WWII Timeline

  • Neutrality act of 1939

    FDR signed this act in response to the war in Europe. He did this to ensure the safety of citizens.
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    North Africa Campaigns

    The battles between Allied and Axis forces to take control of Northern Africa. The Allies won the campaigns which gave them access to many natural resources and another front in the war.
  • The Lend-Lease act

    The US government could "lend or lease" military supplies to other countries if they really needed to extra defenses. This act was signed to ensure the safety and neutrality of the US, but it ran into opposition amongst government officials.
  • The bombing of Pearl Harbor

    A surprise attack by the Japanese on the navy base in Hawaii at Pearl Harbor. Over 2400 people died and this act caused the US to enter the war.
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    The Battle of Coral Sea

    This was the first air battle in history where Japan was trying to occupy the Solomon Islands, but the Allies were aware of the invasion thanks to some code breakers. The Japanese took the Solomon Islands, but they lost too many planes to take other Pacific Island countries.
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    The Battle of Midway

    A battle between the Japanese and US naval forces. The US won and established naval dominance over Japan. Because Japan had lost, they abandoned all plans to reach out over the pacific in planes.
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    The Battle of Guadacanal

    The US made an invasion of the Japanese base in the Solomon Islands. The battle involved hand to hand combat in the jungle for six months. The Japanese suffered a major loss with 31,000 casualties.
  • D-Day

    The Allied invasion of Normandy. The Allies won and the Nazis surrendered shortly afterwards.
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    The Battle of the Bulge

    Hitler's last offensive on the Western Front in in Belgium. The Allies had a decisive victory that would severely weaken axis forces.
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    The Battle of Okinawa.

    The first major battle in WWII for America. The Allies won and the Japanese suffered major losses that would help the Allies quickly end the war.
  • Hitler's Suicide

    Hitler shoots himself in his bunker. This would cause Germany to surrender shortly after D-Day.
  • German Surrender

    The Nazis formally surrendered. The surrender was unconditional and was accepted by the Allies.
  • Bomb drop on Hiroshima

    The very first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. It is estimated to have killed around 80,000 people.
  • Bomb drop on Nagasaki

    The second bomb that dropped in Japan. It killed around 40,000 people.
  • Japan's Surrender

    Emperor Hirohito announces Japan's unconditional surrender on a radio broadcast.