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Vichy France Begins
On this day, the French government was granted "extraordinary" powers in which they utilized and united with the Axis powers. -
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Battle of Britain
This was a battle fought for air superiority over the Royal Air Force. Also, it was a campaign that was fought entirely with aircraft forces, and it is the most sustained aerial bombing series of battles to this date. -
Japan joins Axis
It was on this date that Japan joined the Axis power by signing the Tripartite Pact. -
Hitler breaks Non-Aggression agreement and invades the Soviet Union
Hitler broke the Non=Aggression agreement and invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941 through Operation Barbarossa, the largest military operation in human history. Over 4.5 million troops invaded the area, and resulted in a failure on the German's behalf. An benefit of the operation was that it opened up the Eastern Front. It was through this operation where the largest battles, highest casualities, and most horrendous conditions were experienced. -
FDR approves “shoot on sight”
It was on this date that FDR fully heartedly approved of the war, and made that known at this time due to the attacks from Japan on America. -
Peal Harbor Attacked
On this date, the naval base at Pearl Harbor was attacked by 353 Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes. It killed 2,402 men were killed and 1,282 wounded others. It was this that struck immense fear in the American people of Japanese, which led to the extreme discrimintation they would suffer and the momentum in WWII. -
Germany and Italy declare war on US
On this date, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. Congress swiftly approved Roosevelt's request to declare war. It is noted that this was Germany's biggest mistake, because with the industiral power behind America, is made German victory less likely. -
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Bataan death march
(Not actual dates, just three month long march in 1942)
This was a "march", a forced transfer of Americans and Philippinos by the Japanese where they dehumanized the people, and ruthlessly slayed them through acts of beheading, throat-cutting, and starvation. -
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Battle of Coral Sea
On May 4, Japanese forces successfully invaded Tulagi, and soon after entered Coral Sea determined to destroy the Allied Navy forces stationed there. May 7th is where the battling and airstrikes were most intense between the two forces, with the Allied force sinking. The battle proved to be a tactical victory for the Japanese, and a strategical one for the Allies, and this battle hindered two Japanese fleet carriers from participating in the Battle of Midway. -
US Forced to leave Philippines
The last US Troops in the Philippines surrender on Mindano. -
General Eisenhower and his forces land in North Africa
Around this time, fighting had already started with Italy declaring war in June of 1940. Soon after, the British Army crossed the Libyan border and captured the Italian fort located there. Italy captured Sidi Barrani in Egypt, and battles back and forth continued until the Allies forced the Axis to surrender. -
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Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is noted for being the most important naval battle during the Pacific Campaign. It was here the United States navy defeated an Imperial Japanese attack against Midway Atoll. The Japanese had planned to surprise attack the American fleet, but due to codebreakers that gave away the exact date and location of the attack, the United States was prepared to put up a fight. -
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Guadalcanal
The second major offensive action taken by the Allies against the Empire of Japan took place here at the Battle of Guadalcanal. It was here that the Allies officially switched from defenseive operations to strategic ways in the water. The American forces landed on the banks of the Guadalcanal islands and threatened the supply and communication routes between the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. The Allies captured the islands and for the next few months the Japanese foughtto regain their land -
End of Battle of Stalingrad
The end of the battle marked the turning point of the war for Germany. They suffered immense losses and victory in the Easst was now an impossible feat. -
Truman Becomes President
Vice President Truman took the Presidential office on April 12, 1943 after President Franklin Roosevelt died three months into his fourth term. -
Rome falls
It was on this day that Rome, an Axis capital, fell to the Allies forces. Leaflets were dropped in the morning, warning the citizens to continue to stand strong against Germany, despite being deemed a free city. The Allies soon after swarmed in and were warmly welcomed by the Romen Civilians. -
D-Day
The day of the Normandy landings in France, is also known as D-Day. It was on this day that 24,000 airborne assaults landed on the coast of France with armies from American, British, Canadian and Free French troops employed operations in which they invaded the country, using decoy operations to throw the French off their tracks. -
MacArthur returns to Philippines
It was on this day that General MacArthur and the American forces landed in Red Beach in Palo. Leyte, and returned to the Philippine with Philippine Commonwealth president Sergio Osmeña. -
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Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a battle fought through a highly forested area in Belgium that was planned highly secretly where radio traffic was limited and troops were moved in darkness to surprise attack the Allies. The Allies were hurt with overcast weather, which trapped and grounded them, and prohibited them from using their strenght in air forces. The battle turned out to be the bloodiest battle America fought in during World War II. -
US flag raised on Mt. Suribachi
On the fourth day of the battle of Iwo Jima, after taking Mount Suribachi, the objective was to raise a flag at its peak. This was photographed and highly publicized. -
Hitler commits suicide
When Soviet troops were near the Reich Chancellary, Hitler and his wife of 24 hours committed suicide, Hitler through gunshot, from the same gun his niece took her life with, and his wife with cyanide. There bodies were soon found, carried outside, and set on fire. -
V-E Day
It was on this day that the armed forces of Nazi Germany surrendered, and ended Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich a week after Hitler committed suicide. The act of military surrender was signed a day before VE day, and ratified on May 8th,. -
Hiroshima
On this day, an atomic bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” was released over Japan’s eighth largest city and headquarters for the Second General Army, at Hiroshima. It killed around 80,000 men, women, and children. -
Nagasaki
Nagasaki was the second location of an atomic bomb dropping, killing 35,000 Japanese citizens. After Nagasaki, the soviet Union declared war on Japan and marched troops into Manchuria. -
V- J Day
This day represents the official surrender of Japan, and the date that marks the end of WWII. -
Formal surrender of Japan
On this date Japan formally surrendered, and it also marks the controversial end date to World War II. -
Japanese ambassadors arrive in Washington, DC to discuss Pacific island violations
It was on this date that the Japanese came to Washington D.C. to a conference to deal with violations in the Pacific. It was here that Japan was ordered to cease war and the United States was given the power to occupy Japan's islands if need be.
