|
1894-5
|
First
Sino-Japanese war -- fledging Japanese navy defeats Chinese fleet
off Yalu River. Fortress of Port Arthur (Lushun) stormed. After
the war, Japan seizes Taiwai and S. Manchuria.
|
|
1910
|
Annexation
of Korea.
|
|
1926
|
Hirohito
becomes Emperor.
|
|
1931
Sept. 18
|
"The
Mukden Incident" -- Bomb explodes under Japanese-owned express
train in Manchuria (planted by Japanese secret agents); Japanese
troops proceed to occupy all Manchuria.
|
|
1932
|
Chinese
boycott of Japanese goods leads to the "Battle of Shanghai";
Japanese aircraft carriers in action for the first time. League
of Nations condemns Japanese aggression in Manchuria.
|
|
1933
|
Japan
withdraws from League of Nations.
|
|
1934
|
Pu
Yi -- former emperor of China -- becomes puppet emperor of Manchukuo
(Manchuria).
|
|
1937
July
|
"The
China Incident" -- a skirmish between Japan and Chinese troops
at the Marco Polo Bridge (Luguoqiao), near Peking, sparks off a
full scale invasion of China.
|
|
1937
August
|
Japanese
bombers make the first trans-oceanic raids in history -- from Taiwan
and Kyushu to Nanking and Shanghai.
|
|
1937
Nov
|
Imperial
General Headquarters established in Tokyo (the Emperor, the Chiefs
of the Army, and Naval General Staffs).
|
|
1937
Dec
|
The
Nanking Massacre (Rape of Nanking) -- the Chinese capital sacked
by Japanese troops. The American gunboat USS Panay bombed and sunk
near Nanking.
|
|
1938
Dec
|
Japan
proclaims a "New Order in East Asia".
|
|
1940
May
|
Chungking
-- war capital of China -- bombed day and night Sept. by Japanese.
|
|
1940
Sept
|
Japanese
troops occupy northern Indo-China. Japan signs Tripartite Pact with
Germany and Italy.
|
|
1941
July
|
Japanese
troops occupy southern French Indo-China.
|
|
1941
Dec. 6
|
President
Roosevelt addresses a personal appeal for peace to Emperor Hirohito.
|
|
1941
Dec. 7
|
Japan
raids Pearl Harbour, invades Siam, Hong Kong, Burma, North Borneo,
the Dutch East Indies, the Philippines and Pacific Islands. Britain
and United States declare war on Japan.
|
|
1942
May
|
Japanese
midget submarines attack shipping in Diego Suarez harbour (Madagascar)
and Sydney Harbour (Australia).
|
|
1942
Jun
|
Battle
of Midway -- Japanese Carrier Force defeated off Midway Island and
the invasion abandoned.
|
|
1943
Nov
|
Issue
of Cairo Declaration.
|
|
1944
April
|
U.S.
forces land on Okinawa.
|
|
1944
July
|
Issue
of Postdam Declaration to Japan.
|
|
1945
August
|
Atomic
bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
|
|
|
Russia
declares war on Japan. Japan surrenders.
|
|
1945
Sept
|
Surrender
ceremony aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
|