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German invasion of Poland
Who was involved: Germany, the Soviet Union, Poland, and Slovak Republic.
Where it happened: Poland and the Second Polish Republic
What happened: After heavy shelling and bombing, Warsaw surrendered to the Germans on September 27, 1939. Britain and France, standing by their guarantee of Poland's border, had declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939. The Soviet Union invaded eastern Poland on September 17, 1939.
Why it's important: It was the start of WWII. -
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The Battle of the Atlantic
Who was involved: Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, Belgium, France, Poland, Italy, Netherlands, Dominion of Newfoundland, and the Unites States.
Where it happened: Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, Caribbean Sea, Labrador Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Banks, Arctic Ocean, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and the Irish Sea. -
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The Battle of the Atlantic
What happened: The Battle of the Atlantic was the struggle between the Allied and German forces for control of the Atlantic Ocean. The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous military campaign in World War II, running from 1939 to the defeat of Germany in 1945. At its core was the Allied naval blockade of Germany, announced the day after the declaration of war, and Germany's subsequent counter-blockade.
Why it's important: It kept the U.S. able to send troops back and forth to Europe. -
The Bataan Death March
Who was involved: Japan and the United States.
Where is happened: The Bataan peninsula
What happened: The United States surrendered the peninsula to the Japanese. Approximately 75,000 Filipinos and American troops on Bataan were forced to make an arduous 65-mile march to prison camps.
Why it's important: It became an important symbol of Japanese brutality during WWII. -
The Battle of Coral Sea
Who was involved: Japan, The United States and Australia
Where it happened: The Coral Sea, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
What happened: The Allies stop the Japanese from expanding.
Why it's important: The Battle of the Coral Sea was important for several reasons. It was the first pure carrier-versus-carrier battle in history as neither surface fleet sighted the other. Though a draw, it was an important turning point in the war in the Pacific. -
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Battle of Midway
Who was involved: Japan and The United States
Where it happened: The Pacific Ocean
What happened: The United States read Japanese plans to attack American ships that escaped Pearl Harbor. The United States counter attacked the Japanese and damaged their naval army.
Why it's important: It was a turning point in the Pacific War. -
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The Battle of Guadacanal
Who was involved: Japan and the Allies
Where it happened: The island of Tulagi
What happened: The WWII Battle of Guadalcanal was the first major offensive and a decisive victory for the Allies in the Pacific theater. With Japanese troops stationed in this section of the Solomon Islands, U.S. marines launched a surprise attack in August 1942 and took control of an air base under construction.
Why it's important: It's important because it is getting the allies closer and closer to Berlin -
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Allied Invasion of North Africa
Who was involved: France, United Kingdom, and the United States
Where it happened: French North Africa
What happened: On November 8, 1942, the military forces of the United States and the United Kingdom launched an amphibious operation against French North Africa, in particular the French-held territories of Algeria and Morocco.
Why it's important: If you attack the weaker German troops, you would have a greater chance of attacking the stronger and smarter troops in Berlin. Which is the goal. -
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The Invasion of Normandy
Who was involved: The Western Allies and Germany
Where is happened: Normandy, France
What happened: It was the largest amphibious invasion in history. The U.S., British and Canadian all set up beachheads in Normandy, France. By the end of August 1944 all of the northern France was liberated, and the invading forces reorganized for the drive in Germany.
Why it's important: The Battle of Normandy was a critical battle because it opened a second major front against the Germans in Europe during WWII -
The Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Who was involved: Japan and The United States
Where is happened: American Naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii
What happened: Early int he morning, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked pearl harbor. The barrage lasted 2 hours, but it was very devastating. The Japanese destroyed 20 American naval bases, 8 enormous battleships, and more than 300 airplanes.
Why it's important: It sparked American drive to enter the war. After Pearl Harbor, The U.S. declared war of Japan. -
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The Battle of the Bulg
Who was involved: United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and the United States
Where it happened: Ardennes, Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg
What happened: It was the last major German offensive campaign of World War II. It was launched through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg, on the Western Front, towards the end of World War II.
Why it's important: It showed the struggle of trying to conquer the German front. -
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The Battle of Iwo Jima
Who was involved: Japan and The United States
Where it happened: The island of Iwo Jima, Japan
What happened: One-third of all Marine losses during World War II happened at Iwo Jima; it was the only large engagement of the war in which Allied forces suffered more casualties than their Japanese counterparts. By 1945, the Allies were gaining ground in the Pacific theater.
Why it's important: Helps pave the way for Okinawa -
Liberation of Dachau and Buchenwald
Who was involved: Germany and the United States
Where is happened: Poland and Germany
What happened: The allies were marching towards Germany to take over their army and they cam across tens of thousands of concentration camp prisoners.
Why it's important: It's important because it showed how brutal Germans were on its prisoners. It made Americans mad, because their own people were being treated that way. -
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The Battle of Okinawa
Who was involved: Japan, The United States, and the United Kingdom
Where it happened: The Japanese Ryukyu Islands
What happened: It was the largest amphibious landing in the Pacific theater of World War II. It also resulted in the largest casualties with over 100,000 Japanese casualties and 50,000 casualties for the Allies.
Why it's important: The Battle of Okinawa was significant in that it served as an example of how deadly the invasion of mainland Japan would be. -
V-E Day
Who was involved: The allied nations
Where it happened: In all allied nations
What happened: Victory in Europe Day, generally known as V-E Day, VE Day or simply V Day was the public holiday celebrated on 8 May 1945 to mark the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces.
Why it's important: It's important because it reminds us that we were victorious. It's a big part of American history. -
The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Who was involved: Japan and The United States
Where is happened: In the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
What happened: The United States dropped nuclear weapons on these Japanese cities during the final stage of WWII.
Why it's important: These bombs we intended to cause Japan to surrender to the allied forces and to bring about the end of WWII.