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Battle of the Atlantic
German U-Boats were sinking allied ships that were unprotected. The Germans were successful in the beginning but late in the war the Allies had the upper hand. Allies used convoys and sonar system to detect German U-Boats. -
Pearl Harbor
Two Attacks
2400 U.S. military and civilians died
1178 U.S. military and civilians wounded
18 ships and 350 planes sunk or damaged -
U.S. Declares war on Japan
In response to Pearl Harbor -
Germany and Italy declare war on U.S.
In response to U.S. declaring war on Japan -
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Battle of Coral Sea
Australia stopped Japanese invasion. Although Japan won the actual battle this was the first time allied forces stop Japan's invasion. U.S. used 'island hopping" technique to weaken Japanese forces. -
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Battle of Midway
Japanese code intercepted by Admiral Chester Nimitz. The U.S. launched surprise attack on Japan at an island known as Midway. The U.S. was successful. Japan lost 4 carriers, 3 destroyers, approximately 275 planes, 4,800 men, and suffered extensive damage to remaining ships. America lost 1 carrier, 150 planes, and 307 men. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
The Germans violated a non-aggression pact with Soviet Union. Hitler wanted to capture Soviet oil fields. Germany nearly won this engagement but the winter of 1943 hit and German forces couldn't handle the extreme conditions. when Hitler ordered the German forces to stay put the Soviets used it to their advantage and ended up winning. 1100000 Soviets died. Soviets moved westward. -
France was freed of German occupation
One month. One million more troops. -
Normandy Invasion (D-Day)
General Dwight D. Eisenhower and George Patton were influential in leading the attack.
D-Day:
156000 Allied troops, 60 Mile stretch of beach, 4000 landing crafts, 600 warships, 11000 planes.
Omaha beach is known as one of the most brutal locations.
D-Day was the largest land, air and sea invasion in history.
At the end of the entire Normandy campaign the Allied forces and Germany had suffered 450000 casualties -
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Battle of the Bulge
Fought in Belgium, Germany was trying to capture Antwerp. German tanks broke through American lines. Very brutal conflict. 120000 Germans died, 600 German tanks and guns were lost as well as 16000 German planes. 80000 American soldiers died, America won but were close to winning. -
Yalta Conference
Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill got together and discussed post war. Set up United Nations. -
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Iwo Jima
Japan held this vitally important pacific island. 26,800 out of 27,000 Japanese soldiers that held Iwo Jima died and 6,000 U.S. marines died. U.S. won. -
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Battle of Okinawa
Okinawa was Japan's last defensive stronghold. Japan had used 1,900 kamikaze attacks. 110,000 Japanese soldiers died and 7,600-12,500 U.S. soldiers died. U.S. victory. -
Death of Franklin D. Roosevelt
Died at the beginning of his fourth term. U.S. went through grieving period. Vice President Harry S. Truman became President. -
Death of Hitler and Eva Braun
Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun commit suicide, bodies burnt -
V-E Day
General Eisenhower accepted the surrender of the Third Reich. At this time the first part of World War 2 was over. -
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Potsdam
Truman and Stalin met in Potsdam Germany to draw up a blueprint to disarm Germany and eliminate Nazi regime. Divided Germany into 4 sections, set up Nuremberg trials, and declared that Japan must unconditionally surrender. -
Hiroshima
Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Called 'Little Boy". Within 45 Seconds the entire city collapsed to dust. -
Nagasaki
Second Atomic Bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. Called "Fat Man". Destroyed half of the city -
Period: to
Nuremberg Trials
The international tribunal court tried Nazi officials. Over 23 nations tried Nazi war criminals in Nuremberg. 12 of a total 22 defendants were sentenced to death, 200 other officials were tried but received lesser sentences.