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German Invasion of Poland
The German Invasion of Poland started on September 1, in 1939 and ended on October 6, 1939. During Germany's invasion of Poland, The Soviet Union attacked Poland from the East. Germany invaded, they broke their agreement, so Britain and France declared war, starting World War 2. After signing the non-aggression pact Hitler had a surprise attack, German tanks and troops fought across the Polish border. This event is significant because after Germany invaded Poland, they declared war starting WW2. -
Battle of the Atlantic
This event started on September 3, in 1939 and ended on May 8, in 1945. The Battle of the Atlantic was a conflict between the British and American ships and German U-Boats. Germany suffered heavy losses due to the innovations of the code breaking within allied ranks. The Battle of Atlantic was significant because the British had a superior navy so the Germans U-Boats tried to sink the convoys running from America to Britain and tried to starve Britain into submission. -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Japan attacked Hawaii, also know as "Pearl Harbor". Japan vs. US. As a result of this event, Japan sank or damaged many ships, more than 20,000 casualties were killed, and more than 200 planes were destroyed which led to the United States declaring war on Japan the very next day, Roosevelt's order. Japan sought to cripple the United states Navy and continue taking over countries but the Japanese did not come close to achieving their objective. The significance was that it Brought US into WWII. -
The Bataan Death March
Involved with this battle were the American's and Filipinos vs. Japan. Following the surrender of the Philippines, a forced march of thousands of American and Filipino troops emerged. They sought their journey along the Bataan Peninsula, on April, 9, headed to the camps. The United States was treated horribly by the Japanese and they were forced to march. This event is significant because the Philippines belonged to Japan and it angered the Americans, provoking the cause for island hopping. -
Battle of Coral Sea
The battle of Coral Sea was a major turning point in the world because Japan could no longer take the offensive side anymore. Japan and Australia used naval warfare for battle. Allies lost more ships, but the battle was a victory as they prevented Japanese from advancing to the South. This battle is significant because it was the first time that the Japanese advance was stopped, although this hurt the Americans's more than the Japanese. -
Battle Of Midway
Started June 3, 1942 and ended on June 7, 1942. Japan versus the US. The Battle Of Midway was a great victory for the allies and a devastating blow for Japan. Japan lost many soldiers and war materials. Americans sank 4 Japanese aircraft carriers and they found that the United States would win by air. The significance of the battle was how it changed the way battles were fought at sea and how the US had broken the Japanese code. -
Battle of Guadalcanal
This event started on August 7 in 1942 and ended on February 9 in 1943. US defeated Japan for control of the Island. Thousands of US Marines then landed on the island Tulagi to stop the creation of another Japanese stronghold. The Allies fought for six more months on land and sea. As a result, the Japanese left the island and it was the first loss for Japan's Army. The significance of this battle was that the Americans's got another island in the Pacific. Battle involved Japan and the US. -
Allied invasion of North africa
Known as code name, "Operation Torch". This event started on November 8 in 1942 and ended on September in 1943. American forces landed in Morocco and Algeria, trapping the German and Italian armies driving them westward by the British which were forcing their troops to surrender. Hitler orders them to fight to the death. This invasion is significant because "Operation Torch" marked the introduction of American forces into the European theater against the Germans from North Africa. -
The Invasion of Normandy
The invasion of Normandy, also know as "D-Day", began on June 6, in 1944 and ended on June 30, 1944. The German air force was almost grounded by the time of the D-Day invasion because allies strategically bombed their fuel reserves to make a distraction, however that did not work. The allied forced under Eisenhower landed on the beach and made the greatest naval attack in history. The significance of this battle was that it gave the Allies a way into Germany. Allies versus Germany. -
Battle of the Bulge
This event started on December 16 in 1944 and ended on January 25 in 1945. Although, Both sides suffered terrible losses followed with delayed allies from the West, the Allies pushed the Germans back and won. This battle was the German's last major offensive in WW2. The significance of this war was that it was Hitler's last attempt to win the war, it was an allied victory with heavy losses for Germany and the race to Berlin had begun. This battle involved the United States and Germany. -
Battle at Iwo Jima
This event started in February 19 in 1945 and ended on March 26, 1945. The US and Japan were involved in this war. The US tried to capture Iwo Jima. Iwo Jima acted for a staging point for the invasion of Okinawa and it also acted for a safe haven for stricken bombers returning from Japan as the US were fighting their way in. The battle was significant because the US realized how far Japan was willing to go to win, the US used a famous photo to help the war effort and the US captured tiny island. -
Battle of Okinawa
This event started on April 1, in 1945 and ended on June 22, in 1945. The Battle Of Okinawa was the final land battle before capturing Japan and it brought an end to the famous idea of island hopping. This battle was a World War 2 victory for the allied troops that resulted in the deaths of almost 100,000 Japanese soldiers and more than 12,000 American lives.The significance of this battle was that the strategic island, closed to Japan, helped Allies finish Japan and the war. -
Liberation of Dachau and Buchenwald
Liberated on April 29, in 1945 and ended on May 6th, 1945. Dachau was the first concentration camp in South Eastern Germany, opened in 1933. Buchenwald was near Wiemar EAST Germany and Established 1937. Buchenwald forced labor camps were in armament factories but was not an extermination camp and had extraordinary number of deaths because of the hard conditions. -
V-E Day
Nazi Germany surrendered because the locations of Germany, soviet army and the U.S production capacity and poor decisions made by Hitler were not as they seemed. On March, in 1943 the Russian army crosses the German border and US and Russian forces meet on the Elbe River. The significance of V-E Day was that Hitler committed suicide after the Soviet Army surrounded Berlin. V-E Day was the day when the Allies celebrated victory over Europe when Germany surrenders. -
Bombing Of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
On August 6, in 1945 the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan due to the fact that the US clued for Japan to surrender in the Potsdam declaration but the Japanese government ignored it. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki due to the orders of President Truman. The devastation of this event led to Japan's surrender and brought an end to WW2. The significance of this event was that it involved the 1st Japanese city to be attacked with a hydrogen bomb.
