World War II Battles Timeline European Front Pacific Front

Pearl Harbor Dec 7th 1941 Japan secret attack on Pearl Harbor, HI Angry over oil embargo Destroys most of US Pacific fleet Attack b/c embargo… US interfered with Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere 2500 killed, 8 battleships damages, 160 aircrafts destroyed (128 damaged)

US declares war on Japan Dec. 8th 1941 FDR “infamy” speech Jeanette Rankin – Congress women opposed war (only member of Congress to vote against the war) “date which will live in infamy” Jeanette Rankin (first female congressman of montana) = only to oppose (388 to 1 in House, unanimous in Senate) Angers Axis alliance

Germany & Italy declare war on US Dec. 11th 1941 Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) Enlistment: Men, women, African Americans War Production Board – more weapons Vow to focus resources on ger 16 served in military – 1 million african americans in segregated units Women, mexican americans, native americans War Production Board mobilizes

Bataan Death March March 1942 75,000 Americans and Filipinos marching to POW camps (forced by Japan) In the Philippines 7,000 died 60 mi forced march 75,000 amer captured in philippines Japanese trucks drove over anyone who fell 7,000 (estimates as high as ¼) Secures oil and rubber for Japan… seemed unstoppable – allies need to regroup

Battle of Midway June 1942 Turning point of the war Stop Japanese advancement Midway Island (1/2 way through the Pacific) Turning point of war (halt “unstoppable” Japanese advancement) Puts japan on defensive American codebreakers uncover date and plans for japanese attack

Manhattan Project 1942 Development of the atomic bomb “Einstein’s letter to FDR” – saw what happened in Germany – way to end the war Robert Oppenheimer – head of project Research on nuclear fission Einstein’s letter (fear germans are ahead) convinces fdr to invest Rober oppenheimer = head

D-Day June 1944 Invasion of Normandy, France by the Allies “the longest day” – Operation Overlord Eisenhower – commander “the longest day” - operation overloard – storming of normandy Impt: allies gained toehold in France… in 1 month, 1 million allies landed Eisenhower’s plan to land 21 amer and26 brit divisions on 50 mi wide stretch using 4,400 ships

Yalta Conference Feb 1945 FDR ( US) Stalin (Soviet Union) Churchill (UK)  The Big 3 Divide Germany into 4 zones to stop another dictator Split germany into 4 zones

Battle of Iwo Jima Feb 1945 Island hopping – taking one island at a time with planes and troops Japanese strategy “fight to the last man standing” – never give up Island hopping – 1 island at a time rather than mainland 1 month… fight to last man (fear invasion of mainland) Nbc - iq

Mussolini executed April 1945 Arrested by Italians and executed

Hitler commits suicide April 1945 Alternative to surrender

Battle of Okinawa April 1945 Allies advance towards Japanese home islands Japanese defend with Kamikazes (suicide pilots)

V-E Day May 1945 Victory in Europe

Los Alamos July 16, 1945 New Mexico Atomic Bomb testing site

Hiroshima Aug 6th 1945 1st atomic bomb Nickname “Little Boy” Hiroshima was a factories / production city

Nagasaki Aug 9th 1945 Japan does not surrender after 1st bomb (think US are bluffing about 2nd bomb) Nicknamed “Fat Man” Truman’s decision: The bomb will save over 1 million American lives (estimated lives lost if land invasion)

V-J Day Aug 15th 1945 Victory in Japan – Japan surrenders WWII is over