The Pacific Theater
This timeline focuses on the key events and battles in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
7 December 1941
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan's surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor drew the United States into the war.
August 1942 - February 1943
Guadalcanal Campaign
The first major land offensive by Allied forces against Japan, which ended Japanese expansion plans in the Pacific and marked a turning point in the theater.
June 1942
Battle of Midway
A decisive naval battle where U.S. forces thwarted Japanese expansion, sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers and turning the tide in the Pacific.
November 1942
Battle of Tarawa
A bloody battle in the Gilbert Islands, marking one of the first times U.S. forces encountered intense Japanese resistance on land.
June 1944
Mariana Islands Campaign
The Allies captured key islands such as Saipan, Guam, and Tinian, providing crucial airbases for the eventual bombing of Japan.
6 and 9 August 1945
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's unconditional surrender and the end of World War II.
2 September 1945
Japanese Formal Surrender
General Douglas MacArthur accepted Japan's formal surrender on board the USS Missouri, marking the official end of World War II.
