World War IIWorld War II

Major Battles and EventsMajor Battles and Events

Blitzkrieg - “Lightening War”

Blitzkrieg - “Lightening War”

German attack on Poland

September 1, 1939 - first blitzkrieg

Successful military strategy for Germany - airplanes and tanks supported by infantry

German attack on Poland

September 1, 1939 - first blitzkrieg

Successful military strategy for Germany - airplanes and tanks supported by infantry

Battle of Britain - “the Blitz”

Battle of Britain - “the Blitz”

German air bombing campaign of Britain

September 1940 - May 1941

Bombings targeted major British cities, especially London

Hitler called off raids, allies learned Hitler could be stopped

German air bombing campaign of Britain

September 1940 - May 1941

Bombings targeted major British cities, especially London

Hitler called off raids, allies learned Hitler could be stopped

From 1935-1937, the U.S. passed a series of Neutrality Acts (They were practicing isolationism!)

From 1935-1937, the U.S. passed a series of Neutrality Acts (They were practicing isolationism!)

March 1941- Tobruk, LibyaMarch 1941- Tobruk, Libya

Rommel is sent by Hitler to defeat British forces

By June of 1942, he suceeded

Rommel is sent by Hitler to defeat British forces

By June of 1942, he suceeded

Battle in the BalkansBattle in the Balkans

Bulgaria, Romania & Hungary fall to Germany with barely any resistance

April 1941- Hitler invades Yugoslavia (11 days) & Greece (17 days).

Bulgaria, Romania & Hungary fall to Germany with barely any resistance

April 1941- Hitler invades Yugoslavia (11 days) & Greece (17 days).

Summer 1941- USSRSummer 1941- USSR

Germany turns on USSR and begins attack June 22- OPERATION BARBAROSSA

Soviets practices scorched-earth policy

September- Leningrad under siege

Germany turns on USSR and begins attack June 22- OPERATION BARBAROSSA

Soviets practices scorched-earth policy

September- Leningrad under siege

December 7, 1941 - “a date that will live in

infamy”

December 7, 1941 - “a date that will live in

infamy”Japanese attack on U.S.

Pearl Harbor Naval base, Hawaii

The next day, U.S. declared war on Japan, becomes involved in World War II

Japanese attack on U.S.

Pearl Harbor Naval base, Hawaii

The next day, U.S. declared war on Japan, becomes involved in World War II

Bataan Death MarchBataan Death March

April, 1942Philippines56,000 - 75,000

American and Filipino POWs marched north by Japanese

April, 1942Philippines56,000 - 75,000

American and Filipino POWs marched north by Japanese

Forced to march 60 mi while being beaten by Japanese soldiers.

Many were buried alive if they did not move fast enough

Japanese organizers of March were executed by Allies in 1946

Forced to march 60 mi while being beaten by Japanese soldiers.

Many were buried alive if they did not move fast enough

Japanese organizers of March were executed by Allies in 1946

Doolittle’s RaidApril 1941

Doolittle’s RaidApril 1941

Bombed the Japanese home islands (including city of Tokyo)

Proved that Japan was vulnerable

Bombed the Japanese home islands (including city of Tokyo)

Proved that Japan was vulnerable

Battle of Coral SeaMay 4-8, 1942

Battle of Coral SeaMay 4-8, 1942

The Japanese were advancing to the South

U.S. Naval carriers used aircraft to stop them

The Japanese were advancing to the South

U.S. Naval carriers used aircraft to stop them

Battle of MidwayBattle of Midway

June 3-6, 1942 U.S. v. Japan Midway Island, in the

Pacific The U.S. were

outnumbered 4-1 in ships and planes, but they won

Turning point of war against the Japanese

June 3-6, 1942 U.S. v. Japan Midway Island, in the

Pacific The U.S. were

outnumbered 4-1 in ships and planes, but they won

Turning point of war against the Japanese

Guadalcanal August 1942- February

1943

Guadalcanal August 1942- February

1943First major

offensive of the Allies vs. Japan

First major offensive of the Allies vs. Japan

Battle of StalingradBattle of StalingradGermany v. USSR

(Soviet Union)August 23, 1942 -

February 2, 1943The Russian winter

set inThe Germans

couldn’t survive the elements (same mistake Napoleon made!)

Germany v. USSR (Soviet Union)

August 23, 1942 - February 2, 1943

The Russian winter set in

The Germans couldn’t survive the elements (same mistake Napoleon made!)

Germany surrendered to Soviets, Germans were pushed back west

Turning point on Eastern Front

Germany surrendered to Soviets, Germans were pushed back west

Turning point on Eastern Front

Battle of El AminBattle of El Amin

October 1942Germany is

defeated by Britain

Led to the 1943 surrender in N. Africa

October 1942Germany is

defeated by Britain

Led to the 1943 surrender in N. Africa

D-Day - “Operation Overlord”

D-Day - “Operation Overlord”

U.S, Canada, Britain v. Germany

June 6, 1944 Beaches of Normandy,

France (Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, Utah)

France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg liberated from Nazi occupation

U.S, Canada, Britain v. Germany

June 6, 1944 Beaches of Normandy,

France (Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, Utah)

France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg liberated from Nazi occupation

3,000 American soldiers alone diedJuly 25- Allies finally cut a hole in

German defenseAugust 25- Allies march into Paris,

victorious.

3,000 American soldiers alone diedJuly 25- Allies finally cut a hole in

German defenseAugust 25- Allies march into Paris,

victorious.

Battle of the BulgeBattle of the BulgeU.S., British v.

GermanyDecember 16, 1944BelgiumLast major German

offensive of World War II

Allies push the Germans back

U.S., British v. Germany

December 16, 1944BelgiumLast major German

offensive of World War II

Allies push the Germans back

April 30/May 1, 1945- After swallowing poison, Hitler shoots himself

May 2- Germany surrendersMay 7- U.S. General Dwight

Eisenhower accepts Germany’s unconditional surrender

May 8- surrender is officially signedV-E Day

April 30/May 1, 1945- After swallowing poison, Hitler shoots himself

May 2- Germany surrendersMay 7- U.S. General Dwight

Eisenhower accepts Germany’s unconditional surrender

May 8- surrender is officially signedV-E Day

Battle of Iwo JimaBattle of Iwo Jima

U.S. v. Japan February 19 - March

26, 1945 (36 days) Bloodiest battle of WWII Americans took the island from the Japanese

U.S. v. Japan February 19 - March

26, 1945 (36 days) Bloodiest battle of WWII Americans took the island from the Japanese

Battle of OkinawaBattle of Okinawa

U.S. v. Japan April 1 - June 22, 1945 Okinawa - Pacific

Island Largest amphibious

assault in the Pacific Theater

After long, bloody battle, U.S. took the island

Last battle of WWII

U.S. v. Japan April 1 - June 22, 1945 Okinawa - Pacific

Island Largest amphibious

assault in the Pacific Theater

After long, bloody battle, U.S. took the island

Last battle of WWII

Invading Japan may have cost the U.S. the lives of about 500,000 soldiers.

FDR had died in April before the Allied victory against Germany

President Truman sent a warning to Japan to surrender, but Japan did not reply.

Invading Japan may have cost the U.S. the lives of about 500,000 soldiers.

FDR had died in April before the Allied victory against Germany

President Truman sent a warning to Japan to surrender, but Japan did not reply.

HiroshimaHiroshima

August 6, 1945Site of 1st atomic

bomb drop on Japan

73,000 dead114,000 total

(radiation and after effects)

August 6, 1945Site of 1st atomic

bomb drop on Japan

73,000 dead114,000 total

(radiation and after effects)

NagasakiNagasaki

August 9, 1945Second atomic

bomb dropped37,500 killedJapan surrendered,

September 2, 1945 to U.S. General MacArthur.

August 9, 1945Second atomic

bomb dropped37,500 killedJapan surrendered,

September 2, 1945 to U.S. General MacArthur.

Nuremberg TrialsNuremberg Trials

Nuremberg, Germany Trials of Nazi war

criminals Began in 1946 - last

trial…2009 Some sentenced to

prison, some executed (hung) and bodies burned in oven at concentration camps

Nuremberg, Germany Trials of Nazi war

criminals Began in 1946 - last

trial…2009 Some sentenced to

prison, some executed (hung) and bodies burned in oven at concentration camps

The nations that came together wanted to make sure that crimes against humanity like the Holocaust would never happen again.

June 1945: The formation of the United Nations (U.N.) Intended to protect its members

against aggression

The nations that came together wanted to make sure that crimes against humanity like the Holocaust would never happen again.

June 1945: The formation of the United Nations (U.N.) Intended to protect its members

against aggression