US History 10 th Grade By: Nate Ross MAJOR FORCES AND BATTLES OF WORLD WAR II

Allied Forces Axis Forces European Theater Pacific Theater

“THE BIG FOUR” ALLIED FORCES United States of America lead by President Franklin D. Roosevelt Entered the war in 1941 when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7 th Great Britain was lead by Prime Minister Winston Churchill Entered the war in 1939 after Germany invaded Poland on September 3 rd Soviet Union (Russia) was lead by Joseph Stalin Entered the war in 1939 when they began the invasion of Poland with Germany In June 1941 Germany attacked the Soviet Union to end the threat of a neighboring communist country. France was lead by Charles de Gualle Entered the war in 1939 after Germany had invaded Poland Surrendered to Germany in June of 1940

THE AXIS POWERS Nazi Germany was lead by Adolf Hitler. Started the war when Germany invaded Poland in Japan was lead by Emperor Hirohito. Entered the war on December 7 th 1941 when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor Hawaii. Italy was lead by Benito Mussolini. Entered the war in June of 1940

EUROPE IN WORLD WAR II Notice Germany was fighting the war on three different fronts: East in Russia, West in France, and South in North Africa

EUROPEAN THEATER MAJOR BATTLES September 1 st Hitler invades Poland. Poland falls within weeks of the invasion. June 22 nd Germany invaded Russia known as Operation Barbarossa. 4.5 million Germans invaded Russia along the eastern front. July 1 st the Battle of El Alamein was fought in Egypt between Great Britain, Germany, and Italy. This is also known as the first battle. August 21 st the Battle of Stalingrad was the turning point in the east when Russia defeated the German advance. June 6 th D-Day invasion of Normandy France by the United States, Great Britain, and Canadian Forces. Also know as Operation Overlord was the largest amphibious landing ever. December 16 th the Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive against the allies. The Americans took 89,000 casualties. April 16 th The Battle of Berlin was the last ditch effort for the Germans who fell to the Russians

THE PACIFIC Not only were there battles on islands with the Marines many of the battles in the pacific were in the ocean between the U.S. and Japanese Navies

MAJOR BATTLES IN THE PACIFIC December 7 th Japan attacks Pearl Harbor Hawaii December 23 rd Americans surrender to Japanese on Wake Island and are taken to Bataan Philippines May 3 rd Battle of Coral Sea was fought in the waters around the Solomon Islands June 4 th Battle of Midway was the turning point of the war in the Pacific August 7 th First U.S. troops amphibious landing in the Solomon Islands at Guadalcanal and Tulagi September 27 th British troops begin offensive in Burma November 20, U.S. Troops invade Makin and Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands

MAJOR BATTLES IN THE PACIFIC June 15, U.S. Marines invade Saipan in the Mariana Islands February 19, U.S. Marines invade Iwo Jima August 6, First Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima from a B-29 flown by Col. Paul Tibbets August 9, Second Atomic Bomb is dropped on Nagasaki from a B-29 flown by Maj. Charles Sweeney -- Emperor Hirohito and Japanese Prime Minister Suzuki then decide to seek an immediate peace with the Allies September 2, Formal Japanese surrender ceremony on board the MISSOURI in Tokyo Bay as 1,000 carrier-based planes fly overhead; President Truman declares VJ Day

REVIEW QUESTION #1 1)Who was the President of the United States of America when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese? A.George WashingtonGeorge Washington B.Franklin RooseveltFranklin Roosevelt C.Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt

INCORRECT George Washington was not the president during World War II, he was our first president from

INCORRECT Theodore Roosevelt was not the president during World War II, he was president from 1901 to He was known for his phrase “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”

CORRECT Franklin Roosevelt was the president during World War II, he took office in 1943 until his death in 1945.

REVIEW QUESTION #2 What were the two different theaters in World War II? A. North and SouthNorth and South B. Germany and JapanGermany and Japan C. European and PacificEuropean and Pacific

INCORRECT A. is incorrect North and South would be relevant to the Civil War but not to World War II

INCORRECT B. is incorrect. Germany and Japan were two of the Axis powers in World War II but were not the theaters conflict.

CORRECT C. is correct. World War II had two theaters of conflict which were in Europe and the Pacific.

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