Frank+Sprich

=Turning Points Project=


 * The Battle of Stalingrad**- The battle of Stalingrad involved Germany against the USSR. Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest battles in history. It was important because this was the first substantial land defeat of the Germans. The Germans wanted control of Stalingrad because this would allow them to prevent resources and goods from getting north. Another German goal was to cut off oil supplies in the Caucasus region to stop the entire Russian war machine. The battle resulted in Russia destroying the Germans 6th army. This defeat greatly contributed to their surrender two years later. From primary document- "Many a time I saw a man suddenly collapse on the snow. There was nothing I could do. One just walked on. And, on the way back, I would see a vague human form covered with snow on the spot where, in the morning, I had seen a man fall down." This is said by a Russian officer. The cold of the winter clearly was a factor in the battle. Both sides suffered losses from the freezing temperatures. The cold combined with mass famine made it very hard to survive.




 * The Battle of Midway**- The battle of Midway was considered as the most important naval battle of WWII. In battles before it, the Japanese had been winning the naval war against the US. Midway was a turning point in the Pacific front because the all the damage that the US inflicted on the Japanese navy. The Japanese aimed to eliminate the US as a strategic power in the pacific. US code breakers learned date and locations of the Japanese attack, and planned for it. This gave them a upper hand in the battle and one air strike took a large toll on the Japanese fleet The US Navy set up ambush of their own on the Japanese. The heavy loss of carriers and aircrews permanently weakened the Japanese navy.




 * Hiroshima**- Hiroshima was the target of the first atomic bomb in history. The city was bombed because of the large concentration of civilians, troops, military facilities, and military factories. Hiroshima had remained untouched by US air raids until the bomb. The US wanted to end the war quickly, and bombing Hiroshima did so. There are many pros and cons of the Atomic bomb. The Japanese were not giving up and many would continue to die for their country until victory was obtained. The abrupt end to the war also saved many American lives. Because the war ended there was obviously no more fighting which led to far less deaths on the American side. On the other hand many consider it cruel to kill so many innocent people. Hiroshima was completely destroyed after the bombing, and took a long time to recover. Harry Truman made the decision to drop the bomb.


 * Allied Movement in Europe during WWII-



Timeline**-

22 June 1940- Vichy France beings- French armistice Summer- fall 1940- Battle of Britain- Air campaign of German air force 7 December 1941- Pearl Harbor- Japanese attack on US naval base 11 March 1941- Lend-Lease Act- US bill, gives supplies to British, Soviets, China, in exchange for military bases abroad 22 June 1941- Operation Barbarossa- Nazi invasion of Soviet Union 10 April 1942- Bataan Death March- Japans march of US POWs 4 June 1942- Battle of Midway- US Naval battle against Japanese Navy 1 July 1942- El Alamein- Battle over control of the Suez Canal, Allies vs. Axis 17 July 1942- Battle of Stalingrad- German vs. USSR, battle in Stalingrad, USSR 14 January 1943- Casablanca conference 6 June 1944- D-day- Allied invasion of Normandy, France 8 May 1945- V-E day- Allied victory over Europe day 5 August 1945- Hiroshima- US drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan 9 August 1945- Nagasaki- US drops atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan 14 August 1945- V-J day- Allied victory over Japan day


 * Bibliography**-

"The Battle of Midway, 1942." //EyeWitness to History - history through the eyes of those who lived it//. Web. 01 Mar. 2010. . "Dropping the A-Bomb on Hiroshima." //EyeWitness to History - history through the eyes of those who lived it//. Web. 01 Mar. 2010. . Photograph. //ASMS//. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. . Photograph. //Global Security//. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. . Photograph. //Wikimedia//. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. . Photograph. //Wordpress//. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. . "The Siege of Leningrad, 1941 - 1944." //EyeWitness to History - history through the eyes of those who lived it//. Web. 01 Mar. 2010. . //Wikipedia//. Web. 01 Mar. 2010. .