World War 2 Battles Flashcards
Name the main battles in order.
- Evacuation of Dunkirk
- Battle of Britain
- Battle of Dieppe
- Battle of Ortona
- D-Day
- Hiroshima
- Nagasaki
What happened in the evacuation of Dunkirk? Was it a success or failure for the Allies?
Germany had allied forces pinned down in Dunkirk, France, but Hitler paused as he decided how to finish them off. The pause allowed Allies a chance to attempt a rescue mission for their troops. They managed to evacuate 300,000 troops from France, but unfortunately had to leave behind supplies. The battle of Dunkirk is considered mostly a success, but can also be seen as a failure by some.
What happened in the battle of Britain? Was it a success or failure for the Allies?
Germany dropped bombs on Britain for 57 consecutive nights, and in return Britain dropped bombs on Berlin. This was considered a success for the allies because they managed to stop the Luftwaffe from gaining air superiority and showed everyone that Germany could be defeated.
What happened in the battle of Dieppe? Was it a success or failure for the Allies?
The Soviet Union was urging the Allies to attack German-controlled parts of Europe. The Allies were not ready for battle, but agreed because they wanted to test out new equipment. They attempted a surprise attack in Dieppe, France, but failed and were forced to retreat. The Allies lost around 3,600 troops and the battle was considered a failure
What happened in the battle of Ortona? Was it a success or failure for the Allies?
Italy overthrew Mussolini as their leader, and so now Germany and the Allies were fighting for Italy. Canadian forces fought Germany for Ortona, Italy, and were able to force them to retreat. This battle is a success for the Allies, and was one of Canada’s best fought battles of the war.
What happened during the D-Day battle? Was it a success or failure for the Allies?
Allied forces successfully landed on 5 beaches in France (Canadian forces specifically went to Juno beach). Over 156,000 allied troops landed in Normandy, France, and the allies were able to win most of these beach battles. D-Day was a success for the allies, and marked the start of France liberation from Nazi rule
What happened in the bombing of Hiroshima?
American bomber ‘Enola Gay’ flew over Hiroshima, Japan, and dropped the first atomic bomb called ‘little boy’. 70,000 people were killed instantly, and 61,000 were injured
What happened in the bombing of Nagasaki?
Days after the bombing in Hiroshima, America dropped another atomic bomb called ‘fat man’ on Nagasaki, Japan. Following this, Japan surrendered. As Mussolini had been overthrown and Hitler had committed suicide, Japan’s surrender called for the end of the war.
