World War II

War in Europe ATLANTIC CHARTER – Secret agreement between FDR and Winston Churchill – Outlined the war aims of the U.S. and Britain U.S. Armed Forces – Much Diversity – 300,000 Mexican Americans – 25,000 Native Americans, Navajo acted as radio operators Code Talkers – 17,000 Japanese Americans – Countless African Americans

Africa and Italy May, 1943 – The Allies captured North Africa under Dwight D. Eisenhower July, 1943 – The Allies invaded Italy under George S. Patton

Russia After losing the Battle of Britain Hitler turned his forces against Stalin The Red Army made its stand in Stalingrad, January, 1943 The Russians surrounded the freezing Nazi army 330,000 German soldiers died, 90,000 surrendered The Battle of Stalingrad was the TURNING POINT ON THE EASTERN FRONT

France June 6 th, 1944, Normandy – D- DAY The most massive amphibious assault in history 4,600 invasion craft 1,000 Royal Air Force (RAF) Bombers 1,000 American planes 173,000 soldiers 2,000 Allied soldiers died at Omaha Beach alone Within one week, 500,000 soldiers had come ashore Within 6 weeks, over 2 million soldiers had come ashore The Invasion of Normandy was the TURNING POINT ON THE WESTERN FRONT By August, 1944, the Allies had liberated Paris

Germany THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE – December 1944 – In a last- ditch effort to protect their homeland, Germany launched a counter offensive in Belgium/Luxembourg. – The Battle of the Bulge was the largest battle of WWII – 80,000 Allies killed, 100,000 Germans killed

Closing in – The Soviets advanced from the East, – The Soviets lost 13.6 million men, Germany lost 3 million – By April, 1945, The Soviets had battled their way into Berlin – April 25 th, The Americans and Soviets met up at the Elbe River – May 1 st, commits suicide – May 8 th, Germany surrendered

The Yalta Conference The “BIG 3”, FDR, Churchill and Stalin met at Yalta The Yalta Conference planned for after the war

War in the Pacific The Philippines fell – Douglas MacArthur vowed “I will return” The Battle of Coral Sea – First battle conducted entirely by aircraft – Both American and Japanese forces heavily damaged – Battle was a draw, but Japan lost what it needed to take Australia

Battle of Midway – June 4 th, 1942 Americans caught the Japanese loading bombs on planes 3 Japanese aircraft carriers were quickly destroyed The 4 th carrier was destroyed while trying to escape Japan lost 4 carriers and over 250 planes

Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa Bloodiest battles of WWII 75,000 Casualties trying to take the two, small islands Taking Okinawa was the last step before Japan

The Manhattan Project Robert J. OPPENHEIMER lead team of scientists The atomic bomb was developed Could shatter windows over 125 miles away

Japan Truman ordered the dropping of the A-bomb to save American lives August 6 th, 1945 – Hiroshima destroyed August 9 th, 1945 – Nagasaki destroyed August 14 th, 1945 – Japan accepted surrender August 15 th, 1945 – V-J Day (Victory in Japan) September 2 nd, 1945 – official surrender