to be able to rest and plan for another attack on Japan. Effects: The Japanese lost more than 77,000 while the U.S. lost 14,000. Interesting Facts: It was the last and biggest battle on the Pacific Coast. It involved 287,000 U.S. Army troops vs. Japanese 130,000 soldiers. -
VE Day
Source: VE DayWhat happened: The celebration day for when Germany surrenedered to armed forces. Why it happened: General Jodl from Germany signed the unconditional surrender. Effects: The Soviet Union and Germany told their country right away. The United Kingdom and the United States waited and decided how to tell the news. Interesting Facts: Streets were flooded with celebration moments after the release of the surrendered. There was no criminial activity even though of the behavior outrage. -
Potsdam Declaration
SourceWhat Happened: Japan called for their surrender. Why it happened: They were so scarcely limited on their supplies and were being attacked by the United States over and over again. Effects: If Japan didn't surrender, it would just cause more destruction. Interesting Facts: This ended World War II -
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
SourceWhat happened: An American B-29 Bomber dropped the world's first atomic bomb on the Hiroshima, a Japanese city. Three days later, they dropped another bomb on Nagasaki.
Why it happened: It was America's way of 'getting back' at Japan for attacking Pearl Harbor.
Effects: Over 120,000 people died from the explosion and a few days later, many died from radioactivity.
Interesting Facts: Japan's emperor announced for surrender saying on August 15th. This is also referred to The Manhattan Project. -
VJ Day
SourceWhat happened: Japan surrenedered after the bombings of Japanese cities. This was the day of "Victory over Japan." Why it happened: It was the last day of the war because Germany and Japan surrendered. Effects: The war has given the country's new technology and more history to learn for the future generations. Interesting Facts: This occurred four years after Pearl Harbor and eight years after the Japanese invaded China. "The Sailor Kiss" is one of the famous pictures to remember VJ Day. -
Battle of Bulge
Battle of BulgeWhat Happened: Adolf Hitler wanted to separate the Allied Armies. Why it happened: Hitler thought it was best to win the war. Effects: Americans were caught off guard and fought desparatly. Interesting Facts: Some prayed to God looking for a side of which side he's on and the next day, the fog lifted. Giving American's the chance to fight back.
