-
The Invasion of Poland
The Nazis justified the invasion by suggesting that Poland had been planning to invade Germany, and with false reports that Poles were persecuting ethnic Germans. On 17 September, the Soviet Union joined forces with Germany and invaded Poland. -
The Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was a major air battle fought largely over southern England. After the evacuation of the British Force from Dunkirk and the Fall of France, Germany planned to gain air superiority in preparation for an invasion of Great Britain. The pilots of RAF Fighter Command, flying iconic aircraft were supported by a vast network of ground crew during the battle. Ultimately, the Luftwaffe was defeated by Fighter Command. This ending forced Adolf Hitler to abandon his invasion plans. -
The Bombing of Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941
- Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
- The attack killed or wounded over 3,500 American troops and civilians.
- The attack severely damaged the fleet. Before the attack, the Americans were scared to become involved in the war. Everything changed when the United States declared war on Japan, bringing the country into World War II. -
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a crucial naval battle fought in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. Where the United States Navy beat the Imperial Japanese Navy near Midway Atoll. This marked a significant turning point in the war against Japan by taking down their carrier fleet and significantly hindering their offense. -
The Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad was a successful Soviet defense of the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd), Russia, U.S.S.R., during World War II. Russians consider it to be one of the greatest battles of their "Great Patriotic War." It stopped the German advance into the Soviet Union and marked the turning of the tide of war in favor of the Allies. -
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was a compromise that met the British objective of securing victory in North Africa while allowing American armed forces the opportunity to begin their fight against Nazi Germany and Italy. -
Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Program
"The Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program (MFAA) was established under the Civil Affairs and Military Government Sections of the Allied armies as part of a concerted effort to protect artworks, archives, and monuments of historical and cultural significance as the Allies advanced across Europe." -
The Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk was a major World War II Eastern Front battle between the forces of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union near Kursk in southwestern Russia during the summer of 1943, resulting in a Soviet victory. -
D-Day
D-Day brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the Allied armies in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. -
The Battle of the Bulge
The Germans launched a surprise attack on the Allies. The Germans initially pushed westwards, creating a bulge in the Allied lines. The Allies held the line, and eventually counterattacked, forcing the Germans to retreat. -
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima
The United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima to force Japan to surrender quickly and end World War II. The bombings killed between 150,000 and 246,000 people, most of whom were civilians, and they remain the only use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict. -
The Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was a 36-day-long event, it was the US Marines against the Japanese defenders of their island. The battle began on February 19, 1945, and the island was declared secure on March 26, 1945.
The battle is considered a crucial turning point in World War II. The battle provided a base for launching air raids against the Japanese mainland, protecting the flank of future invasions like Okinawa, and establishing emergency landing sites for B-29 bombers. -
The Battle of Okinawa
This battle included some of the worst kamikaze attacks. By the time Okinawa was secured by U.S. forces on June 22, 1945, the United States had obtained over 49,000 casualties including more than 12,500 men killed or turned up missing.
The United States captured the island of Okinawa, which served as a "vital stepping stone" for the planned invasion of mainland Japan, during WW2. This allowed American forces to establish airbases and launch attacks directly against the Japanese. -
The Death of FDR
Roosevelt built a powerful wartime coalition with Britain and the Soviet Union and led the nation to victory against Nazi Germany -
The Death of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler, chancellor, and dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945, committed suicide via a gunshot to the head in the Führerbunker in Berlin after it became clear that Germany would lose the Battle of Berlin, which led to the end of World War II in Europe. -
Atomic Bombing Nagasaki
On 6 and 9 August 1945, the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.