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Battle of Britain
This battle was from August 1940- October 1940. Germany attacked Britain and its cities. Germany fought this battle 'entirely in the air' or with only airplanes. Germany did this to try and take out Britain's air forces, ultamitly trying to destroy Britain. It happened in the Brittish Isles, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Great Britain won this battle and raised the confidences of the allied forces. Also, Hitler from then on stayed away from Britain. -
Operation Barbossa
On June 22, Nazi Germany and its allies began a massive attack on the Soviet Union. Hitler claimed that the Nazis needed the "living space" in the Soviet Union, and the oil resources. More than 800,000 Soviets were killed, and 4,000 aircrafts were destroyed, but Hitler had failed. After the invasion, Soviets began to rebuild what was lost and plan attack against Germany. -
Pearl Harbor
On December 7, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, a major millitary and naval base. 2,400 U.S. soldiers were killed and 2 ships were destroyed. Japan was upset that the U.S. had stopped trade and frozen money assets of Japan in U.S. banks. This bombing led to the U.S.A. declaring war on the Japanese. A famous quote from this event was, "This day will live in infamy." -
Bataan Death March
On this day, the Japanese took captive many U.S. and Fillipino soldiers to march to Bataan Penninsula, in the Phillipenes. During the march, there were very harsh conditions, which led to 7,000 to 10,000 deaths. Japan did this in an effort to kill off many U.S. sodiers and to give themselves an advantage in the war. General Edward P. King had surrendured to the Japanese general Masaharu Homma. -
Operation Overlord
June 6, 1944- August 25, 1944. General Dwight Eisenhower and allied forces joined to invade France. Allies were pressured into doing this to overthrow Nazi Germany. This was the beginning of the end of the Nazis. A successful landing in Normandy paved a way for Allies to free countries in Europe from Germany. -
Battle of the Bulge
December 16, 1944- January 25, 1945.
On this day, HItler sent troops to invade Normandy, France. His goal was to take over France and expand his ideas. This invasion killed 83,000 innocent people. The Allies fought back, and it came out as a decisive allied victory. This weakened Germany and strengthened the Allies. -
Battle of Iwo JIma
The U.S. captured the island of Iwo Jima, part of Japanese territory. The U.S. also attacked the Japanese merchant fleet and bombed Japan's industrial base. The United States' goal was to get rid of Japan's naval fleet so that they would not be seen as a threat in the future. This allowed the Allied forces to attack Japan in hopes of overthrowing it. -
Yalta Confrence
February 4-11 1945.
The U.S., U.K., and S.U. held a confrence with a purpose of discussing Europe's post-war recignition. It was held in Livadia Palace, Yalta. They held this confrence because they needed to discuss the re-establishment of nations in war, in Europe. In the end, the Soviets agreed to help fight the Japanese, but in return they were granted some of the Japanese islands, which were being used as naval bases at the time. -
V-E Day
The Western Allies worked against Nazi Germany to liberate countries in Erope. Hitler died today, and Allies attack Germany, abd Germany surrenders. Allied forces did this to overthrow Germany and Hitler. In the end, Hitler dies, and the war is over in Germany and most of Europe. -
Dropping of the Atomic Bomb
6-9 August, 1945.
The United States bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, two Japanese cities. At least 90,000-160,000 innocent people were killed during the bombing. Half of these deaths occoured in the first day of the bombing. The United States did this in an effort to make Japan surrender, and to hopefully end the war. -
V-J Day
September 2, 1945- August 14, 1945.
On this day, a formal surrender ceremony was performed in Tokyo for the surrender of Japan. The ceremony was held in Tokyo Bay. The Japanese surrendered because of the many bombs dropped by the U.S. This ceremony was the formal end of World War II.