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The Attack of Pearl Harbor
Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 -- "a date which will live infamy." More than 2,400 Americans were killed and many battleships and aircraft were sunk or destroyed. This attack was what finally brought the U.S. into WWII. The next day, President Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan. The combined vote was nearly unanimous. The Axis Powers declared war on the United States between December 11 and December 13 of the same year. -
The Battle of Midway
United States officials knew that the Japanese were planning to attack Midway Island. When the Japanese planes took flight to attack the U.S. on June 4, they didn’t know that the Americans were waiting to ambush them. The Japanese lost some of their most crucial carriers, planes, and pilots. The Americans ensured the Japanese could no longer make any offensive action in the Pacific. Thus, The Battle of Midway was a major turning point that gave the Allies the upper hand in that part of the war. -
The Battle of Stalingrad
In 1941, Hitler sent his army to capture important oil fields, factories, and farmlands in southern Russia and Ukraine. However, cold weather halted the German advance until the warm months of 1942. The Germans fought the Soviets house-to-house and began a fire-bombing campaign. In November of 1942, the Red Army was surrounded and trapped. 91,000 Germans had surrendered by February 1943, and only 5,000 survived prison camps. Germany had proved that it wasn't unstoppable anymore. -
The Invasion of Italy
As the Allied troops came ashore, American tanks destroyed enemy lines while the British attacked from the south. The Germans were driven out of Sicily. The king of Italy decided that Mussolini should be striped of power, so the former was arrested. However, after Italy surrendered to the Allies, the Germans regained control and put Mussolini back in power. Finally, at Cassino and Anzio, the Allies forced the Germans to surrender. The Italian campaign was one of the bloodiest in the war. -
The Battle of Normandy (D-Day)
Hitler knew the Allies were going to attack, but he didn't know when or where. The former placed faux equipment to trick the Germans into thinking that the landing would be farther north. "Operation Overlord" -- as the Allies called it, was both well-planned and the largest amphibious attack in history. It resulted in the liberation of Paris from Nazi control and was dubbed the "beginning of the end of the war in Europe." The next spring, Hitler ended his own life and the Nazis surrendered. -
The Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was the largest battle in Western Europe during WWII, and was the largest battle the U.S. Army fought. The Germans counter-attacked the Allies and a bulge formed in the line as they were pushed back. U.S. General Patton was able to order his troops to pound German lines. Allied aircraft also began hitting German fuel depots when the weather cleared. Germany withdrew due to major causalities and a lack of resources. However, there were major causalities on both sides. -
The Battle of Okinawa
With over 50,000 U.S. casualties, this battle was the costliest encounter of the Pacific War. The Allies needed to invade Japan to get it to surrender, and chose Okinawa as a base. It was the last obstacle to full invasion of the Japanese home islands. The Americans had to fight their way up mountains and against military fire to attack. Japan also flew 2,000 kamikaze against the U.S. ships. However, Okinawa was eventually captured by the Americans, giving them an easy path to conquer Japan. -
The Battle of Berlin
In this battle, the Soviets attacked Germany from the east while the Americans attacked from the west. In March of 1945, U.S. troops crossed the Rhine River with their tanks. The Rhine was Germany's last majorly defensive line. After defeating Nazi lines there, the Americans moved east -- within 70 miles of Berlin. On April 16, Soviet troops destroyed German defenses and later reached Berlin. On April 30, Hitler committed suicide. May 8, 1945 was coined V-E Day. The Allies had won in Europe.