Ww2 Turning Point Essay

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War World II began in 1939 and there were many turning points in the war that led to the eventual end of the war in 1945. One of the first turning points came when American codebreakers were able to understand the Japanese military code which tipped them off to where the Japanese ships would be. The Battle of Midway, which took place in May 1942, ended in Japanese defeat, which cost them four air craft carriers. It was also the first defeat for the Japanese Navy in 350 years. The battle “blunted Japan’s military momentum, eliminated the treat to Hawaii …and bought time for the United States to mobilize its massive industrial productivity for a wider war. “ (1165) After many battles in the Solomon Islands the Japanese were defeated and Guadalcanal …show more content…

They landed first on Iwo Jima and “it took nearly six weeks to secure the tiny island at a cost of nearly seven thousand American lives.” (1196) Next, was the island of Okinawa, which was even harder but important because “…it would serve as the staging area for the planned invasion of Japan.” (1196) After about 3 months they secured the island and began to plan their invasion of Japan. One of the last major turning points in the war with Japan was the use of the atomic bomb on two Japanese cities. By this time in the war bombing was a standard military practice and “Truman said that he “never had any doubt that it should be used”.” (1197) They gave the Japanese a chance to surrender and when they didn’t the first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. A few days later after they still hadn’t surrenderd the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and that night the U.S and Japan began communicating and the Japanese accepted the terms on August 14th 1945. After the Allies were victorious in North Africa they turned their focus toward Sicily and Italy. About 25,000 British and American troops landed in Sicily and had the whole island in their hands by August of 1943, which ended Mussolini’s rule. Eventually they were able to capture Rome in June of

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