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The Invasion of Poland
The invasion of Poland, which began on September 1, 1939, marked the start of World War II, with Germany launching a swift and brutal attack, followed by a Soviet invasion from the east, leading to Poland's defeat and division between the two powers. -
The Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain, a pivotal air campaign in World War II, saw the Royal Air Force (RAF) successfully defend the United Kingdom against the German Luftwaffe's relentless attacks from July to October 1940, ultimately preventing a German invasion. -
The Bombing of Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, resulting in significant damage and casualties, and ultimately drawing the United States into World War II. -
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway, a pivotal naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II, took place from June 3-7, 1942, resulting in a decisive US victory that crippled the Japanese Navy and shifted the tide of the war in the Pacific. -
The Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad, a pivotal event in World War II, saw the German Sixth Army encircled and defeated by the Soviet Red Army in Stalingrad (modern-day Volgograd) from August 1942 to February 1943, marking a turning point in the war on the Eastern Front -
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the code name for the Allied invasion of French North Africa in November 1942, a major amphibious operation intended to open a second front against the Axis powers and relieve pressure on the Soviet Union. -
Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Program
In 1943, 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, a major World War II Eastern Front battle fought in July and August 1943, saw a large German offensive against a Soviet salient near Kursk, ultimately resulting in a decisive Soviet victory and marking the end of the German offensive capability on the Eastern Front. -
D-Day
On June 6, 1944, nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline, to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day's end, the Allies gained a foot-hold in Continental Europe. -
The Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive on the Western Front during World War II, a surprise counterattack launched in December 1944 in the Ardennes region, ultimately failing to achieve its objectives. -
The Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima, a brutal 36-day battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II, saw the US Marines and Navy land on and capture the island from the Imperial Japanese Army, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. -
The Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was a major World War II battle fought on the island of Okinawa from April to June 1945, resulting in a decisive Allied victory but at a high cost in casualties on both sides. -
The Death of FDR
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving U.S. president, and the only one to have served more than two terms. -
The Death of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician who was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 until his suicide in 1945. He rose to power as the leader of the Nazi Party, becoming the chancellor in 1933 and then taking the title of Führer und Reichskanzler in 1934. -
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb, nicknamed "Little Boy," on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, resulting in an estimated 70,000 to 140,000 deaths and widespread destruction. -
Atomic Bombing Nagasaki
On August 9, 1945, the United States dropped the "Fat Man" atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, resulting in an estimated 40,000 immediate deaths and tens of thousands more dying from injuries and radiation poisoning, ultimately contributing to Japan's surrender.