-
Attack on Pear Harbor
On December seventh, the Japanese bombed the port city of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Their goal was to destroy many aircrafts, but they that did not happen because most of the aircrafts were out on a patrol. This attack spread fear across America that anyone from Japanese ancestory was plotting against them. This lead to the American government requiring all "enemy aliens" to be registered and then eventually anyone from Japanese decent was interned. -
Period: to
World War II
-
Battle of Midway
Midway was an American naval base and losing it would force American defenses back to the California cost. Admiral Chester Nimitz knew about the Japanese plan to attack and was able to warn the Americans in enough time for them to prepare. The Admiral concentrated his forces at Midway in order to protect the base. This was the most important battle of World War II and helped the Americans gain a good foot hold in the Pacific. -
Stalingrad
The Battle at Stalingrad was the true turning point of the war in Europe. Germany's defeat at Stalingrad ended any realistic plans of Hitler dominating Europe. The Nazi forces were forced to retreat to Germany and the Soviet Union went on the offensive, which cause the war to turn in favor of the Allies. -
Valkyrie
Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg attempted to assassinate Hitler by planning a bomb at Hitlers headquarters called the Wolf's Lair (Wolfsschanze). The day that the bomb was set Hitler's meeting was moved out of the underground bunker to a room with windows. This allowed the explosion to not be as lethal and therefore did not kill Hitler. It did, however, kill or wound twenty people. Rommel, who helped with the plan, took poison to escape being put on trial by the Nazis. -
Allies Liberate Paris
At this point Germany faced a hopeless two front war. The Soviets pushed Germany west and the Allied Armies pushed them east. Hitler had ordered his generals to destroy the "city of lights", but they disobeyed him. After this, Rommel and other leading generals plotted to overthrow Hitler. -
Germany Counterattacks
Hitler ordered a counterattack on the Allies. The Allied troops were strung out between the English channel and the Alps, so German forces amassed near the Ardennes to form their plan. Hitler's plan was for English-speaking German soldiers in U.S. uniforms to cut telephone lines, change road signs, and to spread confussion. The German tanks would then secure communication and transportation hubes in order to take control of the Allies land. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Germans had created a bulge in the American line while they carried out their counterattack. They had captured many key towns, and the Allied bombers attacked the Germans and steadily pushed the Germans out of France. This was the Germans desperate attempt to drive a wedge between British and American forces. Hitler's plan failed and the Allies pushed on farther. -
Mussolini's Capture
The Soviet Army had reached Odor River outside of Berlin and the Allies were pushing northward through Italy. They were able to capture Mussolini trying to flee to Switzerland in the back of a truck. The American and British troops managed to cross the Rhine River. By April they had reached the Elbe River, 50 miles west of Berlin, and they were ready for assault against Hitler's capital. -
Hitler's Death
Hitler was a physical wreck by this point. He was shaken by tremors, paranoid from drugs, and kept alive by mad dreams of a final victory. He would give orders that no one would follow and he planned campaigns that no one would ever fight for. Hitler, his wife, kids, dogs, and close associates commited suicide to escape the perils of the war. -
Germany's Surrender
Hitler's "Thousand Year Reich" had only lasted twelve years. Germany surrendered in a French schoolhouse that had acted as Eisenhower's headquarters. The Americans celebrated V-E day, Victory in Europe day, after this surrender. FDR had died a few weeks before this surrender and Harry S. Truman had to see the U.S. through the rest of the war.
