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D-Day
D-Day, on June 6, 1944, was the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. Over 156,000 troops from the U.S., U.K., Canada, and other Allied nations landed on five beaches under heavy German resistance. The operation was a turning point in the war, leading to the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany. -
Liberation of Paris
The Liberation of Paris, from August 19 to August 25, 1944, marked the end of Nazi occupation in the French capital. French Resistance forces, with support from the U.S. 2nd Armored Division, rose against German troops, leading to their surrender. The victory boosted Allied momentum and symbolized France’s return to freedom. -
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Battle of Leyte Gulf
The Battle of Leyte Gulf, fought from October 23 to 26, 1944, was the largest naval battle of World War II and a decisive Allied victory. U.S. and Australian forces clashed with the Japanese navy near the Philippines, crippling Japan’s fleet and securing the Allies’ control of the Pacific. The battle also saw Japan’s first organized use of kamikaze attacks. -
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Battle of Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge, fought from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945, was Nazi Germany’s last major offensive on the Western Front during World War II. German forces launched a surprise attack through the Ardennes Forest, creating a “bulge” in Allied lines, but were eventually pushed back by U.S. and Allied troops. The hard-fought victory depleted Germany’s reserves and hastened the end of the war in Europe. -
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference, held in February 1945, brought together Allied leaders Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin to plan for post-war Europe. They agreed to divide Germany into occupation zones, demand its unconditional surrender, and establish the United Nations. However, tensions over Eastern Europe foreshadowed the Cold War. -
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Firebombing if Dresden
The firebombing of Dresden, from February 13 to 15, 1945, was a massive Allied air raid that devastated the German city. British and U.S. bombers dropped thousands of tons of explosives and incendiary bombs, creating a firestorm that killed tens of thousands of civilians. The attack remains controversial, with debates over its military necessity and the destruction of a historic cultural center. -
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Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima, fought from February 19 to March 26, 1945, was a brutal conflict between U.S. Marines and Japanese forces. The U.S. aimed to capture the island for its strategic airfields, facing fierce Japanese resistance in heavily fortified positions. The hard-fought American victory was symbolized by the iconic flag-raising on Mount Suribachi. -
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Firebombing of Toyko
The firebombing of Tokyo on March 9–10, 1945, was one of the most destructive air raids in history. U.S. B-29 bombers dropped incendiary bombs on the city, creating a massive firestorm that killed an estimated 100,000 people and destroyed much of Tokyo. The attack was part of a broader strategy to force Japan’s surrender by targeting its industrial and civilian centers. -
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Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, fought from April 1 to June 22, 1945, was the largest and bloodiest battle of the Pacific War. U.S. forces faced fierce resistance from entrenched Japanese troops and waves of kamikaze attacks in a fight for control of the island. The costly Allied victory brought them one step closer to Japan, influencing the decision to use atomic bombs to end the war. -
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Soviet invasion of Berlin
The Soviet invasion of Berlin, from April 16 to May 2, 1945, was the final major battle of World War II in Europe. The Red Army encircled and stormed the German capital, facing fierce resistance before capturing the city. Hitler’s suicide on April 30 hastened Germany’s surrender, marking the war’s end in Europe. -
Hitler’s suicide
On April 30, 1945, as Soviet forces closed in on Berlin, Adolf Hitler died by suicide in his bunker beneath the Reich Chancellery. He shot himself while his wife, Eva Braun, took poison, refusing to be captured. Their bodies were later burned by loyal aides, marking the collapse of Nazi Germany. -
Germany’s Surrender
Germany surrendered unconditionally on May 7, 1945, ending World War II in Europe. The surrender was signed in Reims, France, and ratified on May 8 in Berlin, leading to Victory in Europe (V-E) Day. This marked the official defeat of Nazi Germany and the beginning of Allied occupation. -
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Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference, held from July 17 to August 2, 1945, brought together Allied leaders Harry Truman, Winston Churchill (later Clement Attlee), and Joseph Stalin to discuss post-war Europe and Japan’s surrender. The Allies issued the Potsdam Declaration, demanding Japan’s unconditional surrender or total destruction. Rising tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union at the conference foreshadowed the Cold War. -
Hiroshima Bombing
On August 6, 1945, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, to force a swift end to World War II. The explosion killed an estimated 80,000 people instantly, with tens of thousands more dying from radiation exposure. The devastation marked the first use of nuclear weapons in war and led to Japan’s eventual surrender. -
Nagasaki Bombing
On August 9, 1945, the U.S. dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, killing an estimated 40,000 people instantly and tens of thousands more from radiation and injuries. The bombing, following Hiroshima, pushed Japan to surrender, leading to the end of World War II. The unprecedented destruction also sparked global debates on nuclear warfare. -
Japan’s Surrender
Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union’s declaration of war. Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender in a radio broadcast, leading to V-J (Victory over Japan) Day. The formal surrender was signed on September 2 aboard the USS Missouri, officially ending World War II.