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Blitzkrieg (Lightning War)
Germans invaded Poland using Blitzkrieg tactics which involved carpet bombing, tanks, and soldiers and took over poland astoundingly quickly. This was unique in the fact that this kind of head on assault was the first of its kind. This progressed the Nazi regime's goals and succeeded in giving them most of all of Europe and a strong foot hold. -
The Invasion of the USSR
Operation Barabossa, the code name for the german invasion of Russia, was a repetition of Napoleons conquest. Hitlers armies made it all the way to Moscow but were beaten by the elements. The German invasion of the Soviet Union resulted in 95% of all German Army casualties from 1941 to 1944 and 65% of all Allied military casualties accumulated throughout the war. This was the pivotal point of the war and basically marked the winner of the war. -
Pearl Harbor
The battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack and wasnt much of a battle as it was mostly one sided in which the Imperial Japanese Navy wreaked havoc on Pearl Harbor destroying ships and planes. It was unique in the fact that it was the first assault on hawaii by some other country and the first assault on America since the british during the war for independence. In the short run it was a resounding victory for the Japanese but in the long run, they just kicked the hornets nest. -
Dieppe
Also know as the battle of Dieppe or Operation Jubilee. The allies raided the coastal town of france, the objective of the whole mission was largely unclear and was a pointless waste of life and resources. It was unique in the fact that it was such a loss of life of Canadians in this one battle. The allies lost men and resources and ultimately the Germans won the battle and deterred further allied effort on assaulting it again. -
The Italian Campaign
The allies were able to take over Italy but the Germans rush in troops and it becomes a slow drug out war. This was unique because no campaign in Western Europe cost more lives. There wasnt really any progress for either side but the allies at least did get a foot hold in italy. -
Defeat in the USSR (The Battle of Kursk)
Germany brought in its best equipment and were defeated losing alot of their army and their advanced tanks and weapons due to the Russians Armour and Sturmovik ground attack planes. This was the first soviet victory in the war during summer and is the first battle that the Blitzkrieg was dfeated before it could get through enemy defences. The Germans never had another major operation against them after this battle. -
D-Day
Also know as the Normandy landings, the allies were largely successful because the Germans failed to send enough reinforcements and because of the allies ruling the skies and the french resistance fighting the from behind. It was unique because it was the largest amphibious invasion in world history and was executed by land, sea, and air elements under direct British command with over 160,000[6] troops landing. The allies made huge progress. -
Iwo Jima and Okinawa
Lots of casualties though the allies were winning and gaining ground, getting closer to Japans mainland. Iwo Jima was an important strategic for the B-29s to land incase of emergency's. the battle in Okinawa was the bloodiest war the US forces had been in scince the pacific war but Okinawa provided airfileds close to Japan. -
Hiroshima
The first atomic bomb in history was dropped in Hiroshima, and the war was basically already won. This could've been seen as just a weapons testing. 90-160 thousand were killed because of this one bomb. It was very unique because it topped hitlers carpet bombing idea with one bomb that could level a city. -
Nagasaki
The second atomic bomb dropped. This is what forced Japanese surrender! Six days after the bombing the japanese announced its surrender. 60-80 thousand were killed in the blast. Mostly unique.
