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Chinese Civil War (First Phase)
Civil War between Nationalist government and Communist rebels. They made peace at the end of 1936, a few months before Japan invaded China. -
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Sino-Soviet conflict
Soviet victory in Manchuria against China: The Provisions of 1924 giving Russia partial control of the Chinese Eastern Railway. No changes in land. -
Kumul Rebellion begins
Rebellion of Kumulik Uyghurs from 1931 to 1934. Exact ending date unknown. Results in a stalemate. -
Mukden Incident
Japanese government set an explosion near a railroad, blamed it on the Chinese, and took over Manchuria in the coming months. -
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Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
Manchuria was seized by the Kwantung Army of Japan (Imperial Japanese Army). Establishment of Manchukuo as a Japanese puppet state in the seized areas. -
Pacification of Manchukuo
Japanese forces in Manchukuo suppress any rebel forces and resistance in the newly formed puppet state. -
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Jiangqiao Campaign
After the Mukden Incident, Japanese forces quickly advance into Manchuria. Chinese general Ma Zhanshan begins to resist the Japanese advance into Manchuria. Chinese are unable to stop the advance. -
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Jinzhou Operation
Japanese launch a successful offensive in Manchuria. -
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Defense of Harbin
Chinese fail a defense of the city of Harbin in Manchuria. -
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January 28 Incident
In the Shanghai National Settlement, a skirmish breaks out between Japan and China, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. A ceasefire is called. -
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Defense of the Great Wall
Japanese capture the province of Rehe from China and incorporate it into the Manchukuo puppet state. -
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Battle of Rehe
Province of Rehe secured by Japanese forces. Second part of the Defense of the Great Wall. -
Battle of Khalkhyn Temple
Mongolian victory in the Soviet-Japanese Border Conflicts. No land changes. -
Soviet-Japanese Border Battle Begins
Ends a few days later. No land changes. -
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Suiyuan Offensive
Border clash between Mongolia (Soviet satellite) and Japan. Japan retakes the disputed land. Many such conflicts occur between 1935 and 1939. -
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Islamic Rebellion in Xinjiang
A Pro-Soviet government takes over the entire province of Xinjiang. The Islams decided to go under Soviet control instead of Chinese. -
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Kanchazu Island incident
Japanese retake the island from the Soviets in the Border Wars. -
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Marco Polo Bridge Incident
Often classified as the beginning of World War 2 in Asia. I classify it as the beginning of the first part of World War 2 in the Pacific - the second part beginning on Dec. 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked. It happened when a Japanese soldier was found missing and Japanese soldiers wanted to search the town for the soldier. When permission from the Chinese was refused, shots were fired, though the soldier returned to his lines. It was the start of the Second Sino Japanese War. -
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Battle of Shanghai
First battle after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. Japanese troops take over Shanghai except the concessions of foreign nations there. -
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Battle of Taiyuan
Fought between China and Japan for the capital of Shanxi Province (Taiyuan). -
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Battle of Nanjing (Nanking)
Resulted in the fall of Nanjing (Nanking, if you're going with Romanization) and the Nanking Massacre. -
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Battle of Xuzhou
Japanese victory. Japanese forces encircle the town of Xuzhou, attempting to connect Japanese control in Beijing and Nanking. -
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Amoy Operation
Amoy Island was occupied by the Japanese to make a blockade of China easier to do. It served as a post for the blockade. -
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Battle of Wuhan
After a 4-month battle, Chinese forces retreat from Wuhan and the Japanese occupy the city. -
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Battle of Lake Khasan
Russian forces retake the area that the Japanese advanced in (near Lake Khasan). -
Tsinghai Bay Landing
Japanese land on Hainan Island to use it as a blockade post. Part of the island is occupied by Japanese. -
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Battle of Nanchang
Japan occupies Nanchang and the vicinity. -
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Battle of Suixian–Zaoyang
After the Japanese took Wuhan, they wished to expand even further. Japan began to advance further into China, but a counterattack drove the Japanese all the way back. Japan had occupied several towns and cities but weren't able to hold control. -
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Battles of Khalkhin Gol
The biggest battle of the USSR-Japanese border wars. The Japanese defeat in the battle results in the signing of a ceasefire and NAP between the powers. No more timeline dates on this! -
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Swatow Operation
Japanese occupy the cities of Shantou and Chaozhou in the Guangdong province. -
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First Battle of Changsha
First of four attempts by Japan to take the Chinese city of Changsha. Chinese victory. -
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Battle of South Guangxi
The Kunlun Pass holds, but Japan manages to cut off the port of Chongqing, making shipping supplies to China through the sea impossible. -
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Battle of Wuyuan
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Battle of Zaoyang–Yichang
Japan seeks to take the new Chinese capital of Chongqing, but failed to capture Yichang which was necessary to take the new capital. -
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Hundred Regiments Offensive
Major Chinese Communist Party offensive in Northern China - Incredible victory over Japanese forces. -
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Japanese Invasion of French Indochina
Japanese occupy Tonkin. This was done so that a blockade of China could be done without supplies flowing through Indochina. -
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Central Hubei Operation
Chinese offensive around the Xiang River. Took place in Central Hubei. Chinese victory. -
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New Fourth Army incident
Jing County, Anhui. Cooperation between Communists and Nationalists ends. Both sides win. -
Ending of the Franco-Thai War
The war had begun in October 1940. Territories long disputed between France and Thailand given to Thailand after France surrendered to the Germans. -
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Battle of South Henan
Japanese attempt to encircle and destroy a Chinese railroad army, but they are outflanked by Chinese and forced to retreat. -
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Battle of Shanggao
Took place in Shanggao, Jiangxi. Japanese offensive halted. -
Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact signed
This puts an end to the border wars. From Wikipedia: "The agreement meant that for most of World War II, the two nations fought against each other's allies but not against each other." The USSR broke it after Germany's defeat and invaded Japan, who was also on the brink of collapse. -
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Battle of South Shanxi
Took place in South Shanxi. Due to the CCP's fallout with the Nationalists, they refused to aid a surrounded nationalist army. It was regarded later as one of their worst defeats in the entire war. -
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Second Battle of Changsha
Second Japanese failure to take the city of Changsha, the capital of the Hunan province. -
British Tianjin Concession occupied by Japanese
The British concession gained in the Boxer Rebellion comes to an end. The British signed a treaty with China saying that after the war, in the event of victory, it would become Chinese again. In other words, Britain wasn't interested in having the concession returned. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
A surprise attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii is bombed by Japanese. Tensions between the US and Japan were already bad, and Japan wanted to eliminate America as a threat by destroying their Pacific navy. It had the opposite effect - the Americans were empowered, plus the American aircraft carriers were away from the harbor at the time, the ships Japan wanted to destroy most. It was a failure in the long run, though a technical Japanese victory. -
Shanghai International Settlement taken over by Japan
Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the settlement is taken over by Japanese. -
Japanese Invasion of Thailand
Fighting lasts 5 hours before Thailand signs an alliance with Japan. -
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Japanese Occupation of the Philippines
The course of many battles results in Japanese occupation of the Philippines. America couldn't use the colony as a base for anything anymore. -
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Japanese Invasion of Guam
Japanese forces take over the American colony of Guam. -
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Battle of Wake Island
It took 2 attempts on the Japanese, but they managed to take Wake Island and the surrounding islands from the Americans. -
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Battle of Hong Kong
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. -
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Dutch East Indies campaign
The Dutch East Indies are occupied by Japanese forces. -
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Malayan Campaign
Japanese occupation of British Malaya. British troops were slowly pushed out. -
Battle of Borneo Begins
By March 1942, British and Dutch Borneo would be Japanese occupied. -
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Third Battle of Changsha
Initial success, but the Japanese forces were prone to be encircled by the Chinese so they retreat from the city. -
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Battle of Bataan
By far the longest battle in the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines. Afterwards, the Philippines would fall fairly quickly. -
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Allied Bombing of Bangkok
Allied bombings of Thailand's capital continue mid-April 1945. -
Japanese occupation of Rabaul
The island of Rabaul is captured by Japanese forces. It was significant because the island was close to a Japanese naval base in the Caroline Islands. -
Capture of Rangoon
The Japanese invaded Burma partly for its natural resources, partly for its strategic position of buffering Thailand and Malaya, which it had occupied, and lastly, to sever the link that gave supplies to China via the Burma Road. -
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Fall of Singapore
British defeat. Japanese occupation of Singapore. -
Japanese Bombing of Darwin
Japanese bomb Darwin, Australia. -
North Western Area Campaign Begins
It was an air campaign fought between the Allied and Japanese air forces over northern Australia and the Netherlands East Indies. It would last until the end of the war. -
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Battle of Timor
The island of Timor, including Portuguese Timor, is occupied by Japanese forces after Allied forces capture the island. -
Japanese Attack on Broome
The small port and aircraft refueling point is attacked by Japanese, but they didn't intend to capture the port. -
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Invasion of Salamaua–Lae
Salamaua–Lae area, Morobe Province, New Guinea. Japan captures the area. Base and airfield built. -
Japan occupies Port Blair
The rest of the Andaman Islands would soon be taken over by Japanese. -
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Japan Occupies Christmas Island
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Indian Ocean Raid
Japanese forces fail to destroy the bulk of the British Eastern Fleet around Ceylon. -
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Invasion of Tulagi
Tulagi and Gavutu Islands, Solomon Islands. Japanese forces occupied Tulagi and nearby islands. -
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Battle of the Coral Sea
Coral Sea, between Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Both sides claimed victory, but strategically it was an American/Australian victory as it averted the seaborne invasion of Port Moresby. It was the first time a Japanese goal had been stopped since the beginning of the war. -
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Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign
Japanese victory. Japan occupied the area to prevent American airmen from using the fields to bomb Japan. -
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Attack on Sydney Harbor
One of four Japanese raids on Australia. They're really just causing havoc and trying to redirect Allied supplies from the standard warfronts in China, the Pacific, and India to trying to defend Australia. -
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Battle of Dutch Harbor
Amaknak Island is captured by the Japanese. -
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Battle of Midway
Japanese fail to take the Midway Atoll. -
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Japanese occupation of Kiska
The island of Kiska in the Aleutian Islands is taken by Japanese forces. -
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Japanese occupation of Attu
Japanese forces take over the island of Attu in the Aleutian Islands. -
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Invasion of Buna-Gona/Kokoda Track Campaign
It was the Japanese attempt to take Port Moresby by land, since taking it by sea didn't work. Japan ultimately wanted to push the Australians back to their island and isolate Australia from America. The Japanese were unsuccessful. Took place at Buna–Gona area, Oro Province, Territory of Papua, Australia. -
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Guadalcanal Campaign
After six months of fighting, the Japanese forces withdraw from the island. It marked the beginning of the capture of islands by the Allies to defeat Japan. Guadalcanal is in the Solomon Islands today. -
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Battle of Milne Bay
Took place in Milne Bay in the Australian Territory of Papua. -
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Battle of Goodenough Island
Goodenough Island, Territory of Papua. Japanese are forced to retreat to Fergusson Island. Goodenough island is turned into a major allied military base. I guess it was "good enough" to use as one! -
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Battle of Buna-Gona
American and Australia retake the area from Japanese forces. -
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Battle of Wau
Allied forces stop an advance by Japanese forces against the Allied-held town. -
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Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Japanese forces retreat and the town falls into Allied hands. -
Battle of the Komandorski (Commander) Islands
Wasn't fought over these islands, but was a naval battle fought south of these islands. American troops managed to prevent the Japanese from sending a convoy to their bases in the Aleutian Islands. -
Operation Vengeance
Isoroku Yamamoto, the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, is killed when the Allies shoot down his transport plane. It was an intentional act. This is war! -
Raid on Darwin
During the raid a Japanese force attacked the Darwin, Australia, inflicting little damage on the ground. This attack was the 54th Japanese airstrike over Australia. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) unit responsible for protecting the town, No. 1 Wing RAAF, intercepted the Japanese force after it had completed its attack, and suffered heavy losses from the Japanese fighters, aggravated by fuel shortages. -
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Battle of West Hubei
Japanese offensive in the area halted, but heavy Chinese losses. -
Shanghai French Concession Becomes Japanese
Due to pressure from Germany, Vichy France hands over its Shanghai concession to Japanese forces. -
Italian Concession occupied by Japan
After Italy surrendered, Japan occupied the Italian concession. -
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Markham Valley, Ramu Valley and Finisterre Range Campaigns
Americans and Australians capture Madang, New Guinea. -
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Huon Peninsula Campaign
Japanese troops pushed from Lao north to Sio (New Guinea). -
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Bougainville Campaign
Bougainville, Territory of New Guinea. Japanese hold out on the island. Australian troops land on the island and hold their position for a year. Then, until the end of the war, Australian troops begin mopping up remnants of starving, isolated, yet still determined Japanese troops. 2 enclaves remain on the island, but the war ended before these were fully destroyed. -
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Battle of Changde
Fought in Changde and the vicinity. The city was captured. -
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New Britain Campaign
Allied troops land on New Britain (an island in modern-day Papua New Guinea) with the goal of neutralizing the Japanese naval base of Rabul. Japanese stay holed up defending Rabul, prepared for an assault of the base that never came. The campaign lasted until the war's end. Allied troops were outnumbered 5 to 1 but still won. around 30,000 Japanese died (mostly either starved or died from disease). -
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Battle of Cape Gloucester
Allied successful attempt to capture two Japanese airfields near Cape Gloucester. It was an amphibious landing. Mopping up operations continued until April 1944, when the army relieved the Marines of occupying the islands. -
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Admiralty Islands Campaign
It's a leap year! Let's celebrate Leap Day by starting an invasion! Allies liberate the islands as part of the attempt to disable Rabul as a Japanese naval base. It was the concluding stage of accomplishing this. -
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Second Indian Ocean Raid
Inconclusive Japanese raid on Allied shipping vessels. Japanese ships ran into a steamer and retreated, fearing that they would be detected, and that the British ships would take a detour. -
Operation Cockpit
Bombing of Sabang Island (north of Sumatra in Indonesia) -
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Operation Ichi-Go
Japanese plan to advance from current Japanese controls in the Hankow and Wuchang area down to the Chinese southern coast. It was successful. It opened a land route to Indochina and prevented American bombers from using the area. Consisted of 3 battles along the course of the campaign. -
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Western New Guinea Campaign
Allies continue to liberate the Territory of New Guinea and Dutch New Guinea until the end of the war. -
Operation Transom
Bombing of Surabaya, Java by American and British planes. -
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Battle of Noemfoor
Allied troops liberate bases on the island of Noemfoor in what was then Dutch New Guinea. -
Operation Crimson
Naval bombardment and aerial strikes on Japanese airfields in the Indonesian cities of Sabang, Lhoknga and Kutaraja. -
Operation Banquet
The objective was to carry out aerial strikes on Japanese positions in and around Padang, on the southwestern coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, on August 24, 1944 -
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Operation Light
The objective was to carry out aerial strikes on Japanese positions in Sigli, Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, and aerial reconnaissance over the Nicobar Islands. -
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Operation Mullet
Nicobar Islands. British use naval bombardment and ariel strikes to attack the Japanese there. -
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Liberation of the Philippines
The Allies liberate most of the Philippines. Before liberation was completed, the Japanese empire surrendered. -
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British Bombing of Singapore
Britain bombs Japanese Singapore and the nearby waters. Tactically indecisive. -
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Ili Rebellion
A coalition government in Xinjiang is established, but control of Xinjiang is eventually transferred from the ROC to the CCP. -
Operation Robson
British bombing of Japanese oil fields on Sumatra. -
Operation Lentil
Operation Lentil was an air raid by British carrier based aircraft on oil installations at Pangkalan Brandan on Sumatra. -
Operation Meridian
British bombing of Sumatra oil fields. As a result, the critical aviation fuel output of the plants at Palembang was reduced by seventy-five percent. This includes the many bombings of the area as well. -
Operation Meridian II
British bombing of Sumatra oil fields. As a result, the critical aviation fuel output of the plants at Palembang was reduced by seventy-five percent. -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
Allied forces liberate the island of Iwo Jima. -
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Battle of West Henan–North Hubei
Japanese manage to capture the local airfields, but nothing else. -
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Battle of Okinawa
Largest amphibious assault of World War 2. Okinawa Island was liberated by Allies. -
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Battle of Xuefeng Mountains
Failed Japanese invasion of West Hunan. The wanted control over railroads and airfields, but never got them. -
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Borneo Campaign (1945)
The goal was to capture Japanese oil fields and air bases, but many were destroyed, so the strategic benefits ended up being useless. It did succeed, however. Very little of Borneo was actually liberated, but that wasn't the goal. -
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Battle of the Malacca Strait
British victory in a naval battle. -
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Operation Balsam
The third in a string of similar missions, the objectives were the naval bombardment and aerial strikes on Japanese airfields in Sumatra, and Japanese vessels in the Strait of Malacca, and aerial reconnaissance. -
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Operation Collie
Its objectives were, firstly, naval bombardment and aerial strikes on Japanese positions in the Nicobar Islands, particularly on Nancowry Island; secondly, providing cover for minesweeping operations in advance of a possible invasion; and thirdly, making carrier raids on Japanese airfields in northern Sumatra. The invasion was never carried out because Japan surrendered. -
Second Guangxi Campaign
3-front Chinese counterattack on the final Japanese stronghold in the Guangxi province of China. Success. Plans are being made to take the rest of Chinese land, but the Allies make Japan surrender earlier. -
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima
Up to 150,000 people, 20,000 of which were Japanese soldiers, died in the bombing. The bomb destroyed the city. -
Allied Liberation of Burma Ends
Allied forces led a campaign into Japanese-held Burma at the beginning of November 1944. It ended just before the surrender of Japan. Most of Japanese-occupied Burma was liberated. -
Atomic Bomb Dropped on Nagasaki
Up to 80,000 people were killed in the second atomic bombing. These bombings would eventually lead to Japanese surrender. -
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Soviet-Japanese War
Soviet forces invade Japan after Germany is defeated. Who would miss out on free land? -
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Soviet Invasion of Manchuria
Soviets begin an offensive and dig deep into Japanese territory. Japan surrenders before the Soviets can take the rest of the land they're after, but they take it over afterwards. Campaign made in Northern Korea, Manchuria, and Inner Mongolia. -
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Soviet Invasion of South Sakhalin
South Sakhalin annexed by the Soviet Union. -
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Battle of Mutanchiang
Soviet victory. The town in Manchuria is taken by Soviets. -
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Seishin Operation
Chongjin, North Korea is taken by Soviets. -
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Kyūjō incident
Japanese coup attempt that was trying to prevent the surrender of Japan. It failed. -
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Soviet Invasion of the Kuril Islands
Soviet Union annexed the Kuril Islands. -
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Operation Tiderace
Unopposed liberation of Malaya and Singapore after the Japanese surrender. The British Military Administration was established there. -
Independence of the Philippines
The Philippines gain independence from America. The treaty came into effect on October 22, 1946. -
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Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands
The Ryukyu Islands are returned to Japan in 1972. The US occupied the islands in 1950. The islands had been occupied since before WW2 but was not made official until 1950. -
Treaty of San Francisco Effective
Signed on 8 September 1951. Officially ended the war between most of the Allies and Japan. It legally ended the American occupation of the Japanese home islands. -
Treaty of Taipei Takes Effect
Though signed on April 28 1952, it didn't take effect until the date below. It meant that Taiwan, the Spratleys, the Phengu, Spratley, and Paracel Islands were all given to China. Any claims against (including debt) China were forgiven. It was signed separately from the Treaty of San Francisco because of the issue of the Chinese Civil War. -
Amami Islands Returned to Japan
It seems it was Japan's Christmas present from the Allies. -
Soviet–Japanese Joint Declaration of 1956
Official peace treaty between the USSR and Japan. It settled the terms of land cessions and other issues from World War 2. -
Bonin Islands Returned to Japan