Military Leaders and Their Contributions/Major Events ©2012, TESCCCU.S. History Unit 8, Lesson 1

Omar Bradley “The Soldier’s General” served with General George Patton in North Africa and Italy, led the First Army Division on the D- Day landings (beaches of Normandy, France) U.S. Army general - noted for his concern for individual soldiers and his ability to organize during WWII, commanding divisions and serving as General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s “eyes and ears” in North Africa. ©2012, TESCCC

Dwight Eisenhower General Eisenhower commanded Allied forces in Europe and led the British- American invasion of North Africa defeating Rommel’s Africa Korps in On June 6, 1944, he commanded Allied forces on D-Day. (Normandy invasion) ©2012, TESCCC

“I will return” Douglas MacArthur Commander of the U.S. Army in the Pacific. Because of his service in the Philippines prior to WWII, he was named commander of U.S. forces in the Far East. During WWII he commanded troops in the Southwest Pacific and presided over the Japanese surrender as the commander of Allied Powers. He was a military governor of Japan from ©2012, TESCCC

Chester W. Nimitz Commander of the U.S. Navy and Allied land and sea forces in the Pacific. Instrumental in defeating the Japanese in the Battle of Midway-June of 1942 (a battle that became a turning point in the war because this was the first defeat for Japan) ©2012, TESCCC

George MarshallChief of Staff that coordinated the war effort from Washington, D.C. organized the training of troops, development of strategic plans, and appointment of top military personnel. ©2012, TESCCC

George Patton Colorful and celebrated tank commander who led the Third Army out of Normandy, assisted with the Battle of the Bulge and marched on into Germany. who spearheaded the final attack into Germany. ©2012, TESCCC

Bravery and contributions Tuskegee Airmen Army created 99 th Pursuit Squadron Played an important role during the Battle of Anzio in Itlay

Navajo Code Talkers Navajo a “hidden” language It had no alphabet and was known only to the Navajo and a few missionaries and anthropologists Over 400 served Important at the Battle of Iwo Jima

The Flying Tigers Made up of 3 squadrons Was able to gain victories during lowest point of the war for the U.S. Helped defend China against Japan

Major Event Battle of Midway – (June of 1942) A battle in the Pacific between the U.S. and Japan (considered a turning point). The U.S. defeated Japan.

Island Hopping After the Battle of Midway, General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz led what came to be known as “Island Hopping,” with the goal to attain a position close enough to mainland Japan to conduct an attack.

The Bataan Death March Took place in Philippines in 1942 after the Japanese took over the Philippine Islands it was a forcible transfer of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war; there were high fatalities due to physical abuse and murder

The invasion of Normandy –June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day or Operation Overlord Liberated France from German occupation through a strategic Allied invasion of the beaches of Normandy in Northern France. German forces retreated while Allied forces pushed forward towards Germany.

Multiple Fronts the war in Europe was predominately fought on land the war in the Pacific was fought both at sea, and on land (islands).

The liberation of concentration camps American, British, and Soviet forces liberated the people in concentration camps from the Nazi forces. Liberators confronted terrible and cruel conditions. The Holocaust was the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews by the Nazi regime.

Conventional Weapons tanks, bombers, torpedoes, improved submarines, the M1 rifle (first semi-automatic rifle), etc.

The development of atomic weapons increased the destructive capability of a country while minimizing that country’s loss of lives and number of troops necessary to defeat the enemy. Two atomic bombs were dropped over two Japanese cities (Hiroshima and Nagasaki).