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The Attack on Pearl Harbor
On this morning the Japanese surprised American troops with an attack on Pearl Harbor. The harbor was relatively undefended and the Japanese attack devastated the American forces stationed there. Japan wanted to destroy the American fleet to hinder them in the war. The Japanese were unable to hinder the American navy as much as they wanted to, but the plan worked to some degree when 3 days later the USA declared war on Japan, entering WWII.
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The Battle of Midway
The battle of Midway marked a major turning point in the US's war against Japan. The battle was an air and sea battle where the Japanese navy clashed with the American navy. Japan ambitiously set out to gain complete control of the Western Pacific. Japan hoped to do this by replicating the success of the attack on Pearl Harbor by launching another surprise attack targeting the Allied base on Midway Island. However, the American forces were able to repel the attack.
Photo Source: US Navy -
The Battle of Normandy
The battle of Normandy marked a big turning point in the war. Troops from France, America, and Canada invaded the beaches of Normandy where they were met with opposing Axis forces. After D-Day, the Allies were able to liberate most of Western Europe. The invasion was a huge success partially because of the cunning and wit of the Allied leaders. Before the battle, they used many different tactics to convince the Germans that different areas were the intended targets.
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The Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa
As the United States engaged in an island-hopping strategy, they set their eyes on Okinawa as the optimal location to attack mainland Japan from. When the US invaded the island of Iwo Jima, they expected a swift campaign. However, Japanese forces turned the island's natural topography into a fortified death trap. The battle of Okinawa was likewise bloody as Japanese soldiers defended it with their lives.
Photo credit: National Archives -
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The bombing of Hiroshima killed an estimated 80,000 people. Tens of thousands more would die from radiation and other problems the bomb caused. However, only three days later the USA would drop another bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. The devastation caused to Nagasaki was limited due to the topography of the area, but still tremendous. The first bomb failed to induce Japanese surrender, but the destruction to Nagasaki, forced the Japanese Emperor to surrender.
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