-
Executive Order 9066
This executive order had one main goal, and that was to remove people of Japanese heritage from the western United States. They removed people from California, Washington, Oregon, and Arizona, and placed them into internment camps. Two thirds of the people affected were Americans. -
Period: to
Major WWII Events
-
The Bataan March
After America lost the battle in the Philippines, Japan forced the American soldiers and Filipinos on a death March. This death march lasted five days and five nights. Those were dropped out of line were beaten and shot, and those who fell down were left for dead. The soldiers were sick and starving, and over 7,000 died. -
D-Day
It was known as Operation Overlord, and it was a large invasion of mainland Europe. It happened on the beaches of Normandy, and was planned very precisely. Omar Bradly led the American troops to a huge victory. -
Auschwitz Liberation
The Auschwitz concentration camp was one of the worst labor and death camps in World War II. As the Soviet forces marched closer to Auschwitz the German SS began to send Jews and other minorities on death marches. The Soviets liberated about more than 7,000 people, however more than 1.6 million were sent to the camp and at least 1.1 million were killed brutally. -
Raising the Flag on Mount Suribachi
America wanted to take over Iwo Jima to make a base for B-29 bomber planes. However, Japan heavily guarded this island. They hid in caves and tunnels which were protected by concrete. Early in the battle, the American Marines captured the island's highest point, Mount Suribachi and raised an American flag right on top of it. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
On this day, America sent a B-29 bomber plane to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. This bomb wiped out about ninety percent of the city's population. About 80,000 people died from the actual bomb, but tens of thousands died later from radiation exposure. However, it did not convince the Japanese to surrender until the second atomic bomb was dropped.
