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Bombing of Pearl Harbor
The bombing of Pearl Harbor was a very important part to WWII because it is what caused America to officially enter the war. Japanese forces launched this attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which was the site of the US Navy's main pacific base. The attack was a complete surprise and left America severely damaged in many ways. 2,500 people were killed, 8 battleships damaged, over 200 aircrafts ruined or damaged. When the attack was over, FDR announced America would enter the war offically. -
Doolittle Raid
This was the first air raid to the japanese by the United States. The goal was to fly over and drop bombs on Japan's military targets and show them that they were not safe from air attack. This was the US attempt on getting Japan back for Pearl Harbor. The destruction was not very great at all but it showed Japan that they should be doubting their strengths and leaders. The attack also boosted US confidenece. -
Battle of Midway
This battle was the most important naval battle of WWII. The Us defeated Japan here and this was the turning point in the war in the pacific. US defeated the very determined and commited Japanese troops. They were still very determined and powerful but they would never again threaten Hawaii or domination of the pacific. -
Battle of Stalingrad
This battle was fought by nazi Germany and the soviet union fighting for the control of the city of Stalingrad. It was a major and very bloody battle of the war. The soviet Army won this battle and left Germany unable to regain what they had lost in this battle. The battle of Stalingrad was known to be one of the bloodiest of WWII and there was an extemely high amount of casualities. Later it became known as the turning point of the war in Europe. -
D-Day
D-day was the day the allies hit Germany with full force. It is often referred to as "the longest day".It was an attempt to destroy German communication and transportaion networks and sfoten Nazi beach defenses. Allies unloaded on four beaches and were greeted with a shower of bullets and shells. At the end of the day the allies had gained a toehold in France and taken a very important and crucial step to Berlin, the capital of Germany. -
Battle of the buldge
This battle was a counterattack by the German forces. English speaking German soldiers cut telephone lines, changed road signs, and spread confusion everwhere. This was an attempt to split the american and british forces and it failed. A result was that it drained many German reserves. -
Hitler commits suicide; Germany surrenders
Adolf Hitler commited suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head on April 30th. Not long after Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allied forces. Germany surrendered on May 7th truly ending the WWII. Victory was ours and people were rejocing all over America.Everyone was safe from the dangers and terrors of Hitler and the German army. -
Development/test of the atomic bomb
The most crucial scientific development of all was the atomic bomb. This bomb changed the war and the outcome of it completely. Scientists discovered in the early 1930's how to split the nuclei of certain elements and that it released large amounts of energy. The bomb was tested on July 16th 1945 in New Mexico and was a success.Truman then made the war- altering decision to use this bomb even though the desicion was a tough one to make. The bomb was used just a few short weeks later on Japan. -
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
These two bombings were on two different Japanese cities and happened on two different days. The first bombing occured on August 6th at Hiroshima and the second bombing, at Nagasaki, happened on August 9th. US dropped atomic bombs on these cities and the results were that 60,000 were killed at Hiroshima and 35,000 at Nagasaki. The result of this was that it left long term affects on the survivors due to radiation. -
Japan Surrenders
After president Truman made the executive decision to drop the two atomic bombs on Japan it put immense amounts of pressure on the Japanese. After the first bomb was dropped on August 6, three days later the Soviet Union declared war on Japan by invading Manchuria. This was the same day the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Finally, Empoeror Hirohito surrendered. The formal surrendering happened aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, ending the most costly war in history.
