Major Battles and Events World War II Major Battles and Events

Blitzkrieg - “Lightening War” German attack on Poland September 1, 1939 - first blitzkrieg Successful military strategy for Germany - airplanes and tanks supported by infantry

Battle of Britain - “the Blitz” German air bombing campaign of Britain September 1940 - May 1941 Bombings targeted major British cities, especially London Hitler called off raids, allies learned Hitler could be stopped

From 1935-1937, the U.S. passed a series of Neutrality Acts (They were practicing isolationism!)

March 1941- Tobruk, Libya Rommel is sent by Hitler to defeat British forces By June of 1942, he suceeded

Battle in the Balkans Bulgaria, Romania & Hungary fall to Germany with barely any resistance April 1941- Hitler invades Yugoslavia (11 days) & Greece (17 days).

Summer 1941- USSR Germany turns on USSR and begins attack June 22- OPERATION BARBAROSSA Soviets practices scorched-earth policy September- Leningrad under siege

December 7, 1941 - “a date that will live in infamy” Japanese attack on U.S. Pearl Harbor Naval base, Hawaii The next day, U.S. declared war on Japan, becomes involved in World War II

Bataan Death March April, 1942 Philippines 56,000 - 75,000 American and Filipino POWs marched north by Japanese

Forced to march 60 mi while being beaten by Japanese soldiers. Many were buried alive if they did not move fast enough Japanese organizers of March were executed by Allies in 1946

Doolittle’s Raid April 1941 Bombed the Japanese home islands (including city of Tokyo) Proved that Japan was vulnerable

Battle of Coral Sea May 4-8, 1942 The Japanese were advancing to the South U.S. Naval carriers used aircraft to stop them

Battle of Midway June 3-6, 1942 U.S. v. Japan Midway Island, in the Pacific The U.S. were outnumbered 4-1 in ships and planes, but they won Turning point of war against the Japanese

Guadalcanal August 1942- February 1943 First major offensive of the Allies vs. Japan

Battle of Stalingrad Germany v. USSR (Soviet Union) August 23, 1942 - February 2, 1943 The Russian winter set in The Germans couldn’t survive the elements (same mistake Napoleon made!)

Germany surrendered to Soviets, Germans were pushed back west Turning point on Eastern Front

Battle of El Amin October 1942 Germany is defeated by Britain Led to the 1943 surrender in N. Africa

D-Day - “Operation Overlord” U.S, Canada, Britain v. Germany June 6, 1944 Beaches of Normandy, France (Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, Utah) France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg liberated from Nazi occupation

3,000 American soldiers alone died July 25- Allies finally cut a hole in German defense August 25- Allies march into Paris, victorious.

Battle of the Bulge U.S., British v. Germany December 16, 1944 Belgium Last major German offensive of World War II Allies push the Germans back

April 30/May 1, 1945- After swallowing poison, Hitler shoots himself May 2- Germany surrenders May 7- U.S. General Dwight Eisenhower accepts Germany’s unconditional surrender May 8- surrender is officially signed V-E Day

Battle of Iwo Jima U.S. v. Japan February 19 - March 26, 1945 (36 days) Bloodiest battle of WWII Americans took the island from the Japanese

Battle of Okinawa U.S. v. Japan April 1 - June 22, 1945 Okinawa - Pacific Island Largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater After long, bloody battle, U.S. took the island Last battle of WWII

Invading Japan may have cost the U. S Invading Japan may have cost the U.S. the lives of about 500,000 soldiers. FDR had died in April before the Allied victory against Germany President Truman sent a warning to Japan to surrender, but Japan did not reply.

Hiroshima August 6, 1945 Site of 1st atomic bomb drop on Japan 73,000 dead 114,000 total (radiation and after effects)

Nagasaki August 9, 1945 Second atomic bomb dropped 37,500 killed Japan surrendered, September 2, 1945 to U.S. General MacArthur.

Nuremberg Trials Nuremberg, Germany Trials of Nazi war criminals Began in 1946 - last trial…2009 Some sentenced to prison, some executed (hung) and bodies burned in oven at concentration camps

June 1945: The formation of the United Nations (U.N.) The nations that came together wanted to make sure that crimes against humanity like the Holocaust would never happen again. June 1945: The formation of the United Nations (U.N.) Intended to protect its members against aggression