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Battle of Wake Island
A battle that took place in the pacific theater. The battle lasted 15 days. The Japanese Troops were more than double the American Troops. The Japanese won this battle. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryxXN-0SHmw Article: https://www.historynet.com/battle-of-wake-island -
Bataan Death March
Between 60,000 and 80,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war were forced to walk 60 miles to the Philippines. Lots of people were killed by the Japanese of died trying to make it through the march. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPlfhVEw-7U Article: https://www.britannica.com/event/Bataan-Death-March -
Battle of Coral Sea
The Japanese Army attempts to invade Australia. The Allied troops are fighting to stop the invasion. It is the first air-sea battle in WW2. The Allied forces pushed Japan back from Australia. This battle had a direct effect on the Battle of Midway greatly reducing the number of available troops for Japan.. The battle lasted 4 days. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB5hH3ksvKE Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-coral-sea -
Battle of Midway
Major Naval Battle that took place in the Pacific Theater 6 months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It lasted for 3 days with a victory for the Allies. It is significant because it is the battle that marked the turning point in the war. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fyn_qLTsvw Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
Island Hopping
A military strategy to individually invade Japanese owned island taking them back. First used in the attack of Guadalcanal. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBgxW3H_tsI Article: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/pacific-strategy-1941-1944#:~:text=Amphibious%20Invasions%20and%20Island%20Hopping,Higgins%20Industries%20in%20New%20Orleans. -
Guadal Canal Battle
The Guadal Canal Island is the first allied land invasion of Japanese territory. It was the first territory the Allies will take away from Japan. The US lost less than 2,000 soldiers. It ended in February 9th 1943 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VzCTvSQ4JY Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-guadalcanal -
Battle of Tarawa
Battle in the Pacific theater that lasted for 3 days. It took place at the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, and was part of Operation Galvanic, the U.S. invasion of the Gilberts. The Battle of Tarawa was the first American offensive in the critical central Pacific region. It resulted in an American Victory Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIKNKzItyDM Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-tarawa -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
The Battle of Leyte Gulf is considered to have been the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history, with over 200,000 naval personnel involved. This was a surprise attack from the Allied forces attempting to take back the Philippines which was successful. The battle lasted 3 days. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGYE7Xzu8ZU Article: https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Leyte-Gulf -
Battle of Manila
Major Battle in the Philippines between the US and the Philippines versus the Japanese army. They were fighting in the Philippines capital of Manila. The battle lasted exactly 3 months and resulted in a Allied victory. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ8boNQcnK8 Article: https://www.historynet.com/battle-of-manila -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Allied army attacked a Japanese territory within 660 miles from the coast of Japan. Now the Allies are almost in range to launch an attack on Japan. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y0gdFisD9k Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima#:~:text=The%20Battle%20of%20Iwo%20Jima,potential%20invasion%20of%20mainland%20Japan. -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, Code named Operation Iceberg was a major battle fought on the Pacific Theater on the island of Okinawa. The battle was fought between the US and Japan. It had the largest casualties of any battle with 100,000 Japanese Deaths and 50,000 Allied deaths. The Allies now have an island they can stage an invasion into Japan from. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKUI-j3iIo0 Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
Los Alamos/Trinity Test
In Los Alamos New Mexico scientist detonated a plutonium bomb at a test site in New Mexico. The bomb was scheduled for 4am but when it started to rain they pushed it back to 5:30. The bomb was detonated on top of a steel tower and the bomb went 40,000 feet across. This marked the beginning of the nuclear age. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7fKlk441dQ Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/trinity-test -
Hiroshima Bombing
The first of two atomic bombs dropped in Japan. The bombs name was little boy and it was dropped in Hiroshima, Japan at 8;15 AM. The bomb was equal to 15,000 tons of TNT. 70,000 people were killed immediately and then 100,000's of people were killed later from poisoning. Japan did not surrender so then we dropped another bomb in Nagasaki 3 days later Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wxWNAM8Cso Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
Nagasaki Bombing
The second Atomic Bomb was dropped in Japan on August 9th 1945 after Japan did not surrender after Hiroshima. 40,000 die immediately and 100,000's of people die later of poisoning. US decided to drop the bombs in Japan to save Allied lives that would be lost in a land invasion in Japan. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncq_Wye43TM Article: https://www.history.com/news/hiroshima-nagasaki-second-atomic-bomb-japan-surrender-wwii -
Tokyo Bay/Japans Surrender
The formal surrender of the Empire of Japan took place aboard the USS Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay. This marked the end of WW2 and a victory for the Allies Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX8hyM1a-sg Article: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-surrenders