Battles from the Pacific Theatre
Battle of the Philippine Sea
The Battle of the Philippine Sea took place on June 15, 1944. The American forces invaded the island of Saipan. This was part of the Mariana Islands in the Central Pacific. The U.S. knew that invading Saipan would benefit them. Doing this would give America important airfields, which would make the Army Air Force's new B-29 bombers near a target zone. When Japan was attacked they had lost 300 planes and 3 aircraft carriers. 30,000 men defended Japan and not more than 1,000 after the battle was over. This battle is known as one of the biggest carrier battles of World War II. The war ended on July 9th. After this many Japanese survivors started taking away their lives. Many suicides took place and the Japanese understood themselves and the others as heroes. Encouragement was done so all because of the fear of being captured/prisoners of America.
Battle of the Okinawa
April 1945 the last land battle of World War II took place 350 miles from the islands of Japan. This was the Battle of Okinawa. Once the U.S. captured the area, the plan was to have it as staging area for the invasion of the islands. The invasion of battle took 82 days. The battle was very bloody and hard with the enemy having an underground defense system. Once the U.S. took over more than 12,000 of our men were dead and 36,000 were wounded or lost. Seventy thousand of Japanese soldiers were also found dead.
Battle of Tarawa
The Battle of Tarawa was a very short battle. It began on November 20, 1943 when 18,000 Americans traveled to the island of Betio. However, they came in at low tide, which caused them to have to wade up the shoreline. Many were shot and killed before they could get to cover. On the next day, reinforcements came in for the Americans, but they continued to struggle with the low tide. By November 22, the tide had risen, giving the United States a more even playing field. That night, the Japanese led an all-out charge, attempting to kill as many people possible before they themselves could be killed. The battle was over on November 23, 1943. All but 17 of Japan's 4,700 soldiers had been killed; the US lost 3,000 of their 18,000.
The Battle of the Philippine Sea took place on June 15, 1944. The American forces invaded the island of Saipan. This was part of the Mariana Islands in the Central Pacific. The U.S. knew that invading Saipan would benefit them. Doing this would give America important airfields, which would make the Army Air Force's new B-29 bombers near a target zone. When Japan was attacked they had lost 300 planes and 3 aircraft carriers. 30,000 men defended Japan and not more than 1,000 after the battle was over. This battle is known as one of the biggest carrier battles of World War II. The war ended on July 9th. After this many Japanese survivors started taking away their lives. Many suicides took place and the Japanese understood themselves and the others as heroes. Encouragement was done so all because of the fear of being captured/prisoners of America.
Battle of the Okinawa
April 1945 the last land battle of World War II took place 350 miles from the islands of Japan. This was the Battle of Okinawa. Once the U.S. captured the area, the plan was to have it as staging area for the invasion of the islands. The invasion of battle took 82 days. The battle was very bloody and hard with the enemy having an underground defense system. Once the U.S. took over more than 12,000 of our men were dead and 36,000 were wounded or lost. Seventy thousand of Japanese soldiers were also found dead.
Battle of Tarawa
The Battle of Tarawa was a very short battle. It began on November 20, 1943 when 18,000 Americans traveled to the island of Betio. However, they came in at low tide, which caused them to have to wade up the shoreline. Many were shot and killed before they could get to cover. On the next day, reinforcements came in for the Americans, but they continued to struggle with the low tide. By November 22, the tide had risen, giving the United States a more even playing field. That night, the Japanese led an all-out charge, attempting to kill as many people possible before they themselves could be killed. The battle was over on November 23, 1943. All but 17 of Japan's 4,700 soldiers had been killed; the US lost 3,000 of their 18,000.
Battles from the European Theater
The Schweinfurt-Regensburg Mission
The Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission was a combat battle in 1943. Two large forces of bombers attacked different targets in order to disperse German aircraft response. The mission had been postponed several times on account of the weather, but had finally gone off by the Eighth Air Force. The bombers were able to do sufficient damage in Regensburg, but did end up losing some of their own as well. 60 of the 376 bombers were destroyed, and many more were damaged. The second wave of this attack happened in Schweinfurt two months later. However, the losses sustained here were even higher, and the bombing was curtailed in five months.
Battle of Dieppe
The Dieppe Raid took place on August 19, 1942. Allied forces attacked the German-occupied France at 5:00 a.m. However, only six hours later, the Allies were forced to retreat. The plan had been to seize the port and gain intel. Whilst retreating, they wanted to destroy the German's defenses. None of these things happened, and the Allies morale was not boosted as had hoped. The troops did not have as much fire or manpower as their enemies, and were all killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. Losses sustained for the Allies were: 96 aircrafts, 33 landing crafts, 1 destroyer, and 3,623 men. It was a failure like no other.
The Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission was a combat battle in 1943. Two large forces of bombers attacked different targets in order to disperse German aircraft response. The mission had been postponed several times on account of the weather, but had finally gone off by the Eighth Air Force. The bombers were able to do sufficient damage in Regensburg, but did end up losing some of their own as well. 60 of the 376 bombers were destroyed, and many more were damaged. The second wave of this attack happened in Schweinfurt two months later. However, the losses sustained here were even higher, and the bombing was curtailed in five months.
Battle of Dieppe
The Dieppe Raid took place on August 19, 1942. Allied forces attacked the German-occupied France at 5:00 a.m. However, only six hours later, the Allies were forced to retreat. The plan had been to seize the port and gain intel. Whilst retreating, they wanted to destroy the German's defenses. None of these things happened, and the Allies morale was not boosted as had hoped. The troops did not have as much fire or manpower as their enemies, and were all killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. Losses sustained for the Allies were: 96 aircrafts, 33 landing crafts, 1 destroyer, and 3,623 men. It was a failure like no other.
Bombings
The London Blitz occured between September 1940 and May 1941. It is named after the German's war tactic - "blitzkrieg." London, as the capital of the United Kingdom, was a threat to enemies. For 76 days, the city was bombed. This resulting in at least 20,000 deaths. About one million homes were destroyed as well.
The poorer sections of the city were hit hard and struggled to recover, however, the British people refused to go down without a fight. They pushed back consistently and never surrendered.
The bombing of Berlin occured from 1940-1945. Being the capital of Germany, the city recieved a lot of negative attention. It was attacked for the entire war. The Allies targeted Berlin 363 times with air raids. They not only bombed strategic places - such as important military buildings - but hit civillian areas as well, leaving thousands of people homeless. The bombing at Berlin was devastating, and there are an estimated 20,000-50,000 deaths as a result of this.
Dresden is a city in Germany, and it was bombed October 1944-April 1945. Dresden was a target because of its industrial uses. It was dangerous in more than just the obvious way. The bombs would send people from their homes, but there was also a firestorm that pushed people back into their houses. There is an estimated 25,000-200,000 deaths as a result of these bombings.
The bombing in Tokyo happened between November 1944 and August 1945 when Japan surrendered. When the Americans first got the B-29 bomber, it spent most of its time above Tokyo. Thousands of buildings were destroyed and about 100,000 citizens were killed. The thousands of bombs that dropped in this period of time caused many people to be homeless or injured.
The poorer sections of the city were hit hard and struggled to recover, however, the British people refused to go down without a fight. They pushed back consistently and never surrendered.
The bombing of Berlin occured from 1940-1945. Being the capital of Germany, the city recieved a lot of negative attention. It was attacked for the entire war. The Allies targeted Berlin 363 times with air raids. They not only bombed strategic places - such as important military buildings - but hit civillian areas as well, leaving thousands of people homeless. The bombing at Berlin was devastating, and there are an estimated 20,000-50,000 deaths as a result of this.
Dresden is a city in Germany, and it was bombed October 1944-April 1945. Dresden was a target because of its industrial uses. It was dangerous in more than just the obvious way. The bombs would send people from their homes, but there was also a firestorm that pushed people back into their houses. There is an estimated 25,000-200,000 deaths as a result of these bombings.
The bombing in Tokyo happened between November 1944 and August 1945 when Japan surrendered. When the Americans first got the B-29 bomber, it spent most of its time above Tokyo. Thousands of buildings were destroyed and about 100,000 citizens were killed. The thousands of bombs that dropped in this period of time caused many people to be homeless or injured.
References:
"American Experience: TV's Most-watched History Series." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 01 May 2014.
< http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/pacific-major-battles/>
"The Globe Afire: All 84 Battles of World War II." About.com Military History. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2014.
<http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/world-war-2-battles.htm>.
"10 Most Devastating Bombing Campaigns of WWII." Online Military
Education. Online Military Education, n.d. Web. 14 May 2014.
<http://www.onlinemilitaryeducation.org/posts/10-most-devastating-bombing-campaigns-of-wwii/>.
"American Experience: TV's Most-watched History Series." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 01 May 2014.
< http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/pacific-major-battles/>
"The Globe Afire: All 84 Battles of World War II." About.com Military History. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2014.
<http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/world-war-2-battles.htm>.
"10 Most Devastating Bombing Campaigns of WWII." Online Military
Education. Online Military Education, n.d. Web. 14 May 2014.
<http://www.onlinemilitaryeducation.org/posts/10-most-devastating-bombing-campaigns-of-wwii/>.