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World War II
One of the deadliest and costliest wars in history, World War II was fought regularly throughout the Pacific and European theaters. Approximately 60 million were killed between the Allies and Axis powers. The war saw the use of the first atomic bomb. The war would end with the surrender of the Nazi and Japanese powers. -
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Battle of Britain
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Britain#/media/File:Battle_of_britain_air_observer.jpg Britain faced the threat of a German invasion in western Europe, but by using air superiority, were able to defend against attacks from the German Air Force in a decisive victory. Considered one of the first major military battles fought entirely in air. -
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Siege of Odessa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Odessa_(1941)#/media/File:Odessa_falls_to_germans.JPG The Defence of Odessa was one of the first conflicts in Operation Barbarossa, which was the planned Axis invasion of the Soviet Union. The port of Odessa along the Black Sea was one of the prime targets of the Axis powers. After about 73 days and about 140,000 deaths later, the Axis took the city. -
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Battle of Kiev
http://www.worldatwarmagazine.com/waw/the-kiev-encirclement-hitlers-great-gamble-by-david-march-issue-43/ Another part of Operation Barbarossa, as the Axis continued to attempt to invade Soviet Union. Germans won as they encircled Red Army troops, trapping more than 450,000 and seizing many armaments. In total, about 700,000 on the Southwestern Front lost their lives. However, the Red Army made sure they wouldn't go down without a fight. -
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Siege of Leningrad
http://www.saint-petersburg.com/history/great-patriotic-war-and-siege-of-leningrad/ Very long blockade, lasts 872 days. German offensive continues against Soviet forces and was very destructive and costly. Ended in soviet victory, however no without cost. Tremendous loss of life not only through warring but also in starvation. -
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Battle of Moscow
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/File:Soviet_Offensive_Moscow_December_1941.jpg One of the bigger battles along the Eastern Front during the war. As part of the Axis continuing invasion of the Soviet Union, Moscow was a prime target militarily for Hitler and his regime. At one point, the Germans had fought to within 18 miles of the city, but a counter-offensive by the Soviets prevented any further advancement. Supply lines ran out and the Soviets won. -
Battle of Pearl Harbor
Major attack by Japanese Imperial Army on one of the United States' largest military bases, Pearl Harbor. Prompted the U.S. to formally declare war day later on December 8. Japan committed attack in order to prevent any influence by the United States in Japanese military exercises in Southeast Asia. FDR marked attack infamously as "a day which will live in infamy." -
Bataan Death March
While not a battle, it was still a horrific act of war crimes done during the war. Anywhere from about 60,000 - 80,000 Filipino and American POWs were forcibly ordered to march about 60 to 70 miles by the Imperial Japanese Army. An estimated 0,000 total POWs died along the abusive march. Would later be decided these acts were a Japanese war crime. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
https://sputniknews.com/photo/20130202179173756-Bitva-za-Stalingrad-arkhivnye-kadry/ Continued part of Operation Barbarossa. Nazi Germany allies continue to take over more cities within the Soviet Union, this time targeting Stalingrad. One of the largest battles in WWII, an approximate 1.5 million died in the warfare. German offensive was to bomb the city to rubble. Initially gaining the upper hand by driving the Soviets back, Soviets targeted weaker Axis forces and defeated Germany's 6th Army. -
D-Day
Allied invasion on beaches of Normandy, France as part of Operation Overlord. Objective was to help begin liberate part of northwestern Europe starting with France from under a Nazi stronghold. As more Allied soldiers arrived on Omaha beach by boat, many more reinforcement arrived in the form of airborne troops and air assaults. There were estimated to be about 10,000 Allied casualties. -
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Warsaw Uprising
https://historyimages.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/polish-tragedy-warsaw-uprising-of-1944.html Polish resistance army decided to pit themselves against the Nazis in order to liberate the city of Warsaw. Originally planned to do it with the help of Soviet forces, Soviets never arrived, and Polish found themselves on their own. Not only did many Polish soldiers lose their lives, but even more civilians died as a result of the destruction of the city. -
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Battle of the Bulge
http://www.ww2incolor.com/us-army/battle+of+the+bulge.html Considered to be a last gasp opportunity for Germany. After D-Day, Allied forces marched their way through France and Belgium. Surprise blitzkrieg from the Nazis, however, caught the Allied forces off-guard. More than 19,000 Americans died, but were able to hang on enough with Germans running out of reinforcements, and Allies receiving more than enough. End appeared to be near for Axis. -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
http://guide.sportsmansguide.com/battle-iwo-jima-remembered-70-years-later/ American victory on Japanese island of Iwo Jima. Part of U.S. plan of "island-hopping" to capture key land held by the Japanese. Contained some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting in the entire Pacific theater. U.S. able to maintain air supremacy to take over island. Japanese seemingly defeated right from the beginning. -
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Battle of Berlin
http://monovisions.com/vintage-historic-photos-of-the-battle-of-berlin-1945-bw/ Final major offensive in European theater ending in decisive Soviet victory. Soviets invade Germany capital from north, south, and east and begin destroying the city. Over the course of a week, Soviets begin to override city and take it over. Very notable because of perhaps the highest death toll of any battle in WWII and Hitler's suicide prior to the end of the battle. -
V-E Day
Holiday to mark the official surrender of the Nazi regime, which was signed earlier in the day in Berlin. Also, it was to mark the official end of the war in the European theater. A major moment as one of the bloodiest series of battles in history comes to an end in one part of the world. -
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima
Major important event as the United States test their first atomic bomb on an opposing country. In effort to end the war as soon as possible and get Japanese to surrender quickly, United States launches first atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, killing at least 90,000 people. -
Atomic Bomb of Nagasaki
The second use of the atomic bomb by the United States, this time on the town of Nagasaki. Approximately 60,000 died from the bomb drop. These droppings sparked heavy debate both at home and abroad over whether or not it was truly unnecessary. Nevertheless, not long afterward, Japanese Imperial Government surrender to Allies. -
V-J Day
Japan announces surrender to the Allies. Formal declaration of surrender doesn't occur until September 2 aboard the USS Missouri, putting an end to one of the bloodiest and costliest fights in the Pacific theater, as well putting an end to one of the deadliest wars in history.
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