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Executive Order 9066
The goal of Executive Order 9066 was to remove people of Japanese heritage from the Pacific coast of the United States. Two thirds of the 110,000 people affected were American citizens. They were placed in Internment camps, which were like prisons. Most of the camps treated the people fairly. After the war ended, America admitted to acting injustly and survivors of the camps recieved letters of apology and payment from the government. -
The Bataan Death March
The American and Filipino troops were forced to surrender to the Japanese Army after being trapped in the Bataan Peninsula. When they were captured, they were forced to walk 80 miles in The Bataan Death March. The march took five days and five nights. Those who dropped out of line were either beaten or shot. There were 70,000 American and Filipino troops in the march and approximatyly 2,500-10,000 Filipino and 100-650 American prisinors died before they reached Camp O'Donnell. -
D-Day, the Invasion of Normandy
On D-Day, or Operation Overlord, the Allies launched a large invasion on the beaches of Normandy. On the day of the attack, 160,000 allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortifies French coastline. More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion. Paris was freed from the Germans and Hitler's forces began to retreat. 10,000 Allied troops were killed during the invasion. -
The Liberation of Auschwitz
Auchwitz was liberated by the 322nd Rifle Division of the Red Army. When Soviet troops arrived at Auschwitz, most of its population was evacuated and sent on a death march. Prisoners to weak or sick to walk were left behind. There was around 7,500 prisoners remaining at the camp. 600 of these prisoners died or were murdered before the Soviets reached the camp. -
Raising the flag on Mount Suribachi
At the battle of Iwo Jima, U.S. forces took over Mount Suribachi. The Marines captured the highest point of the Mountain where five American troops raised the American flag. Even so, fighting went on. When the battle was over, all but 1000 japan troops were dead. 7,000 Americans we killed on the island and many more were injured. The photo taken of the flag raising became extremely popular. It insured the American people and gave them more hope. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
Hiroshima was the primary target of the first nuclear bombing mission on Japan. The 393rd Bombardment Squadron B-29, Enola Gay was the plane that dropped the bomb. The plane left from Tinian, about six hours away from Japan. At 8:15, the bomb known as "Little Boy" took 43 seconds to fall from the aircraft. The blast was equivalent to 16 kilotons of TNT. Some 70,000 to 80,000 people were killed and another 35,000 were injured.
