-
Battle of the Atlantic
The battle was between German submarines and American/ British fleets (Allies) in the Atlantic Ocean from Sept. 3, 1939 - May 7, 1945. It was the Allied naval blockade of Germany. German casualties were 783 U-boats and around 30,000 sailors (75% of the U-boat force), while Allies lost 3,500 merchant ships, 175 warships, and 72,000 sailors killed. The Allies won by technological advancement, better tactics, availability of supplies, and advanced war effort on different fronts. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle was between Britain's Royal Air force and Nazi Germany's Air Force from July 10 to October 31, 1940. Hitler planned a massive land and sea invasion, operation Sea Lion, but first had to defeat Britain's, Royal Air Force. The battle came to an end once Hitler called off his planned invasion of Britain. Both sides suffered a huge loss of life and aircraft due to battle but Britain especially weakened Germany's Air Force and prevented them from getting air superiority. -
Battle of Guadalcanal
The battle between American and Japanese troops on Pacific island, Guadalcanal from Aug. 7, 1942 to Feb. 9, 1943. Known as the first major offense and final victory of Allies. Started once the U.S launched a surprise attack, causing the Japanese to suffer a great number of causalities and forcing them to withdraw from battle. By the end, both sides faced large ship losses and Japan lost two-thirds of 31,400 troops. -
Battle Of Philippines (Bataan)
The battle between Japanese and U.S/Philippines from Jan. 7- April 9, 1942. The capture of the Philippine island was important to the Japanese attempt in controlling Southwest Pacific. 12,000 American and 63,000 Filippino soldiers were held prisoners by Japanese soldiers and forced to march North into war camps. Japenese won battle after 76,000 U.S/Flipino troops surrendered due to a severe shortage of weapons, ammo, and field equip. -
Battle of Midway
The battle between the U.S and the Japanese Navy on Allied base in Midway Island from June 3 to 6, 1942. Japanese approached Midway by air attack, an invasion force of ships and soldiers, and a joint strike by forces and fleet, this caused severe damage to the U.S base. The U.S took revenge by bombing all 4 Japanese carriers and won when the commander of Japan retreated and didn't expand into the Pacific. U.S confidence rose and Japan's morales lowered. The Pacific favored the Allies. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The battle was between Russian forces and Nazi Germany/ Axis powers from Aug. 23, 1942 to Feb 2, 1943. Germany and allies attempted to take Stalingrad in Southern Russia from the Soviet Union. It was known as the largest, longest, and bloodiest battle in modern warfare that changed the course of history and turned WW2 in favor of the Allies. The battle killed 2 million troops and tens of thousands of Russian civilians and Stalin’s Red Army suffered huge loss in manpower and weaponry. -
Operation Torch
The operation was the Allied invasion of French North Africa from Nov. 8 to 16, 1942. The goal of the operation was to remove the Axis power's existence and was the first time that British and American forces worked together on an invasion plan. Allies power had over 479 deaths and 720 wounded while Axis power had 1,346 deaths and 1,997 wounded. The operation resulted in a major victory for the Allies and included the first major airborne assault carried out by the U.S during the war. -
Operation Overlord (D-Day)
The battle was between Allied nations and German forces in Normandy islands from June 6 to Aug. 25, 1944. This operation launched an invasion of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. Germans were slowed by Allied air support taking out bridges and forcing Germans to take long detours. Allies accepted the surrender of Nazi Germany after Hitler committed suicide. -
Battle of Bulge
The battle was between U.S Army and German offensive in the Ardennes region of Belgium from Dec. 16, 1944 to Jan 25, 1945. Was German's attempt to drive a wedge between the American and British armies in France. This battle was Germany’s last desperate attempt to win but instead, it drained stock of German soldiers and other various supplies. Many American troops were inexperienced but still managed to win after German troops’ failed to divide Britain, France, and America within the Ardennes. -
Battle of Leyte
The battle was between the Japanese and the U.S from Oct. 23 to 26, 1944. The Allies invading the Philippines on Leyte island causing the largest naval battle of WW2. The Japanese attacked the Allied fleets with a huge technical and material advantage, the Japanese lost 4 aircraft carriers, 3 battleships, 10 cruisers, 11 destroyers, and 10,500 sailors due to this. The battle destroyed the Japanese surface fleet and ended Japan's ability to move resources, this allowed the U.S to win. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The battle between U.S Marines and Imperial Army of Japan on the island of the coast of Japan, from Feb.19 to March 26, 1945. American military attacked the weak Japanese forces and outnumbered Japan, but Japan managed to kill/ wound many Americans. Japan fell behind when they started running low on supplies (weapons, food). Americans declared the island captured and those who refused to surrender were captured/ killed by Americans. -
Battle of Okinawa
The battle was between the U.S and Japanese troops on the Pacific island of Okinawa from April 1 to June 22, 1945. U.S invasion of Japan was part of Operation Iceberg, the plan to invade and take over islands, including Okinawa. Casualties were huge on both sides, Americans had 49,000 and 12,520 killed and Japanese had 110,000 killed. 7,000 Japanese soldiers surrendered by committing suicide and soon the Emperor of Japan announced surrender on Aug. 14, 1945, and WW2 ended.