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Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
On December 7, 1941 The United States was surprised by a Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor. The attack lasted a few hours, and many sailors were killed in the attack. It will be a day that will live in infamy -
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Key American Events of WWII
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Battle of Coral Sea
Before The Japanese could reach New Guinea a joint British U.S. naval force interceoted them. Planes from U.S. aircraft carriers damaged one Japanese carrier, destroyed one, and several Japanese planes. It was an important Allied victory even though the Allies lost a ship and stopped the Japanese advance on Australia. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was the second major naval battle in the Pacific it took place June 4-7th. Japan launched a two pronged attack. One unit siezed the two of the Aleutian Islands, near Alaska. Japan hoped to lure the U.S. fleet away from Hawaii. Meanwhile Japan carried out their main attack against Midway, U.S. experts had broken the Japanese fleet codes so the U.S. had a warning in advance of Japanese stratagy. The U.S. sunk four Aircraft air carriers, and shot down many enemy airplaines. -
Battle of El Alamein
Fought in the deserts of North Africa, is seen as one of the decisive victories of WW2. El Alamein was fought between two of the outstanding commanders of World WW2, Montgomery, who succeeded the dismissed Auchinleck, and Rommel. The Allied victory at El Alamein lead to the retreat of the Africa Korps and the German surrender in North Africa in May 1943. -
Guadalcanal
After the Battle of Midway the U.S. launched its first major offensive. In August 1942, American marines waded ashore at Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands, for six months, they clung to a toehold around the airport. The Japanese would not surrender, and in November the Japanese sent a large fleet to the Salomons hoping to take back the Guadalcanel but the U.S. won the battle. -
Invasion of Italy
The Allies invaded Italy so they could continue to advance against the Nazi alliance and end the war sooner. Russia was fighting to hold back the German invasion of their country. The Allies promised to help Russia and the only way they could was to contiue to fight Germany where they could and prevent from sending more troops to Russia. -
D-Day
The allies launched an attack on Germany's forces in Nornandy. Thousands of transports carried an invasion army under the command of general Eisenhower. It was a very bloody battle, the Germans had the high ground and killed a lot of Allied troops. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
The battle of Leyte Gulf is generally to be considered the largest naval battle of WWII. It was fought in waters near the Phillipines between combined U.S. and Australian forces. -
Battle of the Bulge
Germany launched its final defensive through Belgium, however, they were beaten by the Allies. -
The Yalta Conference
At the Yalta conference the Allies agreed that the liberated nations of Europe would create democratic governemtns of their own choice, defeated Germany would be divided into occupation zones. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The battle of Iwo Jima was a major battle in which the U.S. fought for and captured Iwo Jima from Japan. Japan was starting to lose the war and close to giving up. -
The Manhattan Project
The U.S. with the help of German Jewish scientists made and tested the A-bomb.On August 6, 1945, Enola Gay released the first atomic bomc known as "Little Boy" on Hiroshima, which weighed 9,000lbs. Three days after the release a second bomb on Nagasaki, named "Fat Man." Fat man weighed 10,000lbs. -
Battle of Okinawa
This battle was the largest assult in the Pacific War of World War II. The Americans planned to use the island to attack the mainland of Japan. -
V.E. Day
Victory in Europe, the date when the WWII allies formally accepted the surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany. -
V.J. Day
Japan surrenders to the U.S. and ends the war for the United States.
