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US Declares war on Japan
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Coral Sea
The allied forces in the Pacific "America and Australia" successfully stopped Japans advancement in Australia. The war was fought in airplanes sent from aircraft carriers. This was the first time since Pearl Harbor that a Japanese invasion had been stopped and turned back. -
Midway
Midway was a very strategical island. Japan went toward Midway to try to take it. America stopped the attacked and destroyed four aircraft carriers, cruiser, and 250 planes. It became the turning point in the pacific war. -
Guadalcanal
The Americans first offensive battle. It was Americans first offensive victory. It was also Japans first land loss. -
Philippine Sea
The Americans kept island hopping toward Japan. Japan started using a new tactic called "Kamikaze". Pilots would suicide in enemies ships. 424 suicide pilots went on missions sinking 16 ships and damaging 80. -
Yalta Conference
The leaders of America (Roosevelt), Britain (Churchill), and the Soviet Union (Stalin). The leaders discussed the fate of Germany postwar. Stalin wanted all of German to be divided into many designated groups and Churchill wanted the opposite. Roosevelt was the mediator. They compromised and Stalin agreed to help the allies against Japan. -
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima was an important island for America to get because they could send heavily loaded bomber to Japan. It was well guarded by Japan with 20,700 troops there. 6000 american marines died and only 200 Japanese troops lived. That left one more island in the way before they attacked Japan. -
Okinawa
Japanese unleashed more than 1900 kamikaze attacks on allies sinking 30 ships, damaging 300 more, and killing almost 5000. The battle cost 7600 American lives and 110,000 Japanese lives. Two Japanese generals committed suicide instead of the shame of surrendering. This was the last island before the allies would go after Japan. -
Hiroshima
An atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, an important Japanese military center, leveling almost every building in the city. The Japanese leaders hesitated to surrender. It was the most powerful bomb used up to that point. -
Nagasaki
Three days after Hiroshima, America launched another atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The bomb leveled half the city and by the end of the year and estimated 200,000 people had died due to the two bombs. Emperor Hirohito ordered to have Japans leader write up the papers to end the war. -
V-J Day
Japan surrenders to the allies on this day.
