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Battle of the Atlantic
German U-Boats were attacking allies ships and sinking them
Allies respond by having ships travel in convoys -
Attack on Pearl Harbour
2,400 U.S military and civilians lost their lives.
18 ships and 350 planes were sunk/damaged
U.S intercepted the telegram from Japan saying that they were going to attack Pearl Harbour -
The U.S Enters the War
The U.S declares war on Japan -
Germany and Italy target the U.S
Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S -
Battle of the Coral Sea
Prior to this battle, the Japanese were winning every battle and taking over the Pacific
U.S. and Australia stopped Japan from invading
Japan won the actual battle, but the allies were able to stop Japan invasion for the first time
U.S. was beginning to use the Island Hopping technique to weaken Japan’s forces -
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Battle of Midway
U.S launched missiles on the Japanese on the pacific island called midway
The U.S was successful in the Battle of Midway
The Japanese lost 4 carriers, 275 planes, 4,800 men and their remaining vessels took lots of damage
The Americans only lost 1 carrier, a destroyer, 150 planes, and 307 men. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
Hitler hoped to capture Soviet oil fields.
When winter came around Hitler told the Germans to stay put.
The Soviets used this to their advantage and won the battle.
The Soviets lost 1,100,000 men
This was a huge turning point in the war -
Normandy Invasion (D-Day)
During this time, Soviet Union was pushing into Poland and Allies were pushing north in Italy
156,000 Allied troops invaded
60 mile stretch of beach
4,000 landing crafts
600 warships
11,000 planes
Largest land-air-sea operation in history
4,900 U.S soldiers dead -
D-Day aftermath
France was freed from Nazi Control -
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Battle of the Bulge
German tanks broke through the American lines.
Fought in Belgium - Germany was trying to capture Antwerp
Very brutal battle - one of the most extensive of U.S. military
120,000 Germans died
80,000 Americans died -
Yalta Conference
The United Nations was set up
Took place before the war was over
Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill met to discuss post WW2 -
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Iwo Jima
Island in the Pacific that was critical for U.S. win
27,000 Japanese held Iwo Jima
U.S. won
26,800 Japanese troops died
6,000 U.S. Marines died -
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Battle of Okinawa
Japans last defensive stronghold
Japan used 1,900 Kamikaze attacks
110,000 Japanese died
7,600-12,500 Americans died
U.S won -
President Roosevelt Passes Away
President Roosevelt dies at the beginning of his 4th term
The U.S went through a grieving period
Harry S. Truman, as Vice President becomes President -
Hitler's Death
Hitler and his Spouse Eva Braun commit suicide
Hitler ordered for their bodies to be burned -
Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)
The first part of the war was over
General Eisenhower accepted a surrender by the Third Reich -
Period: to
Potsdam
This was a meeting between Truman, Churchill, and Stalin in Potsdam, Germany
They drew up a blueprint to disarm Germany and eliminate the Nazi Regime -
Hiroshima Bombing
“Little Boy”
In 43 seconds, the city collapsed to dust -
Nagasaki Bombing
“Fat Man”
Leveled half of the city -
Victory in Japan Day (V-J Day)
Japan Offers unconditional surrender -
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Occupation of Japan
Similar trials held for Japanese war criminals
7 out of 28 leaders were found guilty and sentenced to death
U.S. occupied Japan for 6 years under the direction of General Douglas MacArthur -
Japan Officially Surrenders
Japan formally surrenders -
Period: to
Nuremburg Trials
International tribunal court tried Nazi officials
12 of the 22 defendants were sentenced to death
200 other officials were found guilty, but given lesser sentences