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Pearl Harbour
Japan was working on expanding empire throughout the Pacific The U.S. had a trade embargo on Japan to try and deter Japan from invading countries
U.S. was able to intercept and break Japan's secret codes
Intercepted the code about Pearl Harbor - sent the message on a slower telegram (by accident) to warn U.S. Navy about attack -
Pearl Harbour Continued
Japan viewed as a stunning victory December 8, 1941, U.S. declares war on Japan December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy declare war on U.S. -
Battle of the Atlantic
German U-Boats were sinking unprotected U.S. and other Allies' merchant ships Allies began using convoys to protect ships The Allies also used a sonar system to detect German U-Boats The Germans were very successful in the beginning, but by mid - 1943, the Allies had the upper hand -
Battle of the Coral Sea
Prior to this battle, the Japanese were winning every battle and taking over the Pacific
May 1942 - U.S. and Australia stopped Japan from invading
Japan won the actual battle, but the allies were able to stop Japan invasion for the first time U.S. was beginning to use the Island Hopping technique to weaken Japan’s forces -
Battle of Midway
Admiral Chester Nimitz intercepted Japanese code U.S. launched surprise attack on Japan at Pacific island called Midway
The Japanese lost 4 carriers, a heavy cruiser, 3 destroyers, some 275 planes, at least 4,800 men, and suffered heavy damage among the remaining vessels of their fleet. American losses included 1 carrier, the Yorktown, a destroyer, about 150 planes, and 307 men U.S. was successful in the Battle of Midway -
Battle of Stalingrad
Germans violated nonaggression pact with Soviet Union and attacked Hitler hoped to capture Soviet oil fields Germans nearly won (controlled 9/10 of the city) Winter of 1943 hit -
Normandy Invasion
During this time, Soviet Union was pushing into Poland and Allies were pushing North in Italy
Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and George Patton influential in leading attack
150,000 Allied troops invaded -
Battle of Bulge
German tanks broke through American lines (80 mile front)
Fought in Belgium - Germany was trying to capture Antwerp
Very brutal war - one of the most extensive of U.S. military (120 American GIs captured and mowed down by SS machine guns and pistols) -
Yalta Conference
Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill met in Yalta in the Soviet Union to discuss post WWII Set up United Nations -
Iwo Jima
Island in the Pacific that was critical for U.S. win
Feb.19-March 26,1945
27,000 Japanese held Iwo Jima
U.S. won
26,800 Japanese troops died
6,000 U.S. Marines died -
Battle of Okinawa
Japan’s last defensive stronghold Japan used 1,900 Kamikaze attacks 110,000 Japanese troops died 7,600 - 12,500 U.S U.S. troops died U.S. won -
Death of Roosevelt
At the beginning of his 4th Term, President Franklin D. Roosevelt passes away The U.S. went through a major grieving period Harry S. Truman, as Vice-President, takes the role as President -
The End of Hitler
1945 Hitler and Eva Braun commit suicide (gun shot and cyanide) Bodies burned Cover of Time magazine May 7, 1945 -
V-E Day
General Eisenhower accepted a surrender by the Third Reich
V-E day = Victory in Europe day
1st part of War was over
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Potsdam
Truman, (Churchill and then Clement Atlee) and Stalin met in Potsdam, Germany Drew up a blueprint to disarm Germany and eliminate the Nazi regime -
Manhattan Project :Hiroshima
“Little Boy”
In 43 seconds, the city collapsed to dust
Thousands dead -
Manhattan Project: Nagasaki
“Fat Man”
Leveled half of the city
Thousands dead -
V-J Day
August 15, 1945: Japan offers unconditional surrender September 2, 1945: V-J Day = Victory in Japan Day (Formal surrender) -
Nuremberg Trials
International tribunal court tried Nazi officials
Over 23 nations tried Nazi war criminals in Nuremberg, Germany
12 of the 22 defendants were sentenced to death
200 other officials were found guilty, but given lesser sentences -
Occupation of Japan
Similar trials held for Japanese war criminals 7 out of 28 leaders were found guilty and sentenced to death (including Tojo) U.S. occupied Japan for 6 years under the direction of General Douglas MacArthur
Called for a New Constitution (with free elections and women suffrage)
Introduced a free market economy