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At 7:55 a.m. on Sunday, December 7, 1941, Japanese airplanes dove from the sky and attacked Pearl Harbor.
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In just a few hours, the Japanese sank or damaged all of the battleships anchored at Pearl Harbor. More than 2,400 Americans were killed. Almost 200 airplanes were destroyed.
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Congress voted to declare war on Japan. Germany then declared war on the United States. Less than 25 years after entering World War I, the United States joined the Allies in another global war.
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The Battle of Midway began on June 4, 1942, when Japan started bombing the islands. American aircraft carriers launched their planes, catching the Japanese aircraft carriers while many of their planes were refueling on deck. American dive bombers destroyed four of Japan's aircraft carriers, severely weakening Japanese naval power. “Pearl Harbor has now been partially avenged,” said Nimitz.
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American, British, and Canadian troops invaded France on June 6, 1944 —known as D-Day, or “designated day.” They crossed the choppy waters of the English Channel and landed on five beaches in Normandy. More than 6,000 ships, 11,000 planes, and 156,000 men were part of the invasion. Soldiers jumped from boats and waded ashore, often under heavy fire.
