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Pearl Harbor
Japan attacked the US Pearl Harbor with bombs. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because they were declaring war on the US. In the end, 8 battleships were put out of commission, 200 American air crafts were destroyed or damaged, and 2,403 lives were lost. Because of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US decided to enter World War II. -
Bataan Death March
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese began to invade the Philippines and take Americans and Filipinos as prisoners. The prisoners were forced to walk 65 miles to from the Bataan Peninsula to San Fernando. Many troops died on the way to prisoner of war camps were they eventually died of starvation and disease. 2 years later, General Douglas MacArthur liberated Manila and recaptured the Bataan Peninsula. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
D-Day was the the day that Operation Overload was supposed to begin. In the months and weeks before D-Day, the Allies carried out a massive deception operation intended to make the Germans think the main invasion target was Pas-de-Calais (the narrowest point between Britain and France) rather than Normandy. In addition, they led the Germans to believe that Norway and other locations were also potential invasion targets. The Normandy Invasion began to turn the tide against the Nazis. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was Germany's last major offensive campaign on the Western Front. Germany attempted to push the Allied front line west from Northern France to Northwestern Belgium. It weakened German forces and many Americans and German troops were killed. -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
In early 1945, the understanding of the Nazi brutality was broadened. The Soviet army entered Auschwitz, one of the 6 Nazi concentration camps still operating, and liberated it. The British liberated Belson in April 15, 1945. They found hundreds of sick, exhausted people and estimated 11 million people were killed during the Holocaust. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The US attacked Iwo Jima by sea and by air. The US bombed Iwo Jima as their first strike on the Japanese Home.The US wanted the location of Iwo Jima for a place for fighter planes and bombers to land and take off while attacking Japan. In the end, the US captured Iwo Jima which was an important to winning the war. -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was the last and bloodiest battle of World War II. It was the largest amphibious invasion of Pacific War. The capture of Okinawa was part of a 3 point plan Americans had for winning the war. The Allied powers won and put them withing striking distance of Japan to eventually win the war. -
VE Day
VE Day, Victory Day in Europe, was the day that marked the Allied powers victory. It was the day the that the public marked the acceptance of Germany's surrender. This marked the end of World War II. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
The US dropped 2 atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After Japan refused to surrender, the US decided to bomb Japan and plan a massive invasion codenamed Operation Downfall. Japan surrendered and VJ Day celebrations broke out in Allied powers nations. -
VJ Day
VJ Day, Victory in Japan, is the day that Japan surrendered to the Allies. Japan surrendered on August 15th, 1945 but didn't sign the official document until September 2nd, 1945. This ended World War II.
