List of World War II battles involving the United States
Introduction This is a list of all battles involving the United States during World War II.NameStart DateEndLocationCampaign U.S. CasualtiesResultOpposing ForceNotesBattle of the AtlanticSeptember 13, 1941May 8, 1945Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, Irish Sea, Labrador Sea, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Banks, Arctic OceanAround 18,000 sailors and merchant seamen killed Allied victoryGermany, Japan (Possibly), Currently unknown* Longest military campaign of World War II * U.S. involvement began before the formal U.S. declaration of war on Germany* Attempted blockade of the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union through attacks on merchant shipping and Allied naval ships bringing supplies and military reinforcement from North America* Allied victory achieved through implementation of convoy system* Eventually resulted in Allied naval superiority over German surface raiders and U-boats. Operation TorchNovember 8, 1942November 10, 1942Morocco and AlgeriaNorth African Campaign1,200(479 killed, 720 wounded)Allied victoryVichy FranceGermanyItaly* first involvement of American forces in Mediterranean and Middle East theatre * first major American airborne assault* resulted in Free French control of French West Africa and Anglo-American occupation of western French North Africa* lead to full German occupation of Vichy FranceBattle of the Kasserine PassFebruary 19, 1943February 25, 1943Kasserine Pass, TunisiaTunisia Campaign6,500(1,000+ killed); or, 9,195(2,572 killed, 56 wounded and 10 captured or missing)Axis victoryGermany and Italy* resulted in major reorganization of the U.S. Army* resulted in delay of planned amphibious invasion of FranceBattle of El GuettarMarch 23, 1943April 7, 1943El Guettar, TunisiaTunisia Campaign~5,000IndecisiveGermany and ItalyBattle of GelaJuly 10, 1943July 12, 1943Gela, SicilyItalian Campaign2,300, 1 destroyer sunkAllied victoryGermany and Italy* first battle of Allied invasion of Sicily* resulted in increased prioritization of naval artillery support Battle of SalernoSeptember 9, 1943September 16, 1943Salerno, ItalyItalian Campaign4,870Allied victoryGermany and Italy* first battle of the Allied invasion of mainland ItalyBattle of Monte CassinoJanuary 17, 1944May 18, 1944Monte Cassino, ItalyItalian Campaign100,000+ (Total allied casualties)Allied victoryGermany* resulted in controversial bombing of Monte Cassino Abbey* resulted in defeat of the Senger LineBattle of AnzioJanuary 22, 1944June 5, 1944Anzio and Nettuno, ItalyItalian Campaign23,173(5,538 killed, 15,558 wounded and 2,947 captured or missing)Allied victoryGermany* resulted in heavy fighting * allowed the German Tenth Army to withdraw to the Gothic LineBattle of NormandyJune 6, 1944July 24, 1944 Normandy, FranceOperation Overlord63,360(16,293 killed, 43,221 wounded and 6,180 captured or missing)Allied victoryGermany* successfully established Allied beachhead in France and neutralized the Atlantic Wall * resulted in withdrawal of German forces in northern France to ParisBattle of GraignesJune 10, 1944June 12, 1944Graignes, FranceOperation Overlord32 (17 executed)American victoryGermany* Failed in objective to capture Graignes* Followed by Waffen-SS massacre of American prisoners of warBattle of CarentanJune 10, 1944June 14, 1944Carentan, FranceOperation OverlordAmerican victoryGermany* Consolidated American beachheads against German counterattack* allowed seizure of the Cotentin PeninsulaBattle for BrestAugust 7, 1944September 19, 1944Brittany, FranceOperation Overlord~4,000Allied victoryGermany* Resulted in seizure of Brest * German sabotage prevented use of port facilitiesOperation DragoonAugust 15, 1944September 14, 1944Southern FranceOperation Overlord15,574(7,301 killed, 5,804 wounded, 3,098 captured or missing)Allied victoryGermany* Allied capture of Southern France* Free French recapture of Toulon and Marseille* withdrawal of Army Group G from Southern France through the Rhône River Valley to the VosgesBattle of NancySeptember 5, 1944September 15, 1944Nancy, FranceSiegfried Line campaign2,851+American victoryGermany* American capture of Nancy and crossing of the Moselle RiverOperation Market GardenSeptember 17, 1944September 25, 1944The NetherlandsSiegfried Line campaign3,974Allied operational failureGermany* Successfully liberated large parts of the Netherlands including Eindhoven and Nijmegen* created a salient limiting V-2 rocket attacks* failed in operational objective to create bridgehead across the Rhine River into Germany and end the war by the end of 1944* Resulted in major reorientation of Western Allied military strategyBattle of Hürtgen ForestSeptember 19, 1944February 10, 1945Hurtgen Forest, German-Belgian borderSiegfried Line campaign33,000German defensive victoryGermany* longest ever battle fought by the U.S. Army* Failure to capture the Rur RiverBattle of MetzSeptember 27, 1944December 13, 1944Metz, FranceSiegfried Line campaign2,851+American tactical victory, German strategic victoryGermany* American capture of Metz * hindered advance of U.S. Third ArmyBattle of AachenOctober 2, 1944October 21, 1944Aachen, GermanySiegfried Line campaign5,000American victoryGermany* One of largest urban battles fought by the U.S. Army during the war* Resulted in American occupation of Aachen and destruction of much of the city * First German city captured by the Western Allies* Delayed Allied advance into the Ruhr BasinBattle of the BulgeDecember 16, 1944January 25, 1945The Ardennes, Belgium, Luxembourg, and GermanySiegfried Line campaign89,500(19,000 killed, 47,500 wounded, 23,000 missing)Allied victoryGermany* Final German offensive on the Western Front* Caused temporary delay of Western Allied advance* Failure in German strategic objective to recapture Antwerp, encircle Allied forces in the Low Countries, and force the Western Allies to draft a separate peace treaty* resulted in depletion and collapse of Wehrmacht forces, ultimately accelerating Western Allied advance and capture of the Siegfried Line as well as the Soviet Union's Vistula–Oder Offensive on the Eastern FrontOperation NordwindJanuary 1, 1945January 25, 1945Alsace and Lorraine, FranceSiegfried Line campaign12,000(3,000 killed, 9,000 wounded or missing)German operational failureGermany* Failure of German strategic objective to destroy Allied forces in Alsace and Lorraine* Resulted in German salient in central Alsace Colmar PocketJanuary 20, 1945February 9, 1945Alsace, FranceSiegfried Line campaign8,000Allied victoryGermany* Failure of German objective to recapture northern Alsace * Resulted in full French control of Alsace Ruhr PocketMarch 7, 1945April 21, 1945Ruhr Area, GermanyWestern Allied invasion of GermanyAllied victoryGermany* Successful encirclement and division of Army Group B* Surrender of German Fifteenth Army and German forces under Walter Model's command * Western Allied occupation of the Ruhr and advance towards the Elbe RiverOperation VarsityMarch 24, 1945Wesel, GermanyWestern Allied invasion of Germany2,700Allied victoryGermany* Allied airborne operations in Hamminkeln and Wesel to secure British invasion and occupation of northwestern Germany * Successfully established bridgeheads on the Rhine Battle of FrankfurtMarch 26, 1945March 29, 1945Frankfurt, GermanyWestern Allied invasion of GermanyunknownAmerican victoryGermany* Achieved Allied capture of FrankfurtBattle of PaderbornMarch 30, 1945March 31, 1945Paderborn, GermanyWestern Allied invasion of GermanyAmerican victoryGermany* Major General Maurice Rose is killed in battle and is the highest-ranking U.S. Armed Forces officer to be killed in action at the Western Front.Battle of KasselApril 1, 1945April 4, 1945Kassel, GermanyWestern Allied invasion of GermanyUnknownAmerican victoryGermany* Victory allowed U.S. Third Army advance through Hesse towards Frankfurt am MainBattle of HeilbronnApril 4, 1945April 12, 1945Heilbronn, GermanyWestern Allied invasion of Germany422 (60 killed, 250 wounded, 112 missing)American victoryGermany* House-to-house combat involving ''Volkssturm'' auxiliary units* Resulted in American occupation of Heilbronn and the Neckar River * Continuation of southeastern advance towards Heidelberg and BavariaBattle of NurembergApril 16, 1945April 20, 1945Nuremberg, GermanyWestern Allied invasion of GermanyAmerican victoryGermany* Most intense urban battle of the war. * Considered a major blow to Germany.Spring 1945 offensive in ItalyApril 6, 1945May 2, 1945Northern ItalyItalian Campaign16,258(1,288 killed, 15,453 wounded and 93 missing)Allied victoryGermany* Planned Allied offensive towards Lombardy * Ended with the death of Benito Mussolini and complete surrender of Axis forces* Final battle of the Italian CampaignAttack on Pearl HarborDecember 7, 1941Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, United States3,592(2,345 killed and 1,247 wounded)Japanese tactical victoryJapan* Preventive strike on the U.S. Pacific Fleet to prevent American intervention in planned Japanese offensive into Southeast Asia* Major Japanese tactical victory resulting in the destruction of American naval ships and base installations* Failure of Japanese objective to destroy American aircraft carriers and achieve decisive victory* Caused the United States to formally enter World War II and declare war on Japan, Germany, and Italy * Resulted in reorganization and buildup of the U.S. Armed Forces* Resulted in shift in public opinion in favor of entering the war Battle of Wake IslandDecember 8, 1941December 23, 1941Wake Island627(130 killed, 49 wounded and 448 captured)Japanese victoryJapan* Successful Japanese invasion and occupation of Wake Island despite U.S. Marine Corps resistance * Continued Japanese occupation until the end of the warBattle of BataanJanuary 7, 1942April 9, 1942Bataan Peninsula, PhilippinesPhilippines campaign (1941–1942)15,000 captured and internedJapanese victoryJapan* Last stand of American and Filipino forces * Ended in Japanese capture of Bataan PeninsulaDoolittle RaidApril 18, 1942Tokyo and other Japanese cities3 killed and 8 later died in captivity/executedUS propaganda victoryJapan* First American air raid against the Japanese Home Islands* Intended as retaliation for the Pearl Harbor attack * Minor damage to Japanese urban and military targets, including Tokyo* Improved American morale and damaged Japanese moraleBattle of the Coral SeaMay 4, 1942May 8, 1942Coral Sea, between Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon IslandsNew Guinea campaign656 killedJapanese tactical victory, Allied strategic victoryJapan* First naval battle in history fought between aircraft carriers * Japanese tactical victory; ended in successful invasion and occupation of Tulagi and the British Solomon Islands* American strategic victory; prevented Japanese invasion of Port Moresby* Resulted in damage to Japanese aircraft carriers ''Shōkaku'' and ''Zuikaku''* Resulted in fragility of Japanese forces in the South West PacificBattle of Milne BayAugust 25, 1942September 7, 1942Milne Bay, Papua New GuineaNew Guinea campaign14 killedAllied victoryJapan* Attempted capture of Allied airfields at Milne Bay* Resulted in Japanese withdrawal due to unexpected participation of the First Australian Imperial Force and Allied attacks on Japanese supply linesBattle of Wau29 January 1943February 4, 1943Wau, Papua New GuineaNew Guinea campaignAllied victoryJapan* Japanese attempt to fight back after the battle is over but are repelled.Battle of Wakde18 May 194421, May 1944Wakde, IndonesiaNew Guinea campaign147 (40 killed, 107 wounded)American victoryJapan* Wakde Airfield is obtained.Battle of Biak27 May 1944August 17, 1944Biak, IndonesiaNew Guinea campaignAllied victoryJapan* Biak becomes a logistical center for the Allies.Battle of Driniumor RiverJuly 10, 1944August 25, 1944Near Aitape, Papua New GuineaNew Guinea campaign3,000 (440 killed and 2,560 wounded)American victoryJapan* Resulted in withdrawal of Japanese forces after heavy fightingBattle of SansaporJuly 30, 1944August 31, 1944Bird's Head Peninsula, IndonesiaNew Guinea campaign49 (15 killed and 35 wounded)American victoryJapanBattle of MidwayJune 3, 1942June 7, 1942Near Midway Atoll307 killedAmerican victoryJapan* Considered by historians to be one of the most important naval battles in history * Contributed to depletion of manpower and material of the Imperial Japanese Navy* Failure to divert American aircraft carriers into trap and invade Midway Island in preparation for future offensives against Fiji, Samoa, and Hawaii* Ended in destruction of four Japanese fleet carriers* Turning point in the Pacific War resulting in Japanese retreat and American offensivesBattle of GuadalcanalAugust 7, 1942February 9, 1943Guadalcanal in the Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands campaign~6,000(1,600 killed, 4,400 wounded and missing they were never found)Allied victoryJapan* Major Allied victory recapturing the Solomon Islands* Ended in withdrawal of Japanese forces from the Solomon Islands* Contributed to depletion of Imperial Japanese Army* Forced Japanese military to end offensives and shift to defensive strategyBattle of the Santa Cruz IslandsOctober 25, 1942October 27, 1942Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands campaign266 killedJapanese tactical victory, American strategic victoryJapan* Ended in retreat of Allied surface ships * Resulted in loss of Japanese aircrewsBattle of TarawaNovember 20, 1943November 23, 1943Betio, Tarawa AtollGilbert and Marshall Islands campaign3,296(1,000 killed and 2,296 wounded)American victoryJapan* American amphibious landing * Resulted in capture of Tarawa Atoll after heavy fightingBattle of MakinNovember 20, 1943November 24, 1943Makin Atoll, Gilbert IslandsGilber and Marshall Islands campaign948 (763 killed and 185 wounded)American victoryJapanBattle of KwajaleinJanuary 31, 1944February 3, 1944Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall IslandsGilbert and Marshall Islands campaign1,964(372 killed and 1,592 wounded)American victoryJapan* Ended in American seizure of Kwajelein Atoll * Provided major boost to American morale Battle of EniwetokFebruary 17, 1944February 23, 1944Enewetok Atoll, Marshall IslandsGilbert and Marshall Islands campaign1,269 (313 killed, 879 wounded, 77 missing)American victoryJapan* Ended in seizure of Eniwetok as a forward base for future offensives into the Japanese South Seas MandateBattle of SaipanJune 15, 1944July 9, 1944Saipan, Mariana IslandsMariana and Palau Islands campaign13,313(2,949 killed and 10,364 wounded)American victoryJapan* Ended in American occupation of Saipan* Brought Japanese home islands within range of American B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers * Prompted resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Hideki TojoBattle of the Philippine SeaJune 19, 1944June 20, 1944Philippine SeaMariana and Palau Islands campaign109 killedAmerican victoryJapan* Largest carrier battle in history* Completely eliminated Japanese ability to mount large-scale carrier operations * Ended in Japanese withdrawal from the Philippine Sea and American offensive towards the Philippines Battle of Guam July 21, 1944August 8, 1944Guam, Mariana IslandsMariana and Palau Islands campaign7,800(1,747 killed and 6,053 wounded)Allied victoryJapan* Ended Japanese occupation of GuamBattle of TinianJuly 24, 1944August 1, 1944Tinian, Mariana IslandsMariana and Palau Islands campaign1,919 (326 killed and 1,593 wounded)American victoryJapan* Ended in American capture of Tinian as forward air baseBattle of PeleliuSeptember 15, 1944November 27, 1944Peleliu, Palau IslandsMariana and Palau Islands campaign9,804(1,794 killed and 8,010 wounded)American victoryJapan* Ended in American capture of Peleliu as forward air base* Controversial due to high casualty rate of the 1st Marine Division and the 81st Infantry Division alongside minor strategic valueBattle of AngaurSeptember 17, 1944September 30, 1944Angaur, Palau IslandsMariana and Palau Islands campaign260 killedAmerican victoryJapan* Ended in American capture of Angaur as forward air baseBattle of Leyte GulfOctober 23, 1944October 26, 1944Leyte Gulf, PhilippinesPhilippines campaign (1944–45)~1,500 killedAllied victoryJapan* Sometimes considered to be the "largest naval battle in history"* Final naval battle in history fought between battleships * Saw the introduction of Japanese kamikaze attacks* Isolated Japanese holdings in Southeast Asia from the Home Islands * Allied defeat of Japanese naval forces despite their full mobilization * Commenced American offensive into the PhilippinesBattle of LuzonJanuary 9, 1945August 15, 1945Luzon, PhilippinesPhilippines campaign (1944–45)~37,870(8,310 killed and 29,560 wounded)Allied victoryJapan* Highest net casualty for U.S. forces during World War II * Resulted in Allied liberation of LuzonBattle of ManilaFebruary 3, 1945March 3, 1945Manila, PhilippinesPhilippines campaign (1944–45)6,575(1,010 killed and 5,565 wounded)Allied victoryJapan* One of the most intense urban battles fought by American forces during the war * Accompanied with massacres of Filipino civilians by Japanese forcesBattle of Bessang PassJune 1, 1945June 15, 1945Ilocos Sur,PhilippinesPhilippines campaign (1944–45)339 (119 killed and 220 wounded)Allied victoryJapan* Ended in entrapment of Japanese forces under General Tomoyuki Yamashita's command Battle of Iwo JimaFebruary 19, 1945March 26, 1945Iwo Jima, JapanVolcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign26,038(6,821 killed and 19,217 wounded)American victoryJapan* One of the most intensive battles of the Pacific theatre * initially controversial due to heavy casualties and low strategic value of Iwo Jima * Ended in the American occupation of Iwo Jima aided by overwhelming military superiority, later used as an emergency landing base for American bombers* Resulted in most of the Japanese combatants being killed in action* Site of Joe Rosenthal's iconic photograph ''Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima''. Battle of OkinawaApril 1, 1945June 22, 1945Okinawa, JapanVolcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign51,429(12,513 killed and 38,916 wounded)Allied victoryJapan* largest amphibious battle of the Pacific theatre of World War II * Ended in heavy casualties for both sides * Large-scale deaths of Okinawan civilians. * Ended in U.S. occupation of Okinawa * Intended as a preparatory battle to the abandoned Western Allied invasions of Kyūshū and Honshu. * Heavy civilian and combat casualties may have influenced U.S. decision to use atomic bombs against Hiroshima and NagasakiBattle of Java SeaFebruary 27, 1942February 27, 1942,Java SeaJava Sea (2300 Americans Killed)Japanese victory
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