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German Invasion of Poland
Over 1 million German troops invaded Poland. Germans bombed Polish naval forces in the Baltic Sea. Claiming that the massive invasion by the Germans was a defensive action. Although Britain and France were not convinced they declared war on Germany September 3. To Hitler taking over Poland would bring "living space" to the Germans. They would later colonize the territory they toke over. -
Battle of Atlantic
During World War II, the Battle of the Atlantic was the longest battle fought during this time period.Thousands of ships were sunk during this battle and tens of thousands of men killed in the Atlantic Ocean. The Battle of the Atlantic began right after British declared war against Germany. -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked American naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. The Japanese managed to destroy about 20 American naval vessels. Later that day President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan. Later Germany and Italy also declared war on the United States. After two years into the war America finally Joined. -
The Bataan Death March
Right after the bombing of the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, the Japanese invasion of the Philippines began. Within a couple of weeks the Japanese invaded Manila the capital of the Philippines. After the American's and Filipino defenders of Luzon were forced to move to the Bataan Peninsula. About 75,000 Filipino and American troops had to make a 65 mile march to prison camps. Many of witch died of harsh treatment and intense heat during the march to Bataan. -
Battle of Coral Sea
A four day battle between the Japanese and the Allied forces marked the first air-sea battle in history. The Japanese was seeking control over the Coral Sea but their plans were intercepted by the Allied forces. -
Battle of Midway
Months after the attack on Pearl Harbor the United States defeated Japan in one of the worst naval battles of World war II. The victory over Japan was mostly over code breaking and the United States were able to preempt and counter Japan and ambush their aircraft carriers. -
Battle of Guadalcanal
During World War II the Battle of Guadalcanal was the first major offensive victory for the Allies in the Pacific Ocean. During the same time period the U.S. Marines launched a surprise attack in August and took control of an air base under construction. Around February 1943 the Japanese had lost two-thirds of their army troops committed. -
Allied invasion of North Africa (Morocco & Algeria)
Operation Torch was the name given to the Allied invasion of French North Africa in November 8, 1942. This operation was the first British and American had joined forces. -
Invasion of Normandy
The Invasion of Normandy is also called "Operation Overlord" this is when the U.S British and Canadian forces landed on five separate beachhead in Normandy, France. By the end of August all of northern part of France was liberated. -
Battle of the Bulge
The goal for Hitler during the Battle of the Bulge was to split the Allied armies in the northwest part of Europe. Meaning he would surprise the Allied forces in St-Vith. During this battle the German's had a shortage of fuel and the American troops fighting in the frozen forest of the Ardennes proved fatal to Hitler's ambition. -
Battle at Iwo Jima
The Battle at Iwo Jima has around 23,000 Japanese army and navy troops in the island. Who fought from an elaborate network of caves dugouts and tunnels and underground installations. Joe Rosenthal provided the U.S. Marine Corps with one of the most enduring images with one of the most popular images. Now this image has been replicated on postage stamps as well as on the memorial status at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery. -
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was when the Allied forces invaded the island of Okinawa and was the bloodiest battle of the pacific ocean. This battle with the Japanese navy and army was mostly a one-way "suicide" missions. The end result was horrifying for both the island's civilian population and both military forces. -
Liberation of Dachau and Buchenwald
The Dachau camp was established five weeks after Hitler took power as German chancellor in 1933. This concentration camp was situated on the outskirts of the town of Dachau, 10 miles northwest of Munich. Thousands of inmates died or were executed at Dachau. -
VE-day
On May 8, 1945 both Great Britain and the United States celebrate the Victory in Europe Day. Cities in both nations as well as formerly occupied cities in Western Europe. -
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During World War II, an American B-29 bomber dropped the world's first deployed atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Japan. Killing over 90% of the city. Three day after the first bombing on Japan, Americans dropped a second B-29 on Nagasaki, Japan killing tens of thousands of people during a three day period.
