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Pearl Harbor
Th e attack on pearl harbor was definitely a key point in WWII. This surprise attack by the Japanese on a base in Hawaii cost 2,004 peoples lives and also really pushed the United States to retaliate. The attack happened on Dec. 7, 1942. And is a key date in the history of the United States and also the history of World War II. This was the day that American Citizens were all in for the war. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II.The battle took place from the dates of June 3-7. In this battle the United States navy, just 6 months after the attacks on Pearl Harbor, gave out a decisive blow to the japanese Navy. Many ships were sunk, but it was the Japanese that lost so much more. This is another key point in the war. -
Battle of Stalingrad
This battle is said to be the turning point of the war. It ended any realistic plans of Hitler dominating Europe. Nazi arimes were forced to retreat toward Germany and the Soviet Union went on the offensice after Stalingrad. This might be the most memorable battle of the war and one of the most important as well. It was a massive blow to Hiler and the German forces. -
Allies meet at Tehran
This conference took place in Teheran, FDR, Churchill, and Stalin met. FDR and Stalin both thought that a second front needed to be opened up in France and Churchill disagreed. After years of war American and British soldiers would finally invade France and march toward Germany. Without this meeting many things couldve changed. Also, this was the first time all three of these men were together. -
D-Day
Operation Overlord is what this was called and it involved the most experience Allied officers in Europe. The operation involved landing 21 American divisions and 26 British, Polish, and Canadian divisions on a 50-mile stretch of beaches in Normandy, France. With many deaths on the American side, it soon payed off and within a month Allied troops more than 1 million troops in Normandy. This was one of the most devastating, yet rewarding days in American history. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was Hitlers counterattack. Almost Succeeded. Germans caught the Allies by surprise, created a bulge in the American line, and captured several key towns. After the battle of Stalingrad this was motivational to the Germans. This battle was a desperate attempt to grice a wedge between British and American forces -
Death of Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a huge part of the war and his death was a big deal. He was the first one of the "big three" to die. Not only was he a huge figure in the United States, but the world really. The new president was Harry Truman and he had to attempt to live up to FDR's standards. A very loved and one of, if not the most important figures in the history of the United States. -
HItler Commits Suicide
By the time the Americans, British, and Russians reached Berlin, Hitler was an emotional and physical wreck. He was shaken by tremors, paranoid from drugs, and kept alive by mad dreams of a final victory. Hitlers gave orders no one would follow and planned campaigns that no one would ever fight. Finally on April 30 he and a few of his closes associates committed suicide. That was a big day for everyone involved in the war. -
First Atomic Bomb Dropped
Americans had been working on an Atomic Bomb for years and finally constructed one. After many months of deciding, Truman made up his mind to drop this on Hiroshima. This was a shock to entire world and everyone got to see just what this weapon could do. This was a defining moment in warfare and the risk of human life. No one had ever killed this many people this fast and Japan quickly realized what they were up against. -
Japanese Surrender
This surrender was a direct result of the dropping of the atomic bombs. This surrender ended the war. Emperor Hirohito surrendered. On august 15th the Allies celebrated V-J day (victory in Japan) even though it wasnt offically over until September 2nd. This was the most costly war in history and cost over 60,000,000 people there lives.
