Major Battles of WWII

North Africa, Europe and the Pacific

1. El Alamein (North Africa)

• German forces tried to seize the Suez Canal (in Egypt) however they were defeated by the British. This defeat prevented Hitler from gaining access to Middle Eastern oil and from attacking the Soviet Union from the South

2. Stalingrad (Europe)

• Hundreds of thousands of German soldiers were killed or captured in this month long seige of the Russian city of Stalingrad. This defeat prevented Hitler from seizing the Russian oil fields.

3. Normandy Landings (D-Day) June 6, 1944

• American and Allied Troops under Eisenhower landed in German-occupied France. Despite intense German opposition and Allied causalities, the landings succeeded and led to the liberation of western Europe from Hitler.

4. Midway (Pacific)• “Miracle of Midway”

American naval forces defeated a much larger Japanese force. The American victory ended the Japanese threat to Hawaii and began a series of American victories in the “island hopping” campaign.

5. IwoJima and Okinawa (Pacific)

• The American invasions of the islands brought American forces closer than ever to Japan. Both invasions cost thousands of American lives and even more Japanese lives, because the Japanese would rather commit suicide than surrender. (Kamikaze Pilots)

6. Use of the Atomic Bomb• President Harry Truman

ordered the use of atomic bombs to prevent further causalities in Japan. The Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the targets. Shortly after the attack Japan surrendered.