Events with tag - World War Ii

January 1, 1938

US Pre-WW2 Military Buildup

The United States underwent massive military expansion from 1938-1941, transforming from the world's 17th ranked military power into a formidable fighting force through industrial mobilization and strategic preparation before Pearl Harbor.

January 1, 1939

US Military Preparation for WWII

President Roosevelt initiated comprehensive military preparation starting in 1939, implementing the first peacetime draft through the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, establishing training camps nationwide, and transforming millions of civilians into soldiers.

September 16, 1940

US Military Draft in WW2

The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 established America's first peacetime military draft, requiring men aged 21-35 to register for service, eventually mobilizing over 10 million men for World War II.

November 5, 1940

FDR's Third Term Victory

Franklin D. Roosevelt secured an unprecedented third presidential term victory in 1940, breaking George Washington's two-term tradition. He won with 54.7% of the popular vote and 449 electoral votes against Republican nominee Wendell Willkie during a critical period of World War II.

December 29, 1940

Arsenal of Democracy Speech

President Roosevelt's historic radio address pledging American industrial might to support Allied nations during World War II. This 37-minute fireside chat transformed U.S. foreign policy and mobilized unprecedented industrial support for the war effort.

January 1, 1941

US Military Mobilization 1941

Throughout 1941, the United States underwent a massive military mobilization effort, transforming its peacetime military into a wartime force through industrial conversion, personnel expansion, and strategic preparations, culminating in the Pearl Harbor attack that accelerated these existing initiatives.

March 11, 1941

Lend-Lease Act

The Lend-Lease Act, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, authorized the United States to provide military aid and supplies to Allied nations during World War II. This pivotal legislation effectively ended American neutrality and transformed the U.S. into the 'Arsenal of Democracy.'

July 7, 1941

U.S. Forces Arrive in Iceland

4,100 U.S. Marines landed in Reykjavík, Iceland, marking America's first military deployment in the European theater during World War II. This strategic move replaced British forces and established crucial North Atlantic defense positions.

July 26, 1941

US Freezes Japanese Assets

President Roosevelt's Executive Order 8832 froze all Japanese assets in the United States, effectively halting commercial relations between the two nations. This decisive economic action, combined with oil embargoes, significantly impacted Japan's military capabilities and influenced their decision to attack Pearl Harbor.

August 14, 1941

Atlantic Charter

Historic diplomatic agreement signed by Roosevelt and Churchill aboard USS Augusta, establishing eight fundamental principles for post-war international order and laying groundwork for the United Nations.

September 27, 1941

Liberty Ships: WWII Industrial Marvel

The Liberty Ship program, launched in 1941, represented one of America's greatest industrial achievements during World War II. These standardized cargo vessels, with the first ship SS Patrick Henry launching on September 27, 1941, revolutionized shipbuilding and became crucial to Allied victory.

December 7, 1941

US Enters WWII

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, marked the United States' official entry into World War II, transforming a regional conflict into a global war and forever changing the course of history.

December 7, 1941

US Entry into World War II

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, forced the United States to abandon its neutrality and enter World War II. This pivotal moment resulted in 2,403 American casualties and led to formal declarations of war against Japan, Germany, and Italy.

December 7, 1941

Women Enter US Workforce During WWII

Following the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, millions of American women entered the workforce to fill critical labor shortages as men joined the military. This unprecedented shift saw nearly 6 million women taking roles in defense industries, manufacturing plants, and government offices, fundamentally changing the American labor landscape.

December 8, 1941

Roosevelt's Day of Infamy Speech

President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his historic 'Day of Infamy' speech to Congress, responding to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This pivotal address led to America's formal entry into World War II and received near-unanimous congressional approval for the declaration of war against Japan.

December 8, 1941

US Declares War on Japan

Following the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States Congress officially declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941, after President Franklin D. Roosevelt's historic 'Day of Infamy' speech.

December 8, 1941

Fall of Philippines

The Japanese invasion of the Philippines began on December 8, 1941, following the Pearl Harbor attack. After months of fierce fighting, American and Filipino forces surrendered on May 6, 1942, marking the largest surrender in US military history.

December 11, 1941

US Declares War on Nazi Germany

The United States Congress unanimously declared war on Nazi Germany on December 11, 1941, following Hitler's declaration of war on the US. This historic decision came four days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and marked America's full entry into World War II.

January 11, 1942

US WWII Rationing System

The Office of Price Administration implemented nationwide rationing in the United States during World War II, starting with rubber tires on January 11, 1942, and expanding to include essential items like sugar, coffee, meat, and gasoline to ensure fair distribution of scarce resources.

January 26, 1942

US Troops Arrive in Europe

The first American troops landed in Belfast, Northern Ireland on January 26, 1942, marking the beginning of US military presence in the European Theater of World War II. This initial deployment of 4,058 troops from the 34th Infantry Division was part of Operation MAGNET.

March 11, 1942

MacArthur's Escape from Philippines

Under President Roosevelt's orders, General Douglas MacArthur executed a daring escape from the Philippines to Australia during World War II. Beginning on March 11, 1942, MacArthur and his family navigated through enemy waters in PT boats, completing a perilous 560-mile journey to reach Australia on March 17, where he made his famous promise: 'I shall return.'

March 21, 1942

Japanese Internment Camps Begin Operation

The first Japanese internment camp opens at Manzanar, California, marking the beginning of mass incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans following Executive Order 9066 during World War II.

March 21, 1942

Japanese Internment Camps Opening

The first Japanese internment camps opened in March 1942, marking the beginning of one of the darkest chapters in American history. Following Executive Order 9066, approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated to camps across seven states.

April 1, 1942

MacArthur's Medal of Honor

General Douglas MacArthur was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary leadership during the Philippines Campaign of 1941-1942, becoming the first World War II recipient in the Pacific Theater and making history with his father as the first father-son duo to receive this prestigious military decoration.

May 1, 1942

US WWII Rationing Program

In May 1942, the United States initiated its first nationwide rationing program as part of the World War II effort. The Office of Price Administration (OPA) implemented strict controls on essential consumer goods including sugar, gasoline, rubber, and other vital resources to support military operations.

May 5, 1942

US WWII Rationing

The United States implemented a comprehensive nationwide rationing system during World War II, starting May 1942, to manage scarce resources and support the war effort. The Office of Price Administration (OPA) controlled the distribution of essential items including sugar, coffee, meat, and gasoline through a complex system of ration books.

May 6, 1942

Fall of Corregidor

The fall of Corregidor on May 6, 1942, marked a decisive Japanese victory in World War II's Pacific theater. After months of intense bombardment and a final 27-hour assault, Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright surrendered the last American stronghold in the Philippines, leading to the capture of 11,000 Allied troops.

June 1, 1942

New Guinea Campaign

The New Guinea Campaign was a major World War II military operation launched by General Douglas MacArthur in 1942. It involved a series of battles spanning nearly three years, utilizing innovative island-hopping tactics and combined air-naval-ground operations to defeat Japanese forces.

June 5, 1942

US Declares War on Three Axis Nations

On June 5, 1942, the United States formally declared war on Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania, expanding its military engagement in World War II beyond Japan and Germany. This strategic decision came as these nations had aligned themselves with Nazi Germany, providing crucial military support and resources to the Axis powers.

December 1, 1942

US WWII Gas Rationing

On December 1, 1942, the United States government implemented nationwide gasoline rationing as part of the World War II effort. The program, managed by the Office of Price Administration, limited civilians to 3-4 gallons of gasoline per week and lasted until August 15, 1945.

January 15, 1943

Pentagon Completion

The Pentagon, the world's largest office building at the time, was completed in Arlington, Virginia after just 16 months of construction, serving as the headquarters for the U.S. Department of Defense.

April 13, 1943

Discovery of Katyn graves

On April 13, 1943, German radio announced the discovery of mass graves of Polish officers in the Katyn Forest. This event revealed the NKVD crimes against Polish prisoners of war and state officials who were murdered by decision of the highest Soviet authorities in 1940. The discovery led to the severance of diplomatic relations between the Polish government-in-exile and the USSR.

June 30, 1943

Operation Cartwheel

Operation Cartwheel was a significant World War II Allied offensive launched on June 30, 1943, under General Douglas MacArthur's command. The operation aimed to neutralize the Japanese stronghold at Rabaul through a sophisticated bypass strategy rather than direct assault.

July 10, 1943

Operation Husky

Operation Husky was a massive Allied invasion of Sicily launched on July 10, 1943, involving over 2,500 ships and 180,000 troops. This pivotal World War II operation led to Italy's surrender and established crucial Allied control in the Mediterranean.

September 3, 1943

Operation Baytown

Operation Baytown was a strategic Allied invasion of mainland Italy during World War II, marking the beginning of the Italian Campaign. British XIII Corps crossed the Strait of Messina to establish a crucial foothold in Calabria, facilitating Italy's surrender and weakening German positions.

September 9, 1943

Operation Avalanche: Allied Invasion of Salerno

Operation Avalanche was the largest Allied amphibious assault in the Mediterranean during World War II, launched on September 9, 1943. Under the command of U.S. General Mark Clark, American and British forces landed at Salerno, establishing a crucial foothold in mainland Italy following Italy's surrender to the Allies.

September 9, 1943

Operation Avalanche

The Allied invasion of mainland Italy began with Operation Avalanche on September 9, 1943, when US Fifth Army under Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark landed at Salerno. The operation involved 450 ships and 125,000 Allied troops, marking the first major Allied assault on Nazi-occupied Europe from the south.

November 22, 1943

Cairo Conference

A crucial World War II summit held in Cairo, Egypt, where Allied leaders Roosevelt, Churchill, and Chiang Kai-shek met to plan Pacific war strategy and post-war Asian territorial arrangements.

November 28, 1943

Tehran Conference

Historic World War II meeting in Tehran between Allied leaders Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill that shaped military strategy and post-war world order through crucial agreements including D-Day planning.

March 25, 1944

Allied Bombing of Paris

The Allied bombing of Paris during World War II was a precise military operation that began in March 1944, targeting German military installations while carefully preserving the city's historic architecture and minimizing civilian casualties. The campaign played a crucial role in weakening Nazi defenses before Paris's liberation in August 1944.

May 11, 1944

Breaking the Gustav Line

Operation Diadem successfully breached the formidable Gustav Line, a major German defensive system stretching across Italy. This decisive victory led to the capture of Rome and marked a turning point in the Italian Campaign of World War II.

July 21, 1944

Liberation of Guam

U.S. forces launched Operation Forager to reclaim Guam from Japanese control, marking a crucial victory in the Pacific theater of World War II. The three-week battle involved over 36,000 American troops against 19,000 Japanese defenders.

July 25, 1944

Operation Cobra

Operation Cobra was a decisive World War II offensive launched by Allied forces on July 25, 1944, to break through German defenses in Normandy. Led by General Omar Bradley, this massive operation combined aerial bombardment with ground forces to create a breakthrough near Saint-Lô.

August 21, 1944

Eisenhower Approves Paris Liberation Plan

President Eisenhower made a crucial decision to approve the liberation of Paris on August 21, 1944, leading to the successful freeing of the French capital from Nazi control and marking a pivotal moment in World War II.

August 24, 1944

Liberation of Paris

On August 24, 1944, the French 2nd Armored Division, led by General Philippe Leclerc, entered Paris to liberate it from Nazi occupation. After intense street fighting and coordination with resistance fighters, the Germans surrendered on August 25, marking a pivotal moment in World War II and French history.

August 25, 1944

De Gaulle Returns to Liberated Paris

General Charles de Gaulle made his historic return to Paris on August 25, 1944, following the city's liberation from Nazi occupation. His triumphant march down the Champs-Élysées drew over one million Parisians and symbolized France's restoration of independence after four years of German control.

September 15, 1944

Battle of Peleliu

A 73-day World War II battle between US forces and Japanese defenders on Peleliu island, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. What was planned as a four-day operation became one of the bloodiest campaigns in the Pacific Theater.

April 4, 1945

US Liberation of Nazi Concentration Camps

American forces liberated multiple Nazi concentration camps in spring 1945, beginning with Ohrdruf on April 4. The liberations revealed unprecedented Holocaust atrocities and led to the rescue of thousands of survivors.

April 4, 1945

US Liberation of Nazi Camps

American forces liberated multiple Nazi concentration camps between April and May 1945, becoming first-hand witnesses to Holocaust atrocities. Starting with Ohrdruf on April 4, US troops discovered and documented evidence of mass killings, leading to systematic protocols for recording war crimes.

April 12, 1945

Death of FDR

Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, died from a cerebral hemorrhage at his retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia. His death occurred just 82 days into his fourth term and weeks before the Allied victory in World War II.

April 21, 1945

Liberation of Bologna

The liberation of Bologna on April 21, 1945, marked a crucial victory in World War II's Italian Campaign when Polish II Corps and American forces, supported by Italian partisans, freed the city from Nazi occupation after intense urban combat.

April 25, 1945

Elbe Day

American and Soviet forces met at the Elbe River near Torgau, Germany, effectively cutting Nazi Germany in half and symbolizing Allied victory in World War II. The historic handshake between American Lt. Albert Kotzebue and Soviet Lt. Alexander Silvashko became an iconic symbol of Allied unity.

May 2, 1945

German Surrender in Italy

Over 1 million German troops surrendered in Italy and parts of Austria, marking a pivotal moment in World War II's European theater. The surrender came after Operation Grapeshot broke through German defenses and followed secret negotiations known as Operation Sunrise.

May 7, 1945

Nazi Germany Surrender

The unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany to Allied forces in May 1945 marked the end of World War II in Europe, with ceremonies taking place in Reims on May 7 and Berlin on May 8, following Hitler's suicide and the collapse of the Third Reich.

August 14, 1945

MacArthur Appointed as SCAP

General Douglas MacArthur was appointed as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, marking a pivotal moment in post-war Japan's reconstruction and establishing unprecedented authority over Japan's transformation.

September 2, 1945

Japan's Formal Surrender

On September 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered to Allied Powers aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, officially ending World War II. The 23-minute ceremony was presided over by General Douglas MacArthur and included representatives from major Allied nations.

June 5, 1947

Marshall Plan Announcement

Secretary of State George C. Marshall announces a massive economic recovery program for post-World War II Europe at Harvard University, committing $13 billion in American aid to rebuild war-torn European nations.

April 4, 1949

NATO Foundation

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established in Washington D.C. with twelve founding members, creating a military alliance based on collective defense principles to counter Soviet influence in Europe.