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U.S. Declares Neutrality
U.S. declares neutrality in the European conflict, strengthening feelings of isolationism in America. FDR combats isolationists with a variety of policies and programs (such as the Fireside Chat program in late 1940), but his hopes only come to fruition after the events of Pearl Harbour. -
Battle of Sedan
When Britain and France declared war on Germany following the invasion of Poland, many expected that war to be a retread of the infantry tactics of WWI which led to the heavy fortifications of the Maginot Line. Those expectations where shattered in May 1940 when the Germans launched a fast-paced "Blitzkreig" spearheaded by Panzer tanks. The Germans attacked at Sedan with massed Stuka dive bombers. The intense air assault quickly demoralized the defenders and German forces easily through. -
France, May 1940
The rapid conquest of the Low Countries and northern France in four weeks was the supreme example of German mastery of mobile warfare. The back of the French army was broken. Hitler would gain control over western Europe (and Fascist Italy entered the war). Everything else in 1940–45 was a consequence of this victory. The German blunder of allowing the British Expeditionary Force to escape through Dunkirk was also significant; Britain would remain a threat, and Hitler’s victory was incomplete. -
Battle of Britain, Aug-Sept 1940
The Luftwaffe mounted mass daytime raids against RAF bases and later London, hoping to gain air superiority and force Britain to make peace. British public morale did not crack, high German losses forced a change in September to less effective night bombing, and the arrival of autumn weather made invasion impractical. The battle demonstrated to Germany (and the USA) that Britain would not easily surrender. The Americans sent help; Hitler decided that he needed to invade the USSR. -
Operation Barbarossa
Hitler’s surprise attack on the USSR was the most devastating victory of the whole war. The Wehrmacht’s first objective was achieved: the destruction the Red Army in western Russia. ‘Barbarossa’ did not achieve the larger goal of overthrowing the Soviet system and occupying European Russia. Nevertheless, the catastrophe eventually forced the defenders to fall back 600 miles, to the outskirts of Leningrad and Moscow. The Red Army had to be rebuilt and Germany would remain until autumn 1944. -
Battle of Moscow
The successful Red Army surprise counter-offensive in front of Moscow began on 5 December. The Russians would have bad defeats later, and the Germans would suffer much greater losses at Stalingrad in 1942–43. But the setback at Moscow meant that the Blitzkrieg strategy of Hitler and his generals had failed; the USSR would not be knocked out of the war in just a few months. The northern and central parts of the Soviet front now held firm. And the Third Reich could not win a war of attrition. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Major Japanese victor, crippling the US Pacific fleet by damaging or destroying all 8 battleships, and drawing the States into the war. -
Battle of Wake Island
Japanese victory, capture of Wake Island until the end of the war. -
Doolittle Raid
US launches bombing raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities. -
Battle of the Coral Sea
Japanese win the battle in terms of ships destroyed, but allies repelled Japanese naval invasion. -
Battle of MIdway
Decisive allied victory, with Japan losing 4 carriers. Turning point in war of the Pacific. -
Operation ‘Torch’, November 1942
‘Torch’ was the first successful strategic offensive, and American troops crossed the Atlantic for the first time. Victory in Tunisia, the invasion of Sicily and the Italian surrender followed. But ‘Torch’ and the Mediterranean strategy, urged by the British and accepted by Roosevelt, meant ultimately that there would be no cross-Channel landing in 1943. The battle of Alamein, fought later that November, was much bloodier and a decisive British victory, but ‘Torch’ had a deeper significance. -
Naval Battle of Casablanca
Casablanca was a very important port, Allies fought for control against the Vichy French and the Nazi's. The battle was not fought for Casablanca but for the water and shipping routes in around it. Having control of a port meant that you could have control of where supplies went. -
1943 Stalingrad, November 1942 to January 1943
After Stalingrad the Wehrmacht would make no further advances in the USSR. The mid-November 1942 mobile operation to cut off the city demonstrated for the first time the skill of the rebuilt Red Army. The capitulation of the Sixth Army in the Stalingrad pocket on 31 January was the first major German surrender. Both the German leadership and the population of occupied Europe realised the significance of what had happened: the Third Reich was now on the defensive. -
Battle of Guadacanal
Strategic allied victory, marks the beginning of allied offensive operations in the Pacific. -
Axis Powers Surrender Tunsia
Allies set up a naval blockade in Tunisia to prevent Axis forces from fleeing to Italy. Tunisia is located near Malta, which is near Italy, therefore Tunisia is very important to get supplies to Italy. This battle was not a back and forth fight like other North African and Mediterranean battles, it was a decisive allied victory, due largely in part to access to supplies. -
Battle of the Atlantic, 1940-1943
German U-boat packs aimed to blockade Europe causing merchant ships to form large convoys, protected by screens of destroyers and corvettes. Daring U-Boat commanders carried out torpedo attacks within the defensive screen. In the end, the Battle of the Atlantic was eventually won by technology. Radar to detect U-Boats from the surface, radio interception, and code-breaking all played a part. By the end of the war more than 3,000 merchant ships had been sunk, as well as almost 800 U-Boats. -
Round the Clock Bombing of Germany
Britain and the United States begin regular, constant bombing of Germany. The bombing lead to the destruction of German infrastructure and caused many deaths, as well as causing enormous harm to the morale of Germans. -
Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk (July 1943) is commonly regarded as one of the three great Soviet victories, and the first achieved in the summer (unlike Moscow and Stalingrad). Hitler’s offensive against the Kursk salient (Operation ‘Citadel’) was halted, but the Soviets suffered higher losses. -
Briansk-Orel/Belgorod-Kharkov, July-August 1943
In the counter-offensives that followed 'Kursk' - ‘Citadel’: north of Kursk (Briansk/Orel – Operation ‘Kutuzov’) and south of it (Belgorod/Kharkov – Operation ‘Polkovodets Rumiantsev’) the Red Army took and held the initiative along the whole southern front. Its advance to the Dnepr River and across the western Ukraine to the pre-war border would then continue without significant pause until February 1944. -
Operation Husky Begins
A major campaign resulting in Allied control of Sicily. Both land and air attacks were used. This was the first of several attacks to open the "soft underbelly" of western Europe. -
Battle of Tarawa
US capture Tarawa island. -
Battle of Makin
US capture Makin island, continue island-hopping. -
Operation Shingle (Coastal Landings in Italy)
Allies gain foothold all over the coast of Italy, this shows their attempt to gain control over Europe. They staged several landings outside of operation shingle, as getting into France relied on getting into Italy first. -
Battle of Kwajalein
Continuation of island-hopping, considerable moral victory for US due to the fact it was the first time the outer rim of the Japanese Pacific sphere was penetrated. -
Operation Hailstorm
Successful US prevention of reinforcements to the Eniwetok Garrison. -
Battle of Eniwetok
Continuation of island-hopping. Provided a base for the US Navy's later operations. -
D-Day (Operation Overlord)
The most important American battles were the battle of Omaha beach and Utah beach. D-Day was a turning point in the war, and Allies gained access to mainland Europe. -
Battle of the Philipine Sea
Decisive US victory, with the destruction of three Japanese carriers. -
Operation ‘Bagration’, June–July 1944
The Soviet offensive in Belorussia, three weeks after D-Day overwhelmed the Germans by the pace and uninterrupted nature of the advance – within six weeks an entire army group had been destroyed, most of Soviet territory had been liberated, and spearhead units had advanced as far as central Poland. The pressure of ‘Bagration’ aided the British-American advance from Normandy. By the end of the offensive was that the Red Army would end the war in control of all Eastern Europe. -
Beginning Battle of Caen
Allies attempt to claim the French port city, attack Caen and capture 50,000 german soldiers and more germans retreat from the city. This gave the allies a port city in France which was very important to the war effort in Europe. -
Battle of Saipan
US victory, brought the US closer to Japan. Allowed US' B-29 to be within bombing range of mainland. -
Battle of Tinian
US victory, led to the construction of the largest air field in the Pacific. Continuation of island- hopping. -
Battle of Guam
US victory, continuation of island-hopping. Led to the construction of 5 air fields for the US. -
Operation Dragoon
Allies attempt to liberate southern france, they lose 17 thousand men to casualties of war, they capture 130 thousand German troops, and are successful in liberating south of France, -
Liberation of Paris
Allies reach and liberate paris, reaching a key victory in the war, this shows the Allies were gaining ground and finally getting a foothold they had been fighting for the entire war. -
Battle of Angaur
Island hopping campaign. Airfield was built to continue strategic bombings. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Destruction of 4 Japanese carriers, and 3 battleships, with allies losing 3 carriers. Considered the largest naval battle of all time. -
Battle of Peleliu
Another island-hopping endeavor. Led to the improvement of US amphibian assaults. -
Beginning Battle of the Bulge
Germany's last major battle, they launched a major assault on Antwerp. This was the last nail in the coffin for the Axis forces, guaranteed an Allied victory. The culmination of these events later drove Hitler to commit suicide. -
Battle of Leyte
Start of allied reconquest of the Philippine islands. -
Battle of Remagaen
AFter allies combat army in battle of the bulge, allies attempt to cross the Ludendorff Bridge, the Germans mount explosions however allies disarm them and move 8000 men in one night. -
The Crossing of the Rhine
Allies crossed the Rhine river, began the liberation of France. They had attempted before but failed, they succeeded by using amphibious attacks and enabled them to gain a foothold into Germany. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Americans invaded for airfield, and getting closer to inner layers f Japanese defense. -
US Liberates the Dachau Concentration Camp Survivors
32,000 survivors are liberated from Dachau concentration camps. While this is not necessarily a battle it was a clear display of America's political values. -
VE Day
The official end of the war. -
Battle of Okinawa
90% of buildings in Okinawa were destroyed. Provided fleet anchorage in close proximity to Japan. -
Atomic bombing of Hiroshima
"little boy" dropped on Hiroshima, lead to more than 20000 soldiers killed, 70000-146000 civilians killed. -
Atomic bombing of Nagasaki
Second atomic bombing, around 80,000 killed. Japan surrenders and ends war.