Changes

Intense fighting by the United States began in both the European and the Pacific "theaters".  In Europe, the hard fighting was done by the Army, on the ground.  In the Pacific, the Navy was more important.   

Intense fighting by the United States began in both the European and the Pacific "theaters".  In Europe, the hard fighting was done by the Army, on the ground.  In the Pacific, the Navy was more important.   

The American military leaders were General Dwight Eisenhower in Europe, to fight Germany, and General Douglas MacArthur in the Pacific, to fight Japan.  The most brilliant American commander, and the only one feared by the Germans, was George Patton.  Homeschooled, he was not a genius in an academic sense and even had to leave West Point for poor grades, before returning later and graduating.  But he was a genius for war.  He developed a very aggressive form of tank warfare that would win in a single day military "exercises" (peaceful combat to test the troops) that were supposed to last an entire week.  In an example of how an organization does not always reward and promote its best, however, Patton was repeatedly restrained by his superiors from defeating the enemy.  Perhaps jealousy of his skills played a role.

The American military leaders were General Dwight Eisenhower in Europe, to fight Germany, and General Douglas MacArthur in the Pacific, to fight Japan.  The most brilliant American commander, and the only one feared by the Germans, was George Patton, nicknamed "Old Blood and Guts" for his ferocious aggression.  Homeschooled, he was not a genius in an academic sense and even had to leave West Point for poor grades, before returning later and graduating.  But he was a genius for war.  He developed a very aggressive form of tank warfare that would win in a single day military "exercises" (peaceful combat to test the troops) that were supposed to last an entire week.  In an example of how an organization does not always reward and promote its best, however, Patton was repeatedly restrained by his superiors from defeating the enemy.  Perhaps jealousy of his skills played a role in not promoting him higher.

D-Day "June 6, 1944 Allies finally invade mainland Europe at Normandy, France to recapture mainland"

Patton was unrelenting in his fighting against the otherwise invincible German Army.  Historians estimate that Patton's Third Army caused an astounding 55% of all of Germany's causalities in the war, while Patton's own men suffered only 9% of the losses on our side.<ref name="Patton"/>

 

On June 6, 1944, the Allies forces led by the American soldiers landed at Normandy, France, to retake mainland Europe from the Germans.  Called the "longest day," it was the largest land invasion in the history of the world.  It caught the Germans, already weakened by Patton, off guard.

Holocaust "1941-45: systematic, racist and brutal murder by German leaders of six million Jews during WW II"

Holocaust "1941-45: systematic, racist and brutal murder by German leaders of six million Jews during WW II"

Manhattan Project "secret project to build atomic bomb based in Los Alamos, New Mexico"

Manhattan Project "secret project to build atomic bomb based in Los Alamos, New Mexico"

Harry S Truman "Dem. Pres. 1945-52, pushed civil rights, protected South Korea, fired Gen. MacArthur, seized steel mills"

Harry S Truman "Dem. Pres. 1945-52, pushed civil rights, protected South Korea, fired Gen. MacArthur, seized steel mills"

"Hiroshima, Nagasaki" "Aug. 6 & 9, 1945: first and second atom bombs dropped by US on these Japanese cities; Japan surrenders Aug. 15"

"Hiroshima, Nagasaki" "Aug. 6 & 9, 1945: first and second atom bombs dropped by US on these Japanese cities; Japan surrenders Aug. 15"

The worst fight was at the Battle of the Bulge, when the Germans launched a vicious counteroffensives against the Allies (which now included the Americans.

The worst fight was at the Battle of the Bulge, when the Germans launched a vicious counteroffensives against the Allies (which now included the Americans.