Major battles of World War II

Battle of the BulgeDecember 16, 1944German offensive on the western front (Belgium&France)Hitlers last offensiveAllies won the battle after two weeks of fightingTotal Allied death:81,000Click to return to indexBattle of Iwo JimaFebruary 19-March 26, 1945Important to the Allies for the two airfieldsHeavy resistance from JapaneseKnew the importance to the AlliesFamous picture was taken February 26Japanese casualties: 21,570 dead, 216 captivesAllied Casualties:6,821 killed/missing and 19,217 woundedClick to return to indexBattle of MidwayJune 4-June 7, 1942Naval battle over a tiny Allied base (Midway Atoll)Japanese wanted a surprise attack on Pacific fleetAmericans were well prepared and sent three fleets to ambush the four carriersOnly one carrier was lost for the Allies while all four were lost for the JapaneseClick to return to indexBattle of Omaha BeachJune 4, 1944One of the five beaches used during the Normandy InvasionDisaster struckLanding craft missed targetAir Support missed target2,400 casualties

Click to return to indexBattle of BerlinApril 16-May 2, 1945Soviet Army offensive into GermanyMay 2, Germans surrenderedUnofficial end to the warSuicide of HitlerGerman casualties as many as 458,000Soviet casualties:81,116Click to return to indexBattle of StalingradAugust 23, 1942- February 2, 1943Major offensive by the Axis1,000 tons of bombs were dropped by German LuftwaffeGermans held 90% of city for most of the battleClose-quarter building to building fightingOne of the bloodiest battles in historyEstimated 1.75-2 million casualties.Click to return to indexBattle of OkinawaApril 1-June 21 1945Allies wanted it for its close proximity to JapanLargest amphibious assault of WWII90% of island was destroyedU.S. Losses-62,000Japan Losses-90,000

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