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Invasion of Poland
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Battle of Britain
After the success of Blitzkrieg, the evacuation of Dunkirk and the surrender of France, Britain was by herself. The Battle of Britain remains one of the most famous battles of World War Two. -
Pearl Harbor
Japanese planes attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory, killing more than 2,300 Americans. -
Dunkirk
greatest escape in the history of warfare; as Germany defeated British and French forces, they were forced to retreat across the English Channel in numerous small boats -
Bataan Death March
Largest American surrender in the history of warfare on the Philippines. American and Filipino soldiers were forced to march 65 miles up the peninsula to the prisoner camps. -
Battle of the Coral Sea
Defensive victory for the Allies in which they stopped the Japanese advance on Australia -
Battle of Midway
Japanese plan a two pronged attack on the Aleutian Islands & Midway Islands; Allies had broken the Japanese code and knew the main attack was at Midway; Japan loses 4 aircraft carriers, U.S. loses 1; Defensive victory for the Allies helped equal out the naval power between Japan and the U.S. -
Guadalcanal
1st offensive attack by the U.S. against the Japanese; part of the Solomon Islands; difficult Allied victory showed the Japanese were a determined enemy who refused to surrender -
Battle of Stalingrad
last German offensive on the eastern front; important Soviet city because of its location on the Volga River and proximity to Soviet oil fields. -
D-Day
It consisted of American, British, Canadian, Polish, and Free French Armies under command of General Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force (the choice of Eisenhower was officially made by President Roosevelt in December 1943, and agreed upon by the British). -
Saipan: The Suicide Cliffs
From these cliffs at Saipan, civilians and soldiers alike comitted mass suicide rather than be captured. -
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Japan lost 429 planes while only 29 American aircrsft were destroyed. The Marianas Islands Campaign continued, while the Americans met with more and more resistance as they neared Japan. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Large naval battle in which the U.S. began the process of liberating her soldiers on the Philippines; decisive victory which destroyed much of the Japanese navy. -
The Battle of the Bulge
Hitler had convinced himself that the alliance between Britain, France and America in the western sector of Europe was not strong and that a major attack and defeat would break up the alliance. Therefore, he ordered a massive attack against what were primarily American forces. -
Iwo Jima
Volcanic island 750 miles south of Tokyo . The Japanese, having realized that they would eventually lose the war, decided to inflict as much damage as possible to the Allied forces.In the process of conquering Iwo Jima, 6800 Americans and 21000 Japanese were killed.The Marines soon made it to the top of the mountain, and on February 23rd, they put up a flag and took one of the best-known pictures from the entire war. -
Okinawa- Bloody Battle
Island 350 miles from Japan. Largest landing forve in Pacific history. Japanese did not challenge landing they retreated to South. Five days later Japan attacked from caves and tunnels. Its known as the bloodiest battle in Pacific War. -
V-E Day
Victory in Europe (V-E) Day is declared as German troops continue to surrender to Allies throughout Europe. -
Hiroshima
1st atomic bomb dropped on this Japanese City -
Nagasaki
2nd atomic bomb dropped on this Japanese City -
Surrender of Japan
The USS Missouri hosts the formal surrender of the Japanese government to the Allies. Victory over Japan was celebrated back in the States. Japan formally surrendered in a formal ceremony aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, ending World War II.
