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The Holocaust
The Holocaust was when the Nazis, led by Hitler, tried to wipe out the Jewish people during World War II. They sent millions to concentration camps where many were killed or died from terrible conditions. Other groups like Romani people and disabled people were also targeted. It was a really dark and tragic time in history that showed how dangerous hate can be. -
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The Start Of World War 2
Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. The invasion was led by Adolf Hitler, who wanted more land for Germany. He also wanted to weaken Poland and take control of its resources. This started World War II because Britain and France, allies of Poland, declared war on Germany shortly after. The invasion was part of Hitler’s plan to expand Germany’s power and control in Europe. -
Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Japan did a surprise military attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This killed over 2,400 Americans and destroyed or damaged a lot of the Pacific Fleet, including battleships and aircraft. This event led the United States to officially enter World War II the following day. -
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Battle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of Coral Sea happened in May 1942 and was a huge fight between the U.S. and Japan. It was the first battle where both sides only used aircraft to attack each other’s ships. The U.S. and Australia worked together to stop Japan from taking more land in the Pacific. Both sides lost a lot of ships and planes, but the U.S. stopped Japan’s advance, which was a big win. It was important because it showed how powerful air attacks could be in the war. -
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Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway went down in June 1942 and was one of the most important fights in the Pacific during World War II. The U.S. had broken Japanese codes, so they knew the attack was coming and were ready for it. During the battle, American forces managed to sink four Japanese aircraft carriers, which was a massive loss for Japan. It totally flipped the momentum, and from then Japan started losing ground. Basically it was the moment the U.S. started taking control of the war in the Pacific. -
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The Battle of Guadalcanal
The Battle of Guadalcanal was a major fight between the U.S. and Japan during World War II. It started in August 1942 when American forces landed on the island to stop Japan from building an airfield. The fighting was really intense on land, in the air, and at sea. After months of battles, the U.S. finally took control of the island in February 1943. It was super important because it was the first big win for the Allies in the Pacific and started pushing Japan back. -
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Battle of Sicily
The Battle of Sicily happened in the summer of 1943 and was the Allies’ first big step into Europe. American, British, and Canadian forces invaded the island to push out the Germans and Italians. It wasn’t easy the terrain was rough and the enemy fought hard, but the Allies won after about a month. This victory helped lead to the downfall of Mussolini in Italy. It also gave the Allies a new base to launch attacks into mainland Europe. -
D-Day
D-Day happened on June 6, 1944, when Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, to fight Nazi Germany. It was the biggest sea invasion ever and took a ton of planning and teamwork. This battle was super important because it helped start the defeat of Hitler and the Nazi Germany Military. -
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The Battle of the Philippine Sea
The Battle of the Philippine Sea happened in June 1944 between the U.S. and Japan. It was a big naval and air battle during World War II. The U.S. crushed Japan’s navy and shot down a ton of their planes, which is why people call it the “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot.” Japan lost so many pilots and ships that they couldn’t really fight back after that. It was a huge win for the U.S. and helped them get closer to winning the war in the Pacific. -
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The Battle of Leyte Gulf
The Battle of Leyte Gulf was a huge naval battle in October 1944 between the U.S. and Japan. The U.S. wanted to take control of the Philippines, and Japan tried to stop them. The battle lasted a few days, with the U.S. destroying a ton of Japanese ships and planes. It was a major win for the U.S. and pretty much crushed Japan’s navy. -
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Battle of Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was Germany’s last big attack in World War II, and it started in December 1944. They surprised the Allies by attacking through the snowy forests of Belgium, which caused a bulge in the front lines. At first the Germans were winning and things looked really bad for the Allies. But the U.S. and other Allied forces held strong, even in the freezing cold, and eventually pushed the Germans back. After that Germany didn’t have enough strength left to launch another attack. -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was a really tough fight between the U.S. and Japan during World War II. It started in February 1945 when American soldiers landed on the island to take it from the Japanese. The Japanese had tons of tunnels and bunkers, so it was super hard and deadly. After weeks of brutal fighting, the U.S. finally won and raised the flag on Mount Suribachi, which became a famous photo. It was important because the island helped the U.S. launch air attacks closer to Japan. -
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The Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was a major fight between the U.S. and Japan in 1945. The U.S. wanted to capture the island to use it as a base for attacks on Japan. The Japanese fought really hard, using kamikaze attacks and hiding in caves, making it a tough battle. After about three months, the U.S. won, but it was super bloody, and it helped lead to the decision to drop the atomic bombs. -
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Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In August 1945, the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan to try to end World War II. The first bomb hit Hiroshima on August 6, and the second hit Nagasaki on August 9. Both cities were almost completely destroyed, and thousands of people died instantly or later from radiation. It was the first and only time nuclear weapons have been used in war. A few days later, Japan surrendered, and the war finally ended.