World War II Theatres of Battle

Who Was Fighting?

May 7-15 Barcelona

In the Pacific Theatre, Japan was making headway conquering many islands. The U.S. met them after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and eventually defeated their efforts.

Who Fought

June 24 - 30 San Francisco

May 17-June 22 Canada

June 12-26 Budapest

Strategies For Wining

Both the Japanese and the U.S.A. knew the key to beating each other was taking as many islands as they could. Through aircraft carrier technology, the U.S. ended up prevailing by gaining ground closer and closer to Japan's mainland and then attacking.

Strategies for Winning

Significant Battles

The bombing of Pearl Harbor was what kicked off the Pacific Theatre. The Doolittle raid was another significant battle in the Pacific. The raid happened on Tokyo when a fleet of planes were launched off of an aircraft carrier and flew into Tokyo. Many were killed, but a message was sent to Japan

Significant Battles

Turning Points

The battle at Midway was the turning point in the Pacific Theatre. The Americans resisted and defeated an attack against the Japanese. From that point on the Japanese only lost ground and were pushed back. This was the marking of the start of the end of the Pacific Theatre.

Turning Points

Conclusion

American troops swarmed over Tokyo and released fire bombs that devastated the city. Japan did not surrender. The Emperor of Japan was contacted and warned that if they didn't surrender a bomb of which the world had never seen would be dropped. They didn't respond and the first atomic bomb was dropped. Still no surrender. They were warned once more and a second bomb was dropped. On August 10, 1945, Japan surrendered on the USS Missouri, ending the war.

Conclusion

Who Was Fighting?

Two major powers were Axis powers vs the Allied powers. On the axis powers, Germany, Italy, and Japan were together. On the Allied powers, the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union were bonding as well as they could.

Who Was Fighting?

Strategies

The Germans used a powerful type of warfare called Blitzkrieg or "lighting warfare." On the Allied side, the countries bonded together to create a more difficult, two front war for Germany. As Germany was invading the U.S.S.R. the Soviets used the scorched earth policy to hold them back.

Strategies

Significant Battles

Many significant battles happened in the European theatre including the Blitz on London, The Siege of Leningrad, Stalingrad, and The Miracle of Dunkirk. The battle at Stalingrad was the most significant, however.

Significant Battles

Turning Points

The battle at Stalingrad was a turning point in the European theatre. Hitler's plan to invade the Soviet Union was stopped in this city. From the battle on Germany will continue to lose ground.

Turning Points

How it Ends

Allied forces began to invade Germany and on April 30th, 1945, Hitler committed suicide in an underground bunker in Berlin. The Soviet forces continued pressure in Berlin until eight days later the Axis powers surrendered.

How it Ends