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Battle of the Atlantic
It was the longest, continuous miliatry campaign in WWII. 36,200 soldiers had parished. This battle had led to an Allied victory. The wolf pack was a submarine tactic in which submarines hunt as a group and attack at night. 360 American ships were sunk while only 8 German U-boats were sunk. -
Battle of Britain
This was a significant turning point of World War II, the Battle of Britain ended when Germany’s Luftwaffe failed to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force despite months of targeting Britain’s air bases, military posts and, ultimately, its civilian population. Britain’s decisive victory saved the country from a ground invasion and possible occupation by German forces while proving that air power alone could be used to win a major battle. -
Battle of El Alamein, Egypt
A battle of the Western Desert Campaign of WWII, fought in Egypt between Axis forces of the Panzer Army Africa, commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and Allied forces of the Eighth Army, commanded by General Claude Auchinleck. The British prevented a second advance by the Axis forces into Egypt. 10,000 killed/wounded and 7,000 POW. -
Battle of Staligrad
This battle was one of the bloodiest battles in history. It was the successful Soviet defense of the city of Stalingrad in the U.S.S.R. during World War II. Russians consider it to be the greatest battle of their Great Patriotic War, and most historians consider it to be the greatest battle of the entire conflict. It stopped the German advance into the Soviet Union and marked the turning of the tide of war in favor of the Allies. Nearly 2 million casualties. -
Operation Torch
It was the code name for the Allied invasion of North Africa during World War II. Dwight Eisenhower was the US lieutenant general at this time. The plan had called for an invasion of Morocco and Alegeria. After the fall of France, Vichy leaders were there and the Allies hoped the French in North Africa would side with them in battle. The Allies were met with little resistance and the French forces joined them. -
Invasion of Sicily/Italy
The Italians had turned against Benito Mussolini and forced him from power. The Allies had taken Sicily a few weeks later. Tuskegee Airmen were a segregated unit of African Americans, which were the first ever to receive raining as pilots in the US military. By the end of the battle at Anzio, some 300,000 Allied troops were killed or wounded. -
Operation Overlord
To end the war as quickly as possible, the Allies wanted to launch a large invasion of mainland Europe. The Allies had to assemble large numbers of troops, weapons, and other equiptment necessary for an invasion.Eisenhower chose General Omar Bradley to lead the American troops. Allies were expected the introduction of two new German weapons, the V1 flying bomb and the V2 rocket. -
Battle of the Bulge
Germans had launched a surprise offensive of their own. A key moment of the battle came at the Belgian city of Bastogne. The city was an important crossroad and the Germans were determined to take it. This battle became to prove that it was a symbol of American strength and determination. Once again the Allies set their sights on Germany and the defeat of HItler and victory was near. 89,500 American casualties. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
He had swallowed a cyanide capsule and shot himself in the head while under his nunker in Berlin. Germany had unconditionally surrendered to the Allied forces, ending Hitler's "1,000-year" Reich. He had married his long-time mistress Eva Braun. She, too, had taken the pill along with their dogs. Both of the bodies were cremated. Admiral Karl Donitz was the new head of state and Joseph Goebbels as Chancellor -
VE Day
Great Britain and the United States celebrate Victory in Europe Day. In Prague, Germans surrendered to the Soviets, after the latter had lost more than 8,000 soldiers, and the Germans considerably more. The German surrender was realized in a final cease-fire. More surrender documents were signed in Berlin and in eastern Germany.