List of World War II battles involving the United States

This is a list of all battles involving the United States during World War II.

NameStart DateEnd DateLocationCampaignU.S. CasualtiesResultOpposing Force Notes
Battle of the Atlantic September 13, 1941 May 8, 1945 Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, Irish Sea, Labrador Sea, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Banks, Arctic Ocean Around 18,000 sailors and merchant seamen killed [1][2] Allied victory Germany, Japan (Possibly), Currently unknown
Operation Torch November 8, 1942 November 10, 1942 Morocco and Algeria North African Campaign 1,200
(479 killed, 720 wounded)[3]
Allied victory Vichy France

Germany

Italy

Battle of the Kasserine Pass February 19, 1943 February 25, 1943 Kasserine Pass, Tunisia Tunisia Campaign 6,500
(1,000+ killed);[3][4] or, 9,195
(2,572 killed, 5,946 wounded and 1,012 captured or missing)[5]
Axis tactical victory Germany and Italy
Battle of El Guettar March 23, 1943 April 7, 1943 El Guettar, Tunisia Tunisia Campaign ~5,000[6] Indecisive Germany and Italy
Battle of Gela July 10, 1943 July 12, 1943 Gela, Sicily Italian Campaign 2,300, 1 destroyer sunk[3] Allied victory Germany and Italy
Battle of Salerno September 9, 1943 September 16, 1943 Salerno, Italy Italian Campaign 4,870[7] Allied victory Germany and Italy
  • first battle of the Allied invasion of mainland Italy
Battle of Monte Cassino January 17, 1944 May 18, 1944 Monte Cassino, Italy Italian Campaign 100,000+ (Total allied casualties)[3] Allied victory Germany
Battle of Anzio January 22, 1944 June 5, 1944 Anzio and Nettuno, Italy Italian Campaign 23,173
(5,538 killed, 15,558 wounded and 2,947 captured or missing)[8]
Allied victory Germany
Battle of Normandy June 6, 1944 July 24, 1944 Normandy, France Operation Overlord 63,360
(16,293 killed, 43,221 wounded and 6,180 captured or missing)[8]
Allied victory Germany
  • successfully established Allied beachhead in France and neutralized the Atlantic Wall
  • resulted in withdrawal of German forces in northern France to Paris
Battle of Graignes June 10, 1944 June 12, 1944 Graignes, France Operation Overlord 32 (17 executed)[3] American victory Germany
Battle of Carentan June 10, 1944 June 14, 1944 Carentan, France Operation Overlord American victory Germany
  • Consolidated American beachheads against German counterattack
  • allowed seizure of the Cotentin Peninsula
Battle for Brest August 7, 1944 September 19, 1944 Brittany, France Operation Overlord ~4,000[9] Allied victory Germany
  • Resulted in seizure of Brest
  • German sabotage prevented use of port facilities
Operation Dragoon August 15, 1944 September 14, 1944 Southern France Operation Overlord 15,574
(7,301 killed, 5,804 wounded, 3,098 captured or missing)[5]
Allied victory Germany
Battle of Nancy September 5, 1944 September 15, 1944 Nancy, France Siegfried Line campaign 2,851+[3] American victory Germany
Operation Market Garden September 17, 1944 September 25, 1944 The Netherlands Siegfried Line campaign 3,974[3] Allied operational failure Germany
  • 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 strategy
Battle of Hürtgen Forest September 19, 1944 February 10, 1945 Hurtgen Forest, German-Belgian border Siegfried Line campaign 33,000[3] German defensive victory Germany
  • longest ever battle fought by the U.S. Army
  • Failure to capture the Rur River
Battle of Metz September 27, 1944 December 13, 1944 Metz, France Siegfried Line campaign 2,851+[3] American tactical victory, German strategic victory Germany
Battle of Aachen October 2, 1944 October 21, 1944 Aachen, Germany Siegfried Line campaign 5,000[3] American victory Germany
  • 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 Basin
Battle of the Bulge December 16, 1944 January 25, 1945 The Ardennes, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany Siegfried Line campaign 89,500
(19,000 killed, 47,500 wounded, 23,000 missing)[10]
Allied victory Germany
Operation Nordwind January 1, 1945 January 25, 1945 Alsace and Lorraine, France Siegfried Line campaign 12,000
(3,000 killed, 9,000 wounded or missing)[11]
German operational failure Germany
  • Failure of German strategic objective to destroy Allied forces in Alsace and Lorraine
  • Resulted in German salient in central Alsace
Colmar Pocket January 20, 1945 February 9, 1945 Alsace, France Siegfried Line campaign 8,000[3] Allied victory Germany
  • Failure of German objective to recapture northern Alsace
  • Resulted in full French control of Alsace
Ruhr Pocket March 7, 1945 April 21, 1945 Ruhr Area, Germany Western Allied invasion of Germany Allied victory Germany
Operation Varsity March 24, 1945 Wesel, Germany Western Allied invasion of Germany 2,700[3] Allied victory Germany
Battle of Frankfurt March 26, 1945 March 29, 1945 Frankfurt, Germany Western Allied invasion of Germany unknown[3] American victory Germany
  • Achieved Allied capture of Frankfurt
Battle of Paderborn March 30, 1945 March 31, 1945 Paderborn, Germany Western Allied invasion of Germany American victory Germany
  • 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 Kassel April 1, 1945 April 4, 1945 Kassel, Germany Western Allied invasion of Germany Unknown[3] American victory Germany
Battle of Heilbronn April 4, 1945 April 12, 1945 Heilbronn, Germany Western Allied invasion of Germany 422 (60 killed, 250 wounded, 112 missing)[3] American victory Germany
Battle of Nuremberg April 16, 1945 April 20, 1945 Nuremberg, Germany Western Allied invasion of Germany American victory Germany
  • Most intense urban battle of the war.
  • Considered a major blow to Germany.
Spring 1945 offensive in Italy April 6, 1945 May 2, 1945 Northern Italy Italian Campaign 16,258
(1,288 killed, 15,453 wounded and 93 missing)[3]
Allied victory Germany
Attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, United States 3,592
(2,345 killed and 1,247 wounded)[3]
Japanese tactical victory Japan
  • 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 Island December 8, 1941 December 23, 1941 Wake Island 627
(130 killed, 49 wounded and 448 captured)[3]
Japanese victory Japan
  • Successful Japanese invasion and occupation of Wake Island despite U.S. Marine Corps resistance
  • Continued Japanese occupation until the end of the war
Battle of Bataan January 7, 1942 April 9, 1942 Bataan Peninsula, Philippines Philippines campaign (1941–1942) 15,000 captured and interned[3] Japanese victory Japan
  • Last stand of American and Filipino forces
  • Ended in Japanese capture of Bataan Peninsula
Doolittle Raid April 18, 1942 Tokyo and other Japanese cities 3 killed and 8 later died in captivity/executed US propaganda victory Japan
  • 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 morale
Battle of the Coral Sea May 4, 1942 May 8, 1942 Coral Sea, between Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands New Guinea campaign 656 killed Japanese tactical victory, Allied strategic victory Japan
Battle of Milne Bay August 25, 1942 September 7, 1942 Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea New Guinea campaign 14 killed[3] Allied victory Japan
  • 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 lines
Battle of Wau 29 January 1943 February 4, 1943 Wau, Papua New Guinea New Guinea campaign Allied victory Japan
  • Japanese attempt to fight back after the battle is over but are repelled.
Battle of Wakde 18 May 1944 21, May 1944 Wakde, Indonesia New Guinea campaign 147 (40 killed, 107 wounded)[3] American victory Japan
  • Wakde Airfield is obtained.
Battle of Biak 27 May 1944 August 17, 1944 Biak, Indonesia New Guinea campaign Allied victory Japan
  • Biak becomes a logistical center for the Allies.
Battle of Driniumor River July 10, 1944 August 25, 1944 Near Aitape, Papau New Guinea New Guinea campaign 3,000 (440 killed and 2,560 wounded)[3] American victory Japan
  • Resulted in withdrawal of Japanese forces after heavy fighting
Battle of Sansapor July 30, 1944 August 31, 1944 Bird's Head Peninsula, Indonesia New Guinea campaign 49 (15 killed and 35 wounded)[3] American victory Japan
Battle of Midway June 3, 1942 June 7, 1942 Near Midway Atoll 307 killed[12] American victory Japan
  • 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 offensives
Battle of Guadalcanal August 7, 1942 February 9, 1943 Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands Solomon Islands campaign ~6,000
(1,600 killed, 4,400 wounded and missing they were never found)[13]
Allied victory Japan
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands October 25, 1942 October 27, 1942 Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands Solomon Islands campaign 266 killed[3] Japanese tactical victory, American strategic victory Japan
  • Ended in retreat of Allied surface ships
  • Resulted in loss of Japanese aircrews
Battle of Tarawa November 20, 1943 November 23, 1943 Betio, Tarawa Atoll Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign 3,296
(1,000 killed and 2,296 wounded)[3]
American victory Japan
  • American amphibious landing
  • Resulted in capture of Tarawa Atoll after heavy fighting
Battle of Makin November 20, 1943 November 24, 1943 Makin Atoll, Gilbert Islands Gilber and Marshall Islands campaign 948 (763 killed and 185 wounded)[3] American victory Japan
Battle of Kwajalein January 31, 1944 February 3, 1944 Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign 1,964
(372 killed and 1,592 wounded)[3]
American victory Japan
  • Ended in American seizure of Kwajelein Atoll
  • Provided major boost to American morale
Battle of Eniwetok February 17, 1944 February 23, 1944 Enewetok Atoll, Marshall Islands Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign 1,269 (313 killed, 879 wounded, 77 missing)[3] American victory Japan
Battle of Saipan June 15, 1944 July 9, 1944 Saipan, Mariana Islands Mariana and Palau Islands campaign 13,313
(2,949 killed and 10,364 wounded)[3]
American victory Japan
Battle of the Philippine Sea June 19, 1944 June 20, 1944 Philippine Sea Mariana and Palau Islands campaign 109 killed[3] American victory Japan
  • 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, 1944 August 8, 1944 Guam, Mariana Islands Mariana and Palau Islands campaign 7,800
(1,747 killed and 6,053 wounded)[3]
Allied victory Japan
Battle of Tinian July 24, 1944 August 1, 1944 Tinian, Mariana Islands Mariana and Palau Islands campaign 1,919 (326 killed and 1,593 wounded)[3] American victory Japan
  • Ended in American capture of Tinian as forward air base
Battle of Peleliu September 15, 1944 November 27, 1944 Peleliu, Palau Islands Mariana and Palau Islands campaign 9,804
(1,794 killed and 8,010 wounded)[3]
American victory Japan
Battle of Angaur September 17, 1944 September 30, 1944 Angaur, Palau Islands Mariana and Palau Islands campaign 260 killed[3] American victory Japan
  • Ended in American capture of Angaur as forward air base
Battle of Leyte Gulf October 23, 1944 October 26, 1944 Leyte Gulf, Philippines Philippines campaign (1944–45) ~1,500 killed[3] Allied victory Japan
  • 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 Philippines
Battle of Luzon January 9, 1945 August 15, 1945 Luzon, Philippines Philippines campaign (1944–45) ~37,870
(8,310 killed and 29,560 wounded)[3]
Allied victory Japan
  • Highest net casualty for U.S. forces during World War II
  • Resulted in Allied liberation of Luzon
Battle of Manila February 3, 1945 March 3, 1945 Manila, Philippines Philippines campaign (1944–45) 6,575
(1,010 killed and 5,565 wounded)[3]
Allied victory Japan
Battle of Bessang Pass June 1, 1945 June 15, 1945 Ilocos Sur,

Philippines

Philippines campaign (1944–45) 339 (119 killed and 220 wounded)[3] Allied victory Japan
Battle of Iwo Jima February 19, 1945 March 26, 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan Volcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign 26,038
(6,821 killed and 19,217 wounded)[3]
American victory Japan
  • 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 Okinawa April 1, 1945 June 22, 1945 Okinawa, Japan Volcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign 51,429
(12,513 killed and 38,916 wounded)[3]
Allied victory Japan

References

  1. http://www.usmm.org/casualty.html U.S. Merchant Marine Casualties during World War II
  2. http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/ww2_statistics.htm#active_enl US Navy Personnel in World War II: Service and Casualty Statistics
  3. References in the article
  4. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=6712 Archived 2010-02-13 at the Wayback Machine History.com
  5. http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/p4013coll8&CISOPTR=130&REC=2 Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle deaths in World War II p.93
  6. Zaloga, S, (2005), Kasserine Pass 1943: Rommel's Last Victory. Osprey Publishing
  7. tduvall. "Salerno: Conclusion". www.history.army.mil.
  8. http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/p4013coll8&CISOPTR=130&REC=2 Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle deaths in World War II p.92
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2008-08-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=24591 United States Department of Defense
  11. Smith and Clark, Riviera To The Rhine, p. 527.
  12. http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Midway/USN-CN-Midway-13.html#our The Battle of Midway
  13. Shaw, A, (2002), World War II: Day by Day. Grange Books, p. 105
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