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Turning Point Battles of WWII. War in the Pacific. Coral Sea. May 1942 New kind of naval warfare- airplanes fought from aircraft carriers (attacked ships) Allies stopped Japan’s southern expansion for the 1 st time. Battle of Midway. June 1942
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Turning Point Battles of WWII
Coral Sea • May 1942 • New kind of naval warfare- airplanes fought from aircraft carriers (attacked ships) • Allies stopped Japan’s southern expansion for the 1st time.
Battle of Midway • June 1942 • The Japanese (Yamamoto) were headed to the key American airfield. • Nimitz let Japan start to attack 1st and then attacked Japanese planes • 332 Japanese Planes & all 4 aircraft carriers destroyed.
Battle of Guadalcanal • August 1942 (6 months) • Japan was building an air base there • Battle for control of the island- many died of Malaria • Japanese lost 2/3 of their men and abandoned the “Island of death” • Start of the island hopping campaign • Now Americans were on the offensive
Stalingrad • SU vs. GER • August-Feb. 1942 • German goal: Capture Stalingrad (industrial center) • City destroyed (bombings) but SU did not surrender • Hitler’s men trapped again in the Russian Winter. 70% died and the rest surrendered • Germans are now on the defensive
El Alamein • GB (Britain) vs. Germany • October- Nov. 1942 in Egypt • Massive frontal attack took the Axis powers by surprise • Rommel’s army was beaten & retreated West • Later Rommel was trapped between US and UK armies & was defeated.
D-Day USA/GB vs. Germany June 6, 1944 Known as: Invasion of Normandy or Operation Overlord Greatest land & sea attack in history
Basic Facts • Eisenhower: Commander of the Allied Forces • Paratroopers & bombings in German territory before the beach invasion • Allies crossed the English Channel to get to the French beaches • Transporting-150,000 men and 30,000 vehicles & supplies • Around 9,000 Allied casualties the 1st day
Significance • By Sept. 1944 - France, Belgium, Luxembourg & most of Netherlands were liberated • Allies could now look to Germany • Balance of Power tipped in Allies Favor
Battle of the Bulge • US/GB vs. Germany • December 1944 • Germany tanks break through Allies defensive lines • Allies eventually pushed back the Germans • Allies were able to advance into Germany