Major events and turning points of WWII
What were the major events & turning points of WWII in Europe?
*Germany invaded Poland, setting off the start of WWII *Germany invaded France, capturing Paris *Germany bombed London (Battle of Britain, by airplanes) *US gave Britain warships & supplies in return for military bases in Bermuda and the Caribbean *Japan bombed Pearl Harbor *Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Soviet Union defeated Germany at Stalingrad. *American & Allied Troops landed in Normandy, France for D-Day (TURNING POINT OF WAR IN WESTERN EUROPE) *Battle of the Bulge (Germany's last offense battle)
What were the major events & turning points of WWII in the Pacific?
*Japan invades China for resources *tension rises between US & Japan because of aggression in East Asia *US places oil embargo on Japan in response to their continued aggression *Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Hawaii *US declares war on Japan, Germany declares war on US *US defeats Japan in Battle of Midway (TURNING POINT IN WAR IN PACIFIC) *Allies begin island hopping toward Japan *US drops 2 atomic bombs on Japan (Hiroshima & Nagasaki) in 1945 causing Japan to surrender and ending WWII
Why was the Battle of the Bulge important?
Battle of the Bulge was important because it was Germany's last offensive battle
What led up to the start of WWII?
Germany invaded Poland on Sept. 1, 1939. Soviet Union invaded eastern Poland and the Baltic Nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Great Britain & France had signed a pact with Poland to come to its defense and they declared war on Germany, thus starting WWII.
How did Hitler die?
Hitler committed suicide because Germany was in ruins and defeat was inevitable.
Why was Normandy, France important?
It was another turning point in the war. Six hundred warships, 4,000 landing craft, and 176,000 American and Allied soldiers crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, led the D-Day invasion to begin the liberation of Western Europe. In a letter to his troops on the day of the invasion he stated, "The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!"
Why was the Battle of Midway Island in the North Pacific important?
It was the turning point in the war with Japan. Japan's navy hoped to draw out and destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet's aircraft carrier strike forces. These forces tried to protect the U.S. airbase at Midway from Japanese attack. Japan wanted to establish an air base at Midway after defeating the American forces. During the fight, the United States was able to sink four Japanese aircraft carriers. This American victory over Japan in the Battle of Midway was the turning point of the war in the Pacific. It marked the beginning of the end of Japan's control of the Pacific Ocean.
Why was Hiroshima important?
On July 26, 1945, the Allies presented a surrender ultimatum to Japan. It was rejected. As a result, on August 6, 1945, a U.S. bomber, the Enola Gay, dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima.
How did President Roosevelt prepare for war?
Pres. Roosevelt doubled the size of the US Navy, pushed for a military draft during peacetime (1st time), got authorization for the lend-lease act, gave Britain war supplies & old naval ships in return for military bases in Bermuda and the Caribbean.
What was the Battle of Britain?
The Battle of Britain was an attempt to gain control of British airspace and destroy the Royal Air Force. They hoped to destroy aircraft production and intimidate the nation into surrender or neutrality. It was also the 1st major battle to be fought entirely in the air, and the largest & longest bombing campaign ever attempted. Britain won.
Why is the Battle of Stalingrad important?
The Battle of Stalingrad was the largest single battle in human history. It raged for 199 days and resulted in approximately 2 million civilian and military casualties. The Axis powers lost about a quarter of their total manpower and never fully recovered from the defeat. The Battle of Stalingrad halted the German advance in World War II and marked the turning point of the war in Eastern Europe.
What caused the US to enter WWII?
The bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7,1941 caused Pres. Roosevelt to address Congress and ask for a declaration of war against Japan. Germany then declared war on the US. Congress responded by declaring war on Germany.
Why was Nagasaki important?
Three days after the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan still had not surrendered, so the United States dropped another atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki. Japan surrendered on August 10, 1945, marking the end of WWII
What was the Lend-Lease Act
US gave Economic aid to the Allies
What is island-hopping?
retaking the islands one by one until they reached Tokyo