1843 -
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Date |
Event(s) |
| 1 | 1942 | - 1 Jan 1942: Declaration by United Nations,Representatives of 26 Allied nations signed a declaration to fight against the Axis powers.
- 19 Feb 1942: Japanese-American internment,President Roosevelt signed an executive order authorizing the internment of Japanese Americans.
- 25 Feb 1942: Battle of Los Angeles,A rumored air raid on Los Angeles led to a panicked anti-aircraft barrage, though no enemy planes were ever found.
- 4 Jun 1942: Battle of Midway,The U.S. Navy defeated the Imperial Japanese Navy at the Battle of Midway, a turning point in the Pacific War.
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| 2 | 1943 | - 1 Jan 1943: War Production Board,The U.S. government took control of industries to produce war materials.
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| 3 | 1944 | - 1 Jan 1944: Servicemen's Readjustment Act (G.I. Bill),A law that provided benefits to World War II veterans, including low-cost mortgages and tuition assistance.
- 6 Jun 1944: D-Day Invasion,Allied forces launched a massive amphibious invasion of Normandy, France, beginning the liberation of Western Europe.
- 17 Dec 1944: Battle of the Bulge begins,The German army launched a surprise counteroffensive in the Ardennes region of Belgium.
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| 4 | 1945 | - 20 Jan 1945: FDR's fourth inauguration,Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn in for an unprecedented fourth term.
- 4 Feb 1945—11 Feb 1945: Yalta Conference
The leaders of the U.S., UK, and Soviet Union met to discuss the post-war reorganization of Europe.
- 12 Apr 1945: FDR dies,President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in office; Harry S. Truman became president.
- 28 Apr 1945: Mussolini executed,Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was captured and executed.
- 30 Apr 1945: Hitler commits suicide,Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his Berlin bunker.
- 8 May 1945: V-E Day (Victory in Europe),The Allied forces celebrated the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany.
- 26 Jun 1945: United Nations Charter signed,The United Nations Charter was signed in San Francisco, officially creating the organization.
- 16 Jul 1945: First atomic bomb test (Trinity),The first detonation of a nuclear weapon occurred in the New Mexico desert.
- 17 Jul 1945—2 Aug 1945: Potsdam Conference
The leaders of the U.S., UK, and Soviet Union met to decide the future of Germany.
- 6 Aug 1945: Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima,The U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
- 8 Aug 1945: Soviets declare war on Japan,The Soviet Union declared war on Japan and invaded Manchuria.
- 9 Aug 1945: Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki,A second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, Japan.
- 14 Aug 1945: V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day),Japan announced its unconditional surrender, effectively ending World War II.
- 2 Sep 1945: Formal Japanese surrender,Japanese officials formally signed the instrument of surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
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