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Battle of the Atlantic
The Untied States and the Allies, defeating the Axis Powers depended largely on control of the seas. It was only by sea that the United States could deliver soldiers and supplies to the hard-pressed oppontets of Hitler. If the Atlantic was not kept safe for shipping, the Axis would soon win the war. -
Battle of Britain
British and German air forces clashed in the air over the United Kingdom Locked in the largest substained bombing campagin to that date. This was a significant turning point in World War 2, the Battle of Britain ended when Germany's Luftwaffe failed to gain air superior to Britain's Royal Air Force. -
Battle of El Alamein, Egypt
The Battle of El Alamein marked the culmination of the World War 2 North African campagin between the British Empire and German-Italian army. Deploying a far larger amount of men and tanks in oppostion to British commander Bernard Law Mongomery who launched an infantry attack at El Alamein. -
Operation Tourch
Operation Torch was the name given to the Allied invasion of Frensh North Africa which was the first time the British and Americans had jointly worked on an invasion plan together. -
Battle of Stalingard
The successful Soviet defense of the city Stalingard now known as Volgogard in the U.S.S.R during World War 2. Russians consider it to be the greatest battle of their Great Patriotic War and many historians consider it to be the greatest battle of the entire conflict. -
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code-name given to the Allied invasion of France scheduled for June 1944. The overall commander of Operation Overlord was General Dwight Eisenhower. Other senior commanders for Overlord included Air Marshall Leigh-Mallory, Air Marshall Tedder, Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery and Admiral Bertram Ramsey. -
Battle of the Bulge
In December 1944, Adolph Hitler attempted to split the Allied armies in northwest Europe by means of a surprise blitzkrieg thrust through the Ardennes to Antwerp. Caught off-guard, American units fought desperate battles to stem the German advance at St.-Vith, Elsenborn Ridge, Houffalize and Bastogne. As the Germans drove deeper into the Ardennes in an attempt to secure vital bridgeheads, the Allied line took on the appearance of a large bulge, giving rise to the battle’s name. -
Hitler commits suicide
Warned by officers that the Russians were only a day or so from overtaking the chancellery and urged to escape to Berchtesgarden, a small town in the Bavarian Alps where Hitler owned a home, the dictator instead chose suicide. It is believed that both he and his wife swallowed cyanide capsules (which had been tested for their efficacy on his “beloved” dog and her pups). For good measure, he shot himself with his service pistol. -
VE Day
On this day in 1945, both Great Britain and the United States celebrate Victory in Europe Day. Cities in both nations, as well as formerly occupied cities in Western Europe, put out flags and banners, rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazi war machine. -
Invasion of Sicly/ Italy
After defeating Italy and Germany in the North African Campaign (November 8, 1942-May 13, 1943) of World War II (1939-45), the United States and Great Britain, the leading Allied powers, looked ahead to the invasion of occupied Europe and the final defeat of Nazi Germany.
