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German Blitzkrieg
German quickly overran much of Europe and was victorious for more than two years by relying on their new military tactic which was Blitzkrieg. They required the concentration of offensive weapons (tanks, plane, etc.). This happened along a narrow front and in order to create disorganization among enemy forces through the use of mobile forces and firepower
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/blitzkrieg-lightning-war
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/blitzkrieg -
Pearl Harbor
183 aircraft of the Japanese Navy attacked the US Naval base. Within 2 hours, 18 US warships had been damaged. This happened because tensions between Japan & the US had been mounting for a long time which made war seem inevitable. The Japanese attack destroyed 20 American ships & over 300 airplanes. 2,403 killed & 1,000 wounded
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-happened-at-pearl-harbor
https://www.history.com/news/why-did-japan-attack-pearl-harbor -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a turning point in the Pacific War. WWII naval battle, fought with aircraft, where the US destroyed Japan's first line carrier strength & most of its best trained naval pilots. It happened because of Yamamoto's plan that was to attack and then assault the two islands that make up the Midway. US victory.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Midway
https://warontherocks.com/2013/09/the-importance-of-the-battle-of-midway/
http://www.molossia.org/milacademy/midway.html -
Wannsee Conference
15 high ranking Nazi Party & the German government officials gathered in a Berlin suburb of Wannsee to discuss and coordinate the performance of the "Final Solution of the Jewish Question." This happened because the Nazis used "final solution" to hide their policy of mass murder from the rest of the world. This left an impact of the fact that it did not mark the beginning of the "final solution."
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/wannsee-conference-and-the-final-solution -
Bataan Death March
The Filipino & American troops captured on the Bataan Peninsula began a forced march to a prison camp. Prisoners were forced to march 85 miles in 6 days, with only one meal of rice during the whole journey. By the end of the march, hundreds of Americans and more Filipinos died. It happened because 75,000 troops were captured. The effects were that several troops had died due to hardly no food.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bataan-death-march-begins -
Battle of Stalingrad
This battle marked the end of Germany's advances into eastern Europe & Russia. Was the first major German loss during WWII. After the Germans lost, they did not advance farther into eastern Europe or Russia. Germans failed to achieve victory over Soviet Union because of manpower & industrial resources.
https://thebattleofstalingradperiodone.weebly.com/significance.html
https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Stalingrad
http://www.thehistoryreader.com/modern-history/stalingrad-1942-aftermath/ -
Allied Invasion of Italy
There was a belief that the presence of Allied troops in Italy would help the Allies with the invasion of Normandy. On the day of the landing, the Italian government secretly agreed to the Allies' terms for surrender, but no public announcement was made until later. Opposition groups in Italy were uniting to overthrow Mussolini and make peace with the Allies. It was a success because it gave the Allies complete control.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-invade-italian-mainland -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
Allied forces of Britain, America, Canada & France attacked German forces on the coast of Normandy, France. With a force of over 150,000 soldiers, the Allies attacked & gained victory that became the turning point in Europe. Allied landings marked the start of a long & costly campaign to liberate Europe. Germans could not handle the war
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-10-things-you-need-to-know-about-d-day
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/~kmmurray/The%20Longest%20Day/The%20Effects%20of%20D-Day.html -
Battle of the Bulge
Germans launched the last major offensive of the war. Was an attempt to push the Allied front line to northwestern Belgium. Happened because Germans created a "bulge" that pushed through the American defensive line. The largest fought on the Western front. Germans lost many experienced troops & there was no way their army could launch another attack
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-the-bulge
https://worldhistory2battleofthebulge.weebly.com/results-and-significance.html -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima considered to have great tactical importance. Two airfields on the island under Japan's control. Could be used by Japan fighter planes to attack American bombers on flights to Japan. First major battle to take place on Japan homeland. Happened because US said Iwo Jima must be captured. Airfields were shut down.
https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/world-war-two/the-pacific-war-1941-to-1945/the-battle-of-iwo-jima/
https://battlesofworldwariiiwojima.weebly.com/long-term-effects.html -
VE Day
Great Britain and the US celebrate Victory in Europe day. Cities put flags and banners, rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazi war machine. Happened because German soldiers wanted to elude the grasp of Soviet forces to keep from being taken prisoner. It was the day the Allies celebrated the defeat of the Nazi Germany and the end of Hitler's Reich.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/VE-Day/ -
Dropping the Atomic Bombs
The US becomes the first & only nation to use atomic weaponry during the wartime when it drops an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The American bomber Enola Gay dropped a five-ton bomb over the city. Truman, warned by some of his advisers that any attempt to invade Japan would result in horrific American casualties, ordered that the new weapon be used to bring war to an end. Killed thousands of peopl
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-hiroshima -
VJ Day
Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending WWII - Victory over Japan Day. Also used for when Japan's formal surrender took place aboard the USS Missouri. Japan's capitulation in the Pacific brought six years of hostilities to a final and highly anticipated close. When US heard Japan surrendered, there were joyous street celebrations.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
As the Allies advanced across Europe at the end of WWII, they came across concentration camps filled with sick and starving prisoners. Auschwitz was overrun by Russian soldiers. It was the largest extermination and concentration camp where over a million people had been deported. Nazis transported prisoners away fron the front and deep into Germany. Some taken from the camps by train. Majdanek was liberated first.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/liberation-of-the-concentration-camps -
Battle of Okinawa
Largest amphibious landing in the Pacific theater. Resulted in the largest casualties with over 100,000 Japan casualties and over 50,000 casualties for the Allies. The capture of Okinawa was part of a 3 point plan the Americans had for winning. A bloody battle even by the standards of the war in the far east. Major battle.
https://www.historynet.com/battle-of-okinawa-operation-iceberg.htm
https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/world-war-two/the-pacific-war-1941-to-1945/the-battle-of-okinawa/
