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Trying to gain a foothold on the European continent against the Nazis, the Allies conducted a combined amphibious and airborne landing on the Italian peninsular near the town of Anzio. While the landing proved easy, the German counteroffensive would be brutal, stopping the allies and threatening to push them back into the sea.

The Story of the Atomic Bomb

When the United States decided to drop two atomic bombs on Japan to hasten the end of World War II, they ushered in a new era warfare. Read about the development and use of the atomic bomb in The Story of the Atomic Bomb.

Ardennes-Alsace (Battle of the Bulge)

Commonly known as the Battle of the Bulge, the German Ardennes offensive in December 1944 caught the allies off guard and threatened to erase many of the territorial gains made in the autumn of 1944. However, due to a lack of supplies, the tenacious defense of Bastogne, and General George S. Patton's remarkable advance through the snow, Germany's last offensive during the war was brought to an end.

Coral Sea

Although strategically a draw, the Battle of Coral Sea proved important in that is stopped, for the first time, Japanese expansion in the Pacific. It was also the first naval battle in history where the opposing ships never came within site of each other, instead being fought entirely by carrier-based aircraft and foreshadowing the future of naval warfare.

Guadacanal

The campaign for the Island of Guadalcanal was the first major American offensive in the Pacific. The land battles proved brutal and vicious while the sea battles were some of the worst naval defeats in American history.

Iwo Jima

Just the words "Iwo Jima" conjure up images of the most famous picture from World War II--the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi. But on the small island of Iwo Jima more US Marines would lose their lives than at any other battle during the war and more would receive the Congressional Medal of Honor than for any other battle.

MARKET-GARDEN (Rhineland Campaign)

In an effort to cross the Rhine River and bring a quick conclusion the war in Europe, the allies launched operation Market-Garden, an attempt to capture several German-held bridges leading to the Nazi heartland. The operation failed, because as one participate put it, they went "a bridge too far."

Battle of Midway

In 1942, the Japanese launched a campaign to capture the American-held island of Midway in the Pacific. However, the Americans, who had broken the Japanese code, were forewarned and waiting. In the ensuing battle, the Americans sank four Japanese aircraft carriers and put the Japanese on the defensive for the rest of the war in the Pacific. The Battle of Midway was the most important turning point in the Pacific War.

Normandy

The Normandy Invasion is one of the most celebrated battles of World War II. In the largest amphibious assault in history, the Allies crossed the English Channel, landed on the French Coast and Normandy, and established a beachhead from which they would liberate Western Europe and push into Germany to help end the war.

Philippine Islands

"Capture of the Philippine Islands was crucial to Japan's effort to control the Southwest Pacific, seize the resource-rich Dutch East Indies, and protect its Southeast Asia flank. Its strategy called for roughly simultaneous attacks on Malaya, Thailand, American-held Guam and Wake, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, and Hawaii. Although the aim of the air strike on Hawaii's Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 was to destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet in its home port, the others were meant to serve as preludes to full-scale invasion and occupation. "

India-Burma

During World War II, the India-Burma theater was one of the most neglected by the allies, and remains today one of the least known. You can read about the actions there and its colorful allied commander General Joseph "Vinegar Joe" Stillwell in this army booklet.

Sicily

After the Allies pushed the Germans out of North Africa, they turned their attention to the "soft underbelly" of Europe with the Island of Sicily as their first objective. Here, the rivalry between US General George S. Patton and British General Bernard Montgomery blossomed into one of the war's great sideshows..

Tarawa

On November 20, 1943, the United States Marines landed at Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands to seize the airstrip built by the Japanese. However, the Japanese defense of the island was tough, and the battle would become known as "Bloody Tarawa.".

Japan Surrenders

On September 2, 1945, the Japanese Empire officially surrendered to the Allies in the Pacific. The Ceremonies took place on board the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Read about the surrender ceremonies and peruse extracts from the Instruments of Surrender.

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Anzio
	Trying to gain a foothold on the European continent against the Nazis, the Allies conducted a combined amphibious and airborne landing on the Italian peninsular near the town of Anzio. While the landing proved easy, the German counteroffensive would be brutal, stopping the allies and threatening to push them back into the sea.
The Story of the Atomic Bomb
	When the United States decided to drop two atomic bombs on Japan to hasten the end of World War II, they ushered in a new era warfare. Read about the development and use of the atomic bomb in The Story of the Atomic Bomb.
Ardennes-Alsace (Battle of the Bulge)
	Commonly known as the Battle of the Bulge, the German Ardennes offensive in December 1944 caught the allies off guard and threatened to erase many of the territorial gains made in the autumn of 1944. However, due to a lack of supplies, the tenacious defense of Bastogne, and General George S. Patton's remarkable advance through the snow, Germany's last offensive during the war was brought to an end.
Coral Sea
	Although strategically a draw, the Battle of Coral Sea proved important in that is stopped, for the first time, Japanese expansion in the Pacific. It was also the first naval battle in history where the opposing ships never came within site of each other, instead being fought entirely by carrier-based aircraft and foreshadowing the future of naval warfare.
Guadacanal
	The campaign for the Island of Guadalcanal was the first major American offensive in the Pacific. The land battles proved brutal and vicious while the sea battles were some of the worst naval defeats in American history.
Iwo Jima
	Just the words "Iwo Jima" conjure up images of the most famous picture from World War II--the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi. But on the small island of Iwo Jima more US Marines would lose their lives than at any other battle during the war and more would receive the Congressional Medal of Honor than for any other battle.
MARKET-GARDEN (Rhineland Campaign)
	In an effort to cross the Rhine River and bring a quick conclusion the war in Europe, the allies launched operation Market-Garden, an attempt to capture several German-held bridges leading to the Nazi heartland. The operation failed, because as one participate put it, they went "a bridge too far."
Battle of Midway
	In 1942, the Japanese launched a campaign to capture the American-held island of Midway in the Pacific. However, the Americans, who had broken the Japanese code, were forewarned and waiting. In the ensuing battle, the Americans sank four Japanese aircraft carriers and put the Japanese on the defensive for the rest of the war in the Pacific. The Battle of Midway was the most important turning point in the Pacific War.
Normandy
	The Normandy Invasion is one of the most celebrated battles of World War II. In the largest amphibious assault in history, the Allies crossed the English Channel, landed on the French Coast and Normandy, and established a beachhead from which they would liberate Western Europe and push into Germany to help end the war.
Philippine Islands
	"Capture of the Philippine Islands was crucial to Japan's effort to control the Southwest Pacific, seize the resource-rich Dutch East Indies, and protect its Southeast Asia flank. Its strategy called for roughly simultaneous attacks on Malaya, Thailand, American-held Guam and Wake, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, and Hawaii. Although the aim of the air strike on Hawaii's Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 was to destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet in its home port, the others were meant to serve as preludes to full-scale invasion and occupation. "
India-Burma
	During World War II, the India-Burma theater was one of the most neglected by the allies, and remains today one of the least known. You can read about the actions there and its colorful allied commander General Joseph "Vinegar Joe" Stillwell in this army booklet.
Sicily
	After the Allies pushed the Germans out of North Africa, they turned their attention to the "soft underbelly" of Europe with the Island of Sicily as their first objective. Here, the rivalry between US General George S. Patton and British General Bernard Montgomery blossomed into one of the war's great sideshows..
Tarawa
	On November 20, 1943, the United States Marines landed at Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands to seize the airstrip built by the Japanese. However, the Japanese defense of the island was tough, and the battle would become known as "Bloody Tarawa.".
Japan Surrenders
	On September 2, 1945, the Japanese Empire officially surrendered to the Allies in the Pacific. The Ceremonies took place on board the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Read about the surrender ceremonies and peruse extracts from the Instruments of Surrender.