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Battle of Midway
Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, this battle proved that America was still dominant in the air/seas in this decisive victory over the Japanese navy and airforce -
Second Battle of El Alamein
This was a decisive victory for the Allies that showed the determination of the renewed campaign in North Africa. Referring to the first, then second battle of El Alamein, Churchill stated, "Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat." -
D-Day Invasion is launched
The largest amphibious assault ever launched, which gave the allies a foothold in Europe, with which to fight through France and Germany. -
Battle of the Bulge
The final attempt of the Germans to repel the Allied conquest of Europe. The Allies held their line despite the large bulge of the pushing German force. -
Vice President Harry S. Truman is sworn in as the 33rd President
Fun Fact: His middle name is "S" so is also correct Harry S Truman. -
President FDR dies of intracerebral hemorrhaging
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VE Day
"Victory in Europe" Day celebrates the end of WWII in the European Theatre with the surrender of Germany. -
The Atomic Bomb is dropped on Hiroshima
This was the first of the only two military uses of an atomic weapon. The next would occur three days later on Nagasaki. Together, the bombings killed more than 130,000 people directly, with indirect deaths totaling over 200,000. It brought a swift end to WWII, with Japan surrendering only six days after the second bomb. -
Civil War breaks out in China
The Communist and Republic troops began to fight again over the fate of the nation post-WWII. The Communist troops had support from the Soviet Union and the weapons from the captured Japanese military. -
First Microwave is invented
These would not see commercial purchases for a while and more than a decade before residential use, but the technology was invented. -
Truman Doctrine is created
President Harry S Truman announced this doctrine in a speech to Congress, and many historians cite this as the start of the Cold War. The Truman Doctrine states that it is America's duty to stop the geopolitical expansion of the ideals represented by the Soviet Union. -
President Truman signs the Marshall Plan
This was a plan to provide aid to foreign countries (in western Europe) in hopes of renewing their economies. Once their economies were functioning, trade would pick up with the US, paying for this aid. -
President Truman unveils his Fair Deal
In his 1949 State of the Union Address, Truman challenged Congress to accept his ambitious plans for social policy to give every American a "Fair Deal" at achieving the American Dream. Its goal was to follow the FDR's New Deal branding and policy. -
People's Republic of China is formed
Mao Zedong announced the creation of a new, Communist China. Seen as an expansion for the Soviets and was viewed disfavorably by the US. -
North Korea launches a southern invasion.
This attack started the Korean War, which was viewed as a reunification by the North, an invasion by the South, and an attempted political expansion by the US and USSR. -
Battle of Onjong
The first battle in the Korean War after the Chinese military joined forces with the North. They inflicted heavy casualities on the US forces, leading to a retreat out of North Korea. -
Dwight D. Eisenhower is inaugurated as the 34th President
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Korean Armistice Agreement is signed
While not an official peace treaty, this document effectively ended the Korean war and instituted a demilitarized zone along the 38th parallel.