World War 2
So you want to know what happened in World War 2. Well, I just put together this essay just for you. I will be telling you about how World War 2 started, the Pearl Harbor attack, the Battle of Midway, the D-day invasion, how World War 2 ends, and some interesting facts. Hope you like my essay!
First, I will tell you how World War 2 started. World War 2 started when Germany’s Nazi dictator, Adolf Hitler, and the Soviet Union signed the Nonaggression Act in August 1939, giving Germany permission to invade Poland. Then in September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, France, and England, who declared war on Germany sometime later. Two years later, the Japanese attacked U.S. Naval base Pearl Harbor. On December 8th, 1941, the U.S. declared war on Japan, starting World War 2 for the Americans. Then the first U.S. troops landed in Austria (National Geographic).
Second, I will tell you about the attack on Pearl Harbor. At 7:55, Hawaii Time, 360 Japanese warplanes attacked Pearl Harbor. Before the attack, two radio operators spotted a big blob on the radar screen. They thought it was the returning B-17 bombers returning to base, so they put it off their minds. In the attack, Japan surprised the U.S. so much that Japan destroyed 5 out of 8 battleships, 3 destroyers, and seven other ships were sunk or severely damaged during the frenzy. Plus, 200 aircraft were destroyed. The U.S. lost 2,400 Americans and 1,200 were wounded. Japan lost a total of 30 planes, 5 midget submarines, and less than 100 airmen. Three fleet carriers were out at sea during the attack, and 6 months later they attacked Japan at the Battle of Midway. President Roosevelt approached Congress and said, “Yesterday, December 7th, 1941-a date that which will live infamy-the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” He then asked to vote to go to war. The vote was 82 to 0. The House of Representatives voted and surprisingly, it was 388 to 1. The person who disapproved of going to war was Jeannette Rankin of Montana, who also voted against going into World War 1 ("This Day in History").
Third, I will tell you about the Battle of Midway. Six months after Pearl Harbor attack, the American fleet intercepted messages from Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku. He was planning to draw away the American fleet and hopefully surprise them and crush them. An American intelligence breakthrough allowed Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Chester W. Nimitz to operate to all of Japan’s tactics. He then placed available U.S. carriers in a strategic location so they could surprise the Japanese moving forward to their forthcoming air raids on Midway itself. On June 4th, early morning, scouts picked out the Japanese fleet. American Torpedo bombers unluckily got separated from the American dive-bombers, and 36 out of 42 planes were destroyed. Then the dive-bombers came in to do their job. The Japanese were stuck refueling and rearming their planes, which put them in a tight spot. The Americans then sank all Japanese aircraft carriers, named the Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu, along with 322 planes destroyed. Plus 5,000 sailors were killed and their heavy cruiser the Mikuma. America lost 147 planes and over 300 sailors. The devastation of the deaths of the sailors was the number of trained mechanics and aircraft ground crew who died with the ships when they sunk ("Battle of Midway").
Fourth, I will tell you about the D-Day invasion. In 1941, the U.S. planned D-Day. Then, in 1943, the Germans started to build the Atlantic Wall, a 2,400-mile defense operation, packed with water obstacles, bunkers, mines, and a lot more. On June 6th, 1944, 156,000 Canadian and British troops landed on Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches. They attacked this place because they tricked the Germans into thinking they were going to attack Pas-de-Calais, but instead choose the beaches. They tricked the Germans by setting up fake bases a phantom army, fake equipment, double agents, and fraudulent radio stations that were placed across from Pas-de-Calais. General Eisenhower selected June 5th, 1944 to be the attack day, but too bad weather, warnings postponed it. A meteorologist predicted good weather on June 6th, so Eisenhower gathered the troops and said, “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.” (History.com Staff "D-Day" 2009).
The troops then embarked on Operation Overlord. Later that day, 5,000 ships and landing equipment carrying 5,000 troops and supplies for the long trip down the England Channel, from England to the beaches. Plus more than 11,000 aircraft were put into action to support, raid, and bomb German bridges, and roads to slow down or to prevent German reinforcements from coming through. The real attack started at 6:30 a.m. The Canadians and British soon took over Gold, Juno, and Sword beach with light opposition. The Americans, on the other hand, had serious casualties. They took Utah beach, but with 2,000 casualties. America lost 4,000 troops, and much more wounded or lost in combat. On June 11th, all the beaches were secured and over 326,000 troops, more than 50,000 vehicles and some 100,000 tons of other utilities had been shipped to Normandy. The Germans asked Hitler to send reinforcements to stop the American troops, but Hitler thought that the U.S. would attack Seine River, so he didn’t send reinforcements. The troops advanced through Normandy, defeating the Germans, and seized the Cherbourg and landed about 850,000 troops and 150,000 vehicles in Normandy. In August, 1944, the Germans were removed from northwestern France, and then the Americans planned to go into the heart of the war, Germany (History.com Staff "D-Day" 2009).
Fifth, I will tell you about how World War 2 ends. April 30, 1945, Hitler committed suicide when Soviet troops enter the city. Then, on May 7th, Germany surrendered. On July, 1945, the first atomic bomb was created in the Tinian Islands. Then, the atomic bombs were dropped onto Hiroshima, (August 6th), and on Nagasaki, (August 9th), killing 100,000 people. On September 2nd, the Japanese officials signed the Surrender document on board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Harbor ("National Geographic").
Last, I will tell you about some interesting facts. Did you know Hitler was Jewish? German subs sunk U.S. Navy destroyer, Rueben James. 45out of 160 survived. This is the first ship to be sunk in World War 2. U.S. fighters killed Admiral Yamato, who was flying to the Solomon Islands when they intercepted a message. John F. Kennedy’s ship was rammed and sunk by the Japanese. He had to swim for five hours straight to find an island. He was then rescued from there. U.S. Navy Torpedo bomber, who was piloted by Lt. George Bush, was shot down. He parachuted into the sea. A submarine then saved him from there ("National Geographic"). World War 2 took more than 400,000 American lives ("Pearl Harbor bombed").
Thank you for listening to my essay about World War 2, how World War 2 started, Pearl Harbor attack, The Battle Of Midway, the D-Day invasion, how World War 2 ended, and some interesting facts. Stay tuned in for my next presentation!