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Rape of Nanking
The Rape of Nanking was an event of mass murder by Japanese soldiers carried out on thousands of innocent victims. It was a frenzy of torture, rape and murder, using people as bayonette practice and burned in mass piles.They executed between 300,000 and 400,000 innocent Chinese people, while raping thousands of woman, young and old. It lasted six to eights weeks. Death of thousands. Kagan, Neil and Stephen Hyslop. Eyewitness to World War II. Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2013. Page 14. -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
The invasion of Poland was part of Hitler's master plan to increase Germany's territory. Germany launched a massive blitzkrieg, a sudden attack on Poland on Septmber 1, 1939, by over powering the country and forcefully causing its defeat by the end of the month. The result was that Germany annexed Poland in October, 1939. This invasion became a factor for an all out World War. Kagan, Neil, and Stephen Hyslop. Eyewitness To World War II. Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2013. Page 19. -
German Blitzkrieg
Blizkrieg, translated as "lighting war," was the war tactic Germany used by advancing soldiers rapidly in tanks, trucks, and other vehicles. They coupled the infantry with speed and might with support from the air, with precise air strikes and armored "thrusts" that would achieve impressive breakthroughs.The results, at least for a time, were amazing breakthroughs. Kagan, Neil and Stephen Hyslop. Eyewitness to World War II. Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2013. Page 19. -
Fall of Paris
On June 10 the French officials abandoned Paris and declared the city open, or undefended. Shortly after Hitler and his troops occupied Paris and by June 21 he imposed an armistic on French commanders. This happened because the French stopped fighting to save innocent civilians. The result were many arrests, imprisionments and brutality to the French people.
Kagan, Neil and Stephen Hyslop. Eyewitness To World War II, Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2013, page 23. -
Operation Barbarossa
A massive invasion by Germany into Russia. Even though early signs point to the Germans success, in the end, Russia was able to push them back, resulting in Germany having to fight a war on both fronts. It happened because Hitler was trying to take control of Russia, more land more power.
Ward, Geoffrey and Ken Burns.The War. New York: Alfred Knopf, 2007. Page18, 42. -
Attack of Pearl Harbor by Japan 1941
On the morning of December 7,1941 American Naval Base, Pearl Habor, near Honolulu, Hawaii, was attacked and bombed by Japanese fighter planes. The attack killed over 2,000 American military personal and wounded at least 1,000. The attack either destroyed or damaged eight battleships and over 300 airplanes. The U.S. declared war on Japan, halting Japan's invasion of the Pacific.
Ward, Geoffrey and Ken Burns. The War. New York: Alfred Knopf, 2007. Pages 1-5. -
Bataan Death March
In Japan's quest of the Pacific they stormed and took possession of the Philippines. In doing so, they trapped 75,000 Allied soldiers on the Bataan Peninsula. After living on meager rations until May, 1942, they surrendered. They were taken prisioner and marched 55 miles up the Bataan Peninsula to a railway station, to an inland prison.Thousands died of starvation and sickness. Kagan, Neil and Stephen Hyslop. Eyewitness to World War II. Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2013. Page 91-93. -
Battle of Midway
This battle was fought in the Pacific and was one of the most important battles in history. It was an aircraft carrier based fight with planes in the air. It was a new type of naval warfare. The effect was a turning point of the war. The U.S. knew of Japan's plans in advance and were ready and waiting for their attack. The winning of this battle by the U.S. put Japan on the defense. Kagan, Neil and Stephen Hyslop. Eyewitness to World War II. Washington D.C. Natl. Geog. 2013, Pg.105-117. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Hitler wanted control of the oil fields of Caucasus, so he launched an attack on Stalingrad. A violent battle took place over several months, resulting in the surrendering of German troops, cold, straving and ill. This win served as a turning point in the European theatre, by forcing the Germans back toward Germany. Kagan, Neil and Stephen Hyslop. Eyewitness to World War II, Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2013. Page 186. -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
The Nazis terrorized millions of Jew and Slavs after their conquest in 1939. Thousands of people were removed from their homes and forced into concentration camps and ghettos. Many ended up in Warsaw in crowded conditions and were mistreated and starving. On January 18,1943 the Jews in the Warsaw ghetto had an uprising which was subdued by German forces.The result was a killing of thousands. Kagan, Neil and Stephen Hyslop. Eyewitness of World War II. Washington D.C.: Ntl Geog., 2013, Page 298. -
Allied Invasion of Italy
The Allies invaded Sicily in July of 1943. After 38 days the Allies were in control of the Western Mediterranean, which resulted in an invasion of mainland Italy. In the end, on September 3, 1943, Italy surrendered and five weeks later joined forces with the Allies and declared war on Germany. Kagan, Neil and Stephen Hyslop. Eyewitness to World War II. Washington D.C.: Natl. Geographic, 2013. Pages 171-173. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
The Normandy Invasion was an international event of epic proportions. The U.S., Britain, Poland, and Canada took the task of invading different beaches along the Normandy coast to attack the German forces. This sucessful invasion, was not without high casulties, especially on Omaha Beach, however it served as the first step to liberating Europe from the Germans.
Ward, Geoffrey and Ken Burns. The War. NY: Alfred Knopf. 2007. Pages 200-210. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was the last Nazi offensive of the war. The Germans failed, and with that were in constant retreat.The Germans had created a bulge in the American line, however agaist severe weather conditions of cold and snow, the Americans held the line at the town of Bastogne. The result was the Germans were pushed out of France. Decreasing German morale. It hastened the end of the war in Europe. Ward, Geoffrey and Ken Burns. The War. New York: Afred Knopf, 2007. Pg 315-338. -
Liberation of concentration Camps
Allied troops began liberating prisoners of German concentration camps in January of 1945. Evidence of the killing of thousands and thousands of Jewish people was found. The prisoners found still living were starved and sick. The result was these men, woman, and children would forever be scarred, physically and mentally. An entire population had been forever changed. Kagan, Neil and Stephen G. Hyslop. Eyewitness to World War II. Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2013. Page 304. -
Operation Thunderclap
Operation Thunderclap was a plan to bomb key cities in Germany to disrupt the transport of supplies behind the Eastern front. It also was a plan to kill German civillians in order to "encourage" the realization that Germany's air defences were of little value and that the Nazi party had failed. The result was destruction of Dresden and other key cities, and the killing of thousands. Kagan, Neil and Stephen Hyslop. Eyewitness to World War II. Washington D.C.: National Geographic. Pages 251. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima was one island the U.S. needed to secure on their march to Japan. Iwa Jima turned out to be one of the most fierce battles of this campaign. It took 36 days of heavy fighting and the loss of over 23,000 marines to secure the island. After the U.S. won the battle and controlled the island, it was used as a base for further U.S. operations. Kagan, Neil and Stephen Hyslop, Eyewitness to World War II. Washington D.C.:Natl Geog.2013, pages 322-330. -
Battle of Okinawa
Okinawa is an island 340 miles from Japan and in 1945 it housed an air base that the Allied forces saw as instrumental in controlling in order to invade Japan. Taking over the island was a deadly fight with over 50,000 Allied deaths. The result was control over the air base where deadly bombing raids started, some killing tens of thousands of Japanese people. Kagan, Neil and Stephen Hyslop. Eyewitness to World War II. Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2013. Pages 330 - 336. -
VE Day
After Hitler's suicide on April 30, 1945 his successor, Adm Karl Donitz surrendered to the Allies on May 7, 1945.Because it was obvious Germany had been defeated by the Allies, and it was time to end the war. The result was a celebration by the Allied forces. It had been a long war and many, like Eisenhower, found it hard to "savor" the win because of the "brutality and stupidity" of war.
Kagan, Neil and Stephen Hyslop. Eyewitness to World War II. Washington D.C.: Ntl. Geograph., 2013. Pg. 295. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
The dropping of the atomic bomb Lilttle Boy on August 6 on to the city of Hiroshima and Fat Man on Nagasaki on Aurgust 9, 1945 were devastating to the people of Japan. It was done to end the war with the United States. The result was an announcement of surrender by Emperor Hiroshito on August 15, 1945 to prevent the obliteration of Japan.
Kagan, Neil and Stephen Hyslop.Eyewitness to World War II. Washington D.C..National Geographic, 2013. Page 338-342. -
VJ Day Victory over Japan
On August 14, 1945 Japan surrendered to the Alllies, hence Victory over Japan Day "V-J Day." It happened largely because the U.S. had dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, killing millions, either immediately or over time from the effects of radiation. This ended World War II and brought the invasion of Japan in the Pacific to a halt.
Kagan, Neil, and Stephen Hyslop. Eyewitness to World War II, Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2013. Page 336-342.
