Events with tag - World War 2

September 16, 1940

US Military Draft Act

The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 established America's first peacetime draft, requiring all men aged 21-45 to register for military service. This historic legislation transformed the U.S. military from 335,000 soldiers in 1939 to over 1.4 million by 1941.

March 11, 1941

Lend-Lease Act

The Lend-Lease Act was a groundbreaking U.S. program that provided military aid worth $50 billion to Allied nations during World War II. Initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, it marked America's transition from neutrality to active support of Allied forces against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.

March 11, 1941

Lend-Lease Act

The Lend-Lease Act was a revolutionary U.S. program that authorized the transfer of military supplies, food, and resources worth $50.1 billion to Allied nations during World War II, playing a crucial role in the Allied victory.

April 11, 1941

US WWII Price Controls

In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Office of Price Administration (OPA) to combat wartime inflation and ensure fair distribution of resources. This comprehensive price control system regulated over 8 million products and implemented nationwide rationing until 1946.

December 7, 1941

Attack on Pearl Harbor

On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces launched a devastating surprise aerial attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack killed 2,403 Americans, destroyed numerous ships and aircraft, and led to America's entry into World War II.

December 7, 1941

US Enters WWII

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, resulted in 2,403 American casualties and led to the United States officially entering World War II. The following day, President Roosevelt delivered his famous 'Day of Infamy' speech, and Congress declared war on Japan.

December 7, 1941

Women in WWII Workforce

During World War II (1941-1945), millions of American women entered the workforce, taking up roles in factories, shipyards, and aviation plants. The female workforce grew by over 50%, with women making up to 65% of defense industry workers by 1943.

January 13, 1942

Operation Drumbeat

Nazi Germany launched Operation Drumbeat, deploying five Type IX U-boats to America's eastern seaboard, resulting in devastating losses of merchant vessels and exposing US coastal defense vulnerabilities.

January 30, 1942

US Wartime Rationing During WWII

The United States implemented its first nationwide rationing program during World War II, starting with rubber tires on January 30, 1942. The Office of Price Administration (OPA) managed the distribution of essential resources including food, fuel, and consumer goods through a comprehensive system of ration books and stamps.

February 19, 1942

Japanese American Internment

Following Pearl Harbor attack, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, leading to forced relocation of 120,000 Japanese Americans to internment camps across western United States, marking one of the most significant civil rights violations in US history.

August 7, 1942

Battle of Guadalcanal

The Battle of Guadalcanal (August 1942 - February 1943) was a decisive Allied victory in World War II's Pacific Theater, marking America's first major offensive against Japan. The six-month campaign resulted in securing vital shipping lanes and establishing crucial forward bases.

November 8, 1942

Operation Torch

Operation Torch was the largest Allied amphibious invasion of World War II launched on November 8, 1942, targeting French North Africa. Under General Eisenhower's command, 107,000 troops executed coordinated landings at Casablanca, Oran, and Algiers, marking America's first major offensive against Nazi Germany.

May 18, 1944

Battle of Monte Cassino

A decisive World War II battle in Italy where Allied forces launched four major assaults against German positions at Monte Cassino monastery between January and May 1944, ending with a Polish victory that opened the way to Rome.

June 4, 1944

Capture of Rome

Allied forces captured Rome on June 4, 1944, marking the first Axis capital to fall during World War II. Led by General Mark Clark's Fifth Army, the operation successfully preserved the city's historical treasures while achieving crucial military objectives.

June 6, 1944

D-Day Invasion

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious invasion in military history, storming five beaches in Normandy, France. This massive operation involved over 156,000 troops, 5,000 ships, and 11,000 aircraft, marking a crucial turning point in World War II.

June 6, 1944

D-Day Invasion

The D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, was the largest amphibious military operation in history, where 156,000 Allied troops stormed five beaches in Normandy, France, marking the beginning of Western Europe's liberation from Nazi control during World War II.

August 19, 1944

Paris Uprising

The Paris insurrection began on August 19, 1944, when French resistance fighters and civilians rose against Nazi occupation. Led by the French Forces of the Interior (FFI), the uprising transformed Paris into a battlefield and ended with the city's liberation on August 25, 1944.

August 25, 1944

German Surrender of Paris

On August 25, 1944, German forces officially surrendered Paris to Allied forces, ending four years of Nazi occupation. The surrender was signed by German commander Dietrich von Choltitz at the Police Prefecture, defying Hitler's orders to destroy the city.

September 17, 1944

Operation Market Garden

Operation Market Garden was the largest Allied airborne operation of World War II, launched on September 17, 1944. The operation aimed to secure strategic bridges across the Netherlands to create a pathway into Nazi Germany's industrial Ruhr Valley.

December 16, 1944

Battle of the Bulge

The Battle of the Bulge (December 16, 1944 - January 25, 1945) was the largest battle ever fought by U.S. Army, involving 600,000 American troops against Nazi Germany's last major offensive on the Western Front. The surprise attack through the Ardennes region created a distinctive bulge in Allied lines.

August 6, 1945

Atomic Bombings of Japan

The United States conducted atomic bombings of Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, resulting in massive destruction and Japan's surrender in World War II. These events marked the first and only use of nuclear weapons in warfare.