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German Invasion of Poland
Who was involved: German troops, Hitler and Polish Army
Where it happened: Along Poland's 1,750- mike border
What Happen: Both the allies and the axis powers fought for control of the Atlantic Ocean. The Allies wanted it to resupply Britain and the Soviet Union against Germany and Italy. The Axis powers wanted to stop them
Why was it important: The battle was a strategic victory for the Allies -
Period: to
Battle of the Atlantic
Who was involved: Britain, Canada, Germany, and the United States
Where it happened: North sea, Caribbean sea, Labrador sea, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Banks, Arctic ocean, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and Irish sea
What happened: Both the allies and the axis powers fought for control of the Atlantic Ocean. The Allies wanted it to resupply Britain and the Soviet Union against Germany and Italy. The Axis powers wanted to stop them
Why it's important: This battle was a strategic victory for the allies -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Who was involved: Japan and Untied States
Where it happened: Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii
What happen: Kamikaze Japan pilots crashed their plans into our naval base in Hawaii
Why it's important: It sparked the United States into entering WWII -
The Bataan Death March
Who was involved: Japan, Philippines and United States
Where it happened: The Bataan peninsula in the Philippine Island
What happened:The surrendered Filipinos and Americans soon were rounded up by the Japanese and forced to march some 65 miles from Mariveles, on the southern end of the Bataan Peninsula, to San Fernando.
Why it's important: 65,000 Filipino and American troops were forced to march for 65 miles to prison camps -
Battle of Coral Sea
Who was involved: Japan, United States, and Australia
Where it happened: Coral sea, Solomon Islands, and New Guinea
What happened: It was a major naval battle between Japan and the United States, 500 miles from Australia
Why it's important:It was the first pure carrier-versus-carrier battle in history as neither surface fleet sighted the other. Though a draw, it was an important turning point in the war in the Pacific because, for the first time, the Allies had stopped the Japanese advance -
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Battle of Midway
Who was involved: United States and Japan
Where it happened: Midway Atoll and the Pacific Ocean
What happened: United States Navy defeated a Japanese attack on Midway Atoll
Why it's important: It marked a turning point in the war -
Period: to
Battle of Guadalcanal
Who was involved: Allies, Japan and United States
Where it happened: Solomon Islands, Pacific, and the islands of Tulagi
What happened:With Japanese troops stationed in this section of the Solomon Islands, U.S. marines launched a surprise attack and took control of an air base under construction.
Why it's important: It was the first major offensive and decisive victory for the Allies. -
Period: to
Allied invasion of North Africa
Who was involved: United States, United kingdom, Allies and Axis powers
Where it happened: Algeria and Morocco
What happened: United States and the United Kingdom launched an amphibious operation against French North Africa
Why it's important: A successful invasion by combined British and American forces of French North Africa -
Period: to
Invasion of Normandy
Who was involved: Allies and German Nazi
Where it happened: Along a 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast
What happen: Allied Forces of Britain, America, Canada, and France attacked German forces on the coast of Normandy, France
Why it's important: With over 150,000 soldiers allies gained a victory witch became a turning point for Europe in WWll -
Period: to
Battle of the Bulge
Who was involved: Germans and the Allies
Where it happened: Ardennes, Nazi Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg
What happened: The Germans attempted to push the Allied front line west from Northern France to Northwestern Belgium
Why it's important: It was the Germans last major offensive attempt of the war -
Period: to
Battle of Iwo Jima
Who was involved: United States and Japan
Where it happened: Two islands of Iwo Jima
What happened: America invaded Iwo Jima in order to gain land closer to Japan.
Why it's important: it was the only large engagement of the war in which Allied forces suffered more casualties than their Japanese counterparts. -
Period: to
Battle of Okinawa
Who was involved: United States and Japan
Where it happened: Ryukyu Islands
What Happened: It was the largest amphibious landing in the Pacific theater of World War II. It also resulted in the largest casualties with over 100,000 Japanese casualties and 50,000 casualties for the Allies.
Why it's important:it was the largest amphibious landing in the pacific and also resulted in the largest casualties. -
Period: to
Liberation of Dachau and Buchenwald
Who was Involved: Nazi Germany and the United States
Where did it happen: Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps
What Happened:US forces liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp near Weimar, Germany. They also liberated Dora-Mittelbau, Flossenbürg, Dachau, and Mauthausen
Why was it important: the United States saved so many lives by liberating those concentration camps. -
V-E Day
Who was Involved: United States, Great Britain, Australia, Soviet Union, and Nazi Germany
Where did it happen: Europe
What Happened: the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces
Why is it Important: Germany surrendered all of its armed forces to the United States and the Allied powers -
Period: to
Battle of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Who was involved: United States and Japan
Where did it happen: Hiroshima and Nagasaki
What Happen: United States dropped two atomic bombs in Japan
Why is it important: It resulted in the Allied victory.