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This act allowed for the sale of weapons to belligerent nations on a cash and carry basis. After the fall of France, the debate on this act became more heated. -
The purpose of this campaign was for the allied forces to invade North Africa and help relieve pressure on the USSR. The British would push east to west, and the allied forces would land in Morocco and push west. The campaign resulted in 24,000 German and Italian troops in North Africa surrendering.
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This act permitted FDR to lend or lease war supplies to any nation considered vital to the defense of the United States. By 1945, 40 billion dollars worth of equipment was leased or lent. -
Japan planned an attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States military base in Hawaii. Japan's hope was to destroy the American Pacific fleet before they could respond and potentially lift the embargo. Over 2,500 people were killed that day, and the United States fleet was knocked out for six months. -
This battle was a strategic American victory that prevented any Japanese invasion of Australia. This was the first naval battle where ships never saw each other.
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Yamamoto wanted to destroy the American's last naval base outside of California. American Navy codebreakers intercept the Japanese plans to attack, and all available American forces are sent to Midway Island. The Americans pull off an unexpected victory and Japan is put on the defensive. -
This battle commenced shortly after the United State's victory on Midway. The United States Marines forced Japanese forces off the island, and the painful journey toward Japan began.
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In this battle, allied British, American, Candian, and French troops attacked the Germans on the coast of Normandy in France. The allied forces quickly took five of the grounds along the coast, but troops on Omaha Beach were on a killing ground. D-Day was described as "the longest day" for those who survived. -
When Nazi Germany's days were numbered, they launched counterattacks called the Battle of the Bulge. These counterattacks were stopped at Bastogne, and the Germans were pushed back once the skies cleared up and air superiority was achieved.
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The battle of Okinawa was more deadly than Iwo Jima and was the first of the Japanese homelands invaded in over 800 years. 500,000 troops were needed for this battle, and there were over 50,000 casualties.
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President Truman decides to drop the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The bomb resulted in 60,000 deaths. This was the first of two atomic bombs that would lead the Japanese to surrender. -
President Truman decided to drop the second atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. The bomb resulted in 25,000 Japanese deaths. After this bomb, Hirohito announces the surrender of Japan.