Station #2

Major Battles of World War II

North Africa: El Alamein

Europe: Battle of Britain ,Stalingrad, Normandy Landings (D-day)

Pacific: Pearl Harbor, Midway, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Three “Theatres” of the War

War MatchupsAllied Powers (after

Germany invaded Poland in 1939)Great BritainFranceSoviet UnionCanadaAustraliaLater the United

States in 1941 after Pearl Harbor

Axis PowersGermanyItalyJapan

War StrategiesAllies

In Europe:Defeat Hitler first

In Pacific:“Island Hopping”

AxisIn Europe: Germany

Take Soviet Oil FieldsDefeat Great Britain

before US enters (bombing raids)

Submarine warfare on war supplies to Great Britain from US

In Pacific: JapanTake over main islands

of Pacific: Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, Hawaii

El Alamein: North Africa August-November, 1942 Location: Deserts of North

Africa Germans, led by “Desert Fox”

Erwin Rommel, attempting to overtake Suez Canal and cut Allied supply lines.

Key Allied victory. Hitler attempting to control

Middle Eastern Oil and attack Soviet Union from South.

This Ally victory kept the supply lines open and stopped German advance on the Soviet Union from the South.

Battle of Britain: Europe July 10, 1940-October 31, 1940Air attack by the Germans over

the G.B.After taking France the

German forces moved north on Great Britain.

The British Royal Air Force (RAF) was able to fight off the German Air Force (Luftwaffe).

This victory for the British delayed Hitler’s amphibious land invasion and turned his focus to the Soviet Union in 1941.

Stalingrad: Europe Winter of 1942-1943 Located in Russia Hitler, full of pride, desires to

take the city because of the name (Stalin-grad). Named after their leader Joseph Stalin.

Thousands of German soldiers died.

Germany attempting to overtake Soviet oil fields.

Hitler’s military stopped by the harsh winter and lack of supplies in the Soviet Union.

This battle stopped German control in Eastern Europe.

Normandy (D-day): Europe June 6, 1944Location: Beaches of France

(Omaha Beach)Led by Dwight Eisenhower

(future President after the war) American and Allied troops attack German controlled beaches of France.

Hundreds of American casualties.

Victory stopped German control of Western Europe

France liberated from German control.

Pearl Harbor: PacificDecember 7, 1941Japanese surprise air strike

against American base in Hawaii in early morning hours on a Sunday.

Japanese attack Americans over an embargo (ban on trade) placed on Japan of oil and steel.

Japanese needed this to fuel their take over of China.

United States declares war on Japan

Midway: Pacific June, 1942Location: Midway Island in

the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Japan.

After Pearl Harbor attacks. Japan attempting to seize

control over entire Pacific Ocean (control trade).

American victory started “Island Hopping” campaign to get closer to Japan.

Americans would take island by island getting closer to Japan.

Iwo Jima, Okinawa: Pacific Feb. 1945 Part of the “Island Hopping”

Campaign Located: Islands of Japan Key airfields located on these

islands. Victories for Americans here

brought us closer to Japan for future bombing raids.

Ended Japanese control over the Pacific Ocean

Thousands of casualties on both sides. Among the bloodiest battles.

Japanese soldiers and civilians committed suicide , known as “Kamikazes” rather than surrender or become POW’s.

Atomic Bombs: Hiroshima, JapanMonday, August 6,

1945First city: HiroshimaAtomic bomb nick-

named “Little Boy”2/3 of Hiroshima was

destroyed70,000 died instantlyAnother 70,000

within 5 years of radiation poisoning.

Atomic Bombs: Nagasaki, JapanAfter Japan refused to

officially surrender.3 Days, later, August 9th,

the Americans drop another atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki

Americans threaten Japan with continued bombings unless a formal surrender is issued.

The Japanese surrender…