THE 1ST HALF OF WW II

Pearl Harbor to D-Day

OPENING OF WWII FOR AMERICA Dec. 7, 1941 – Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

and other places in the pacific. Dec. 8, 1941 – Japan invades the Philippine

Islands. April 9, 1942 – U.S. and Filipino troops on

the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines surrender.

May 6, 1942 – The Island Fort of Corregidor (at the mouth of Manila Harbor) falls to Japanese and with that, total control of the Philippine Islands.

PHILIPPINES

BATTLE OF CORAL SEA – MAY7&8, 1942 Japan hope to take Port Moresby in New

Guinea so they could threaten Australia. We sent 2 Aircraft carriers and support

ships to block them. The battle consisted of attacks by

planes. The ships never were in sight of each other.

Technically a draw but it gave us hope.

STOPPING THE JAPANESE ADVANCE

June 3-6, 1942 – Battle of Midway Japan hoped to take

control of Midway and destroy the rest of our Pacific Fleet.

In 2 waves of U.S. torpedo bombers, we were able to take out 4 Japanese Aircraft Carriers while only losing 1 of ours.

This victory gave us control of the central Pacific.

GOING OF OFFENSE August 1942 – Solomon Island

CampaignAfter Midway, we started pushing back the

Japanese advances.We launched an offensive in the Solomon

Island in August and several mouths later, took control of the key island of Guadalcanal.

FOCUSING ON THE NAZIS We begin to focus on the European

Theater November 8, 1942 – Invasion of North

AfricaWe invade from the east and the British

push in from the west (Egypt). The goal is to squeeze the Nazis out of

Africa

JUMPING TO EUROPE July 10, 1943 – Invasion of Sicily

We follow the Nazis across the Mediterranean Sea, back to Europe

We hop from Africa to Sicily and hopefully to Italy

ON TO EUROPE Sept. 3, 1943 –

Invasion of ItalyWe follow the Nazis to

Europe and hope to push up the Italian Peninsula (“Soft under-belly of Europe) and into Austria and Germany.

Not as easy as we thought it would be.

D-DAY June 6, 1944 – Invasion of Normandy

FranceOperation Over Lord is under wayGreat Britain, Canada, and U.S. go across

the English Channel to invade France.We land at Normandy on 5 beachheads,

Gold Juno, Sword, Omaha, and Utah.