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Pearl Harbor Bombed
The Empire of Japan launches a surprise attack against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. -
United States declares war on Japan
FDR Speech to Joint Session of Congress
President Rooseveldt delivers his famous 'A date which will live in infamy' speech. The United States declares war against Japan, with subsequent declarations against Germany and Italy to follow soon after. -
Battle of Midway Begins
The Battle of Midway, which would run for several days, begins. Often referred to as the 'Turning Point in the Pacific War', this engagement was conceived by the Japanese as a way to lure American aircraft carriers into a trap. Instead, Allied codebreakers allowed the United States to spring their own trap, destroying 4 Japanese aircraft carriers for the loss of only one. The Japanese navy would never recover from these losses, and Japan would remain on the defensive for the remainder of WW2. -
Marines land on Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima was the first Japanese island to be invaded, and would serve as a stepping stone towards the Japanese main islands. American casualties would be over 25,000 as the outnumbered Japanese defenders would fight almost to the last man. In the end, only 216 Japanese prisoners were taken out of 22.060 soldiers. The American victory would be immortalized in a famous photograph. -
Victory in Europe Day
Also celebrated on the 7th or 9th of May due to different timezones and different signatory dates, the war in Europe ended with the unconditional surrender of Germany.
With this, Allied forces could now turn their full attention to the war against Japan. -
Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima
The Enola Gay dropped the "Little Boy" atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, in the first use of atomic weapons. Estimated acute deaths within two to four months are estimated at between 90,000 and 160,000. Source: Radiation Effects Research Foundation -
Nagasaki bombed
A second atomic bomb is dropped on the city of Nagasaki. Fatalities are estimated at over 50,000 deaths caused by this bomb. The Soviet Union also declares war against Japan on this day, invading Japanese-held Manchuria.
Footage of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
