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The attack on Pearl Harbor
Before Japan decided to bomb Pearl Harbor, America placed an embargo on Japan, discontinuing oil transportation to japan, in hopes of discouraging Japan from invading other countries. In the morning on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, Japan hit Pearl Harbor with 2 attacks, which killed 2,400 American military and civilians, wounded 1,178 American citizens and military members, and damaged or sunk 18 naval ships and 350 air force planes. Japan did this in hope of preventing America from attacking. -
After the attacks on Pearl Harbor
Japan viewed the attacks on Pearl Harbor a stunning victory, believing they accomplished stopping America from attacking them. But the following day, on the 8th of December, America declared war on Japan, and following that, and respecting their alliances, on December 11th, Germany and Italy declare war on America. -
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The battle of the Atlantic
During this period of time, Germany was using U-Boats to shoot and sink American, and other Allies merchant ships. This led to the Allies beginning to protect their ships with the use of convoys, as well as the use of sonar to detect German U-Boats. This led to the Germans being less successful than they originally were, and gave the Allies the upper hand. -
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Battle of the Coral Sea
Before this battle took place, Japan was winning every other battle they took part in, and were taking over the Pacific. But in may 1942, America and Australia stopped japan from invading, Japan did win the battle, just they were prevented by the allies from invading for the first time. America also began to use the island hopping technique to weaken Japans forces. -
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The battle of Midway
Admiral Chester Nimitz intercepted Japanese code, due to this Intel, America launched a surprise attack on Japan at a Pacific island called Midway. This battle was a victory for the Americans, the Japanese lost a lot more valuable things than the Americans, including 4 carriers, 3 destroyers, around 275 planes, and at least 4,800 men, were America lost 1 carrier, 1 destroyer, about 150 planes, and 307 men. -
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The battle of Stalingrad
At the beginning of this battle, Germany violated the nonaggression pact they had with the Soviet Union, and attacked, in hopes of capturing Soviet oil fields. Germany nearly won the battle, with 9/10 of the city under their control, then the winter of 1943 hit. Hitler forced the German troops to stay put, but they weren't well equipped, and the Soviets used this to their advantage, and won the battle. This was a turning point in WWII, and from that point on, the soviet army pushed into Germany. -
Normandy Invasion (D-Day)
During this time, the Soviet Union was pushing into Poland, while the Allies were pushing north into Italy. Over a 60 mile long stretch of beach, 156,000 troops, 4,000 landing crafts, 600 warships, and 11,000 planes were used. It was the largest land-sea-air operation in history. In one month, 1 million more troops had joined. By the end of the campaign, nearly 425,000 troops from both the sides, had been killed, wounded, or had gone missing. France was freed from Nazi control in September, 1944 -
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The battle of the Bulge
During this battle, which was fought in Belgium, German tanks had broke through the american line in hope of capturing Antwerp. this was a very brutal battle. at the beginning of the battle, the Germans were winning, but in the end, the Americans won. Germans lost a total of 120,000 people, 600 tanks and guns, and 1,600 planes, and the Americans lost 80,000 troops. -
The Yalta conference
This event took place right before WWII ended, where Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill, all came together to Yalta, in the soviet union, to have a discussion about post WWII. This is also when they made and set up the United Nations. -
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Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima was an island that was a critical part of the American victory, there were 27,000 Japanese soldiers holding the island, but by the end of the battle, 26,800 Japanese troops died, and only 6.000 American troops died. So America won -
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The battle of Okinawa
The battle of Okinawa was Japans last defensive stronghold, Japan went all out. Japan used 1.900 kamikaze attacks in hopes of stopping American forces. In the end, Japan lost a total of 110,000 troops, and America only lost between 7,600, and 12,500 troops. America won, again. -
R.I.P. Roosevelt
On this day, right before serving his 4th term as American president, Franklin D. Roosevelt passed away, which caused the U.S. to go through a major grieving period. Due to being Vice-President, Harry S. Truman takes role of presidency. -
The END of Hitler
On this date, 18 days after Roosevelt died, Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun committed suicide, Hitler shot himself, and Eva took a cyanide pill. Their bodies were burned, and the news of their deaths (mainly Hitlers) were reported in times magazine with Hitler as the cover image on May 7th 1945. -
V-E day
V-E Day (victory in Europe day) The day after Hitler made the cover page of time magazine, General Eisenhower accepted a surrender by the third Reich. This marked the end of the first part of the war. -
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Potsdam
In Potsdam Germany, the big three, Truman (Churchill then Atlee) and Stalin meet and draw up blueprints to disarm Germany, and eliminate the Nazi regime.They decided to divide Germany into four sections, which were occupied by France, America Britain, and the Soviet Union. Berlin was divided up in Soviet Germany, they set up the Nuremberg Trials to assist in persecute Nazi leaders, and decided Japan needed to unconditionally surrender. -
Manhattan project - Little Boy
On this date, America dropped "Little Boy" a 15 kiloton (blast yield) atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The bomb was so devastating, in 43 seconds, the entire city collapsed into dust, killing between 90,000 and 146,000 people, roughly half of the people died during the first day. -
Manhattan project - Fat Man
Three days after America dropped "Little Boy" on Hiroshima, they dropped a second bomb called "Fat Man" a 21 kiloton (blast yield) atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, this bomb was so powerful, it leveled half the city. It killed between 39,000 and 80,000 people, half of those within the first day, 200,000 people died because of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan. -
V-J Day
On this day, Japan offered an unconditional surrender allies. Following that, on September 7th, Japan formally surrendered. -
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Occupation of Japan
During this time period, similar trials that were held for the Nazi officials, were held for the Japanese war criminals. 7 out of the 28 leaders were found guilty, and sentenced to death. For the next 6 years, U.S. occupied Japan under direction of General Douglas MacArthur. During this time, they called for a new constitution that had free election and woman suffrage, and introduced a free market economy. -
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Nuremberg Trials
During this time period, an international tribunal court tried Nazi official, over 23 nations came to Nuremberg Germany and tried the Nazi war criminals. 12 of the 22 defendants were sentenced to death. 200 other officials were found guilty, but were given less extreme sentences.
