World War 2 Battles PDF

Unit 23 - World War 2 Day 2 Battles: Midway Island June 1942 Naval battle in Paci c outnumbered US Paci c Fleet succeeded in destroying 4 Japanese aircraft carriers, while only losing 1 of their own these losses weakened Japanese naval power for the rest of the war fi...

Unit 23 - World War 2 Day 2 Battles: Midway Island June 1942 Naval battle in Paci c outnumbered US Paci c Fleet succeeded in destroying 4 Japanese aircraft carriers, while only losing 1 of their own these losses weakened Japanese naval power for the rest of the war fi fi Battles: D-Day Massive invasion along northern coast of German-occupied France 1 million American troops sent to Britain during 1943 & early ’44 to prepare for assault (“Operation Overload”) Normandy Beach, June 6, 1944 4,000 ships carrying 150,000 troops (about 1/3rd Americans) began landing in northern France Beaches successfully taken! Within 2 weeks, a million Allied troopship invaded France & moved inland About 5,000 American soldiers’ lives were lost… Paris liberated on August 25, 1944 Battles: Battle of the Bulge December 1944 German forces break through Allied lines & made 50 mile “bulge” in Belgium back toward Paris Battle fought in very cold, frigid weather Germans overextended supply lines & couldn’t maintain their strength This was a setback for the Allies. It delayed but didn’t stop their advance This was the last major German o ensive in Western Europe ff Battles: Iwo Jima February 1945, American troops land & take island of Iwo Jima 5 week battle Costly victory for US with about 7,000 Marines lives lost & 21,000 Japanese Considered one of the bloodiest battles of WW2 This provides important staging for nal assault on Japan (750 miles to Japan) with 3 air elds on the island fi fi WW2 - “Days” Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 The Japanese launched a military surprise attack on the United States Naval Base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii December 8, 1941 - FDR asks Congress to declare war on Japan WW2 - Days D Day June 6, 1944 Brought together land, sea & air forces Largest amphibious invasion in military history Normandy, France (landed on beaches) WW2 - “Days” V-E Day - May 8, 1945 May 8, 1945 “Victory in Europe Day” Marks end of WW2 in Europe Germany unconditionally surrendered its military forces to the Allies Victory over Japan would come later in August of 1945