Transcript Major Battles & Events of WWII (1939-1945)

Major Battles & Events of WWII
(1939-1945)
Albert Einstein & others send letter to
Pres. FDR urging research into the
atom & nuclear weapons.
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• Allied troops escape to the safety of
England – “Miracle”
Aug. 1939
Sept. 1939
May - June
1940
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• Nazi’s take control of N. France
June 1940
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• England’s RAF defeats the German
Luftwaffe after 1 month of bombing!
• ____________________: Helped
RAF win!!
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• Official start of WWII
• ______________________: Nazi
Run puppet gov’t. in S. France
Aug.-Sept.
1940
Dec. 7, 1941
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Dec. 8, 1941
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• Japan invades the islands & took
American prisoners.
• __________________________:
Leader of American forces & tells the
People of the Philippines “I will return”
Dec. 1941 –
May 1942
Feb. 1942
• ____________________________
American POWs forced to march 50
Miles – terrible conditions & atrocities!
April 1942
May 1942
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• Allied Victory!! Turning point in the
Pacific!!
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• Allied victory!! Turning point in
Europe!
FDR issues Executive Order 9066 &
begins the internment of JapaneseAmericans & others
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• US pilot James Doolittle shows
Japan is vulnerable to air raids!!
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• Allies stop Japan from invading
Australia!
June 1942
Aug.1942 –
Feb. 1943
Oct. 1942
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• Allied assault on Nazi forces in
N. Africa
FDR asks Congress to declare war on
Japan!! USA joins the Allies
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• US victory.
• Island used to airstrips for heavy
Bombers
• “Toehold” to Japan
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• Allied Victory!! Allies able to invade
Europe via Italy!
Nov. 1942
Germany surrenders in Tunisia
May 1943
Major Battles & Events of WWII
(1939-1945)
June 6,
1944
Leyte Gulf: US General Douglas
Macarthur retakes The Philippines – “
People of the Philippines, I have returned”
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• Allied assault on Normandy, France
• ____________________________:
US General in charge of European
Theater
Oct. 1944
Dec. 1944 –
Jan. 1945
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• Last German offensive…fails!!
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• Soviet troops attack Berlin!
Feb. – Mar.
1945
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• Allied Victory!! Used as base for
heavy bombers.
April – May,
1945
April 28,
1945
B. Mussolini killed by Italian Partisans
As he attempted to flea to Switzerland.
Body hung in Milan as proof of death!
A. Hitler commits suicide & is
Cremated
April 30,
1945
April – June
1945
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• Victory in Europe! War is over in
Europe!!
May 8, 1945
July 16,
1945
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• US dropped atomic bombs on
Japanese cities
Trinity Explosion
• US explodes first A-Bomb
Aug. 6 & 8,
1945
Aug. 15,
1945
Sept. 2,
1945
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• WWII war crimes trials
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• Showed how deadly a land invasion
of Japan would be
Nov. 1945 –
Oct.1946
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• Victory in Japan!! War in Pacific is
Over!!
Japan’s official surrender