World War II Major Events USII SOL 7 RECTOR

A quiz review… Germany invaded Poland, which set off the war in Europe. Germany and the Soviet Union signed a pact not to declare war against each other. Germany invaded France and captured its capital city of Paris. Germany bombed Britain and the Battle of Britain began.

…More Review… The U.S. gave Britain war supplies and old naval warships with the Lend-Lease Act. Germany invaded the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union defeated Germany at Stalingrad, marking the turning point of the war in Eastern Europe. Japan, in need of resources, attacks Pearl Harbor

…a little more review… After the bombing on Pearl Harbor, Germany declared war on the United States (they were supporting the pact they had with Japan) The United States declared war on Germany and Japan. The U.S. was no longer neutral.

World War II battles took place in two places at once – in Europe and in the Pacific.

War in Europe

Allies Take North Africa and Italy President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill agree to take out Germany in North Africa first. They are successful. Next they launch an attack on Sicily. Finally they take out the Nazi’s in Italy. Now Germany stands alone in Europe. Mussolini is captured and executed while attempting to escape from Italy.

Fall of Italy

D-Day On June 6, 1944, the Allied troops invaded Normandy, France to liberate the Western part of Europe from German control. This was the war’s largest sea invasion - known as D-Day. Surprised the Germans; the Allies won. On August 25, 1944 Allied forces freed Paris

D Day

Battle of the Bulge In December 1944, Hitler tried one more huge attack - Battle of the Bulge. The Allies finally defeated (beat) the Germans.

Battle of the Bulge

Yalta Conference By February 1945, the Germans were losing ground everywhere. The three Allied leaders, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met at a conference in the Soviet Union called the Yalta Conference.

New President In April 1945, just months after being sworn into his 4th term of Presidency, President Roosevelt died and Harry Truman was sworn in as the President. He continued the war effort.

Soviets take over Berlin In late April 1945, the Russians reached the German capital city of Berlin. Hitler sensed the end of the war was near, so on April 30, 1945 Hitler (the man who conquered much of Europe) committed suicide (killed himself).

Victory in Europe The Allies declared May 8, 1945, V-E Day (Victory of Europe Day). The War in Europe was finally over.

War in the Pacific 1941-1945

Japan Expands its Empire As Japan was attacking Pearl Harbor, its military was also attacking other countries throughout Asia. They did not stop there - they eventually controlled lands throughout Southeast Asia

Air Combat The war was being fought by land, sea, and air. In May of 1942, the U.S. Navy clashed (fought) with Japanese forces Enemy ships fought a battle without seeing each other. War planes were used and the battle was won in the air.

The Allies Turn the Tide at Midway The turning point to the War in the Pacific was with the Battle of Midway in June 1942. The Americans won the four day battle fought between airplanes based on carriers (ships). The U.S. took control of the central Pacific. The battle was won, but the war was not over.

Midway

After Midway Fighting moved from air to land fighting. The Americans captured islands and used them to attack closer to Japan. Americans captured Japanese islands Okinawa and Iwo Jima.

Kamikaze’s The Japanese took to a new way of fighting. Fighters called kamikaze’s were pilots who volunteered for these suicidal missions. Even kamikaze’s could not stop the Allied advances.

Japan would not surrender Japanese continued to fight even after the war in Europe was over. Allies were winning the war in the Pacific, but the Japanese would still not surrender.

Atomic Weapons Ends the Pacific War The Americans were working on a top secret program to build an Atomic Bomb. President Truman told Japan that if it did not surrender it would face destruction. Japanese refused to surrender.

Atomic Weapons Ends the Pacific War President Truman had a difficult decision to make - either kill thousands of Japanese civilians with the Atomic Bomb or have more than 200,000 American soldiers killed on a land raid of Japan.

Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima On August 6, 1945, the B-29 bomber ENOLA GAY dropped an Atomic Bomb on the city of Hiroshima. Over 70,000 people were killed. Still the Japanese refused to surrender.

Atomic Bombs Dropped on Japan

Atomic Bomb Dropped on Nagasaki On August 9, 1945, the United States dropped a second Atomic Bomb on another Japanese city called Nagasaki. That bomb killed another 40,000 civilians.

Japan surrenders On August 14, 1945 Japan surrendered ending the War in the Pacific This officially brings an end to World War II.

Germany Surrenders