world war ii major battles and events. blitzkrieg - “lightening war” german attack on poland ...
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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