List of World War II battles involving the United States

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

NameStart DateEndLocationCampaignU.S. CasualtiesResultOpposing ForceNotes
Battle of the Atlantic September 13, 1941May 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, 1942November 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, 1943February 25, 1943Kasserine Pass, Tunisia Tunisia Campaign 6,500
(1,000+ killed); [3] [4] or, 9,195
(2,572 killed, 56 wounded and 10 captured or missing) [5]
Axis victoryGermany and Italy
Battle of El Guettar March 23, 1943April 7, 1943 El Guettar, TunisiaTunisia Campaign~5,000 [6] IndecisiveGermany and Italy
Battle of Gela July 10, 1943July 12, 1943 Gela, Sicily Italian Campaign 2,300, 1 destroyer sunk [3] Allied victoryGermany and Italy
Battle of Salerno September 9, 1943September 16, 1943 Salerno, ItalyItalian Campaign4,870 [7] Allied victoryGermany and Italy
  • first battle of the Allied invasion of mainland Italy
Battle of Monte Cassino January 17, 1944May 18, 1944 Monte Cassino, ItalyItalian Campaign100,000+ (Total allied casualties) [3] Allied victoryGermany
Battle of Anzio January 22, 1944June 5, 1944 Anzio and Nettuno, ItalyItalian Campaign23,173
(5,538 killed, 15,558 wounded and 2,947 captured or missing) [8]
Allied victoryGermany
Battle of Normandy June 6, 1944July 24, 1944 Normandy, France Operation Overlord 63,360
(16,293 killed, 43,221 wounded and 6,180 captured or missing) [8]
Allied victoryGermany
  • 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, 1944June 12, 1944 Graignes, FranceOperation Overlord32 (17 executed) [3] American victoryGermany
Battle of Carentan June 10, 1944June 14, 1944Carentan, FranceOperation OverlordAmerican victoryGermany
  • Consolidated American beachheads against German counterattack
  • allowed seizure of the Cotentin Peninsula
Battle for Brest August 7, 1944September 19, 1944 Brittany, FranceOperation Overlord~4,000 [9] Allied victoryGermany
  • Resulted in seizure of Brest
  • German sabotage prevented use of port facilities
Operation Dragoon August 15, 1944September 14, 1944 Southern France Operation Overlord15,574
(7,301 killed, 5,804 wounded, 3,098 captured or missing) [5]
Allied victoryGermany
Battle of Nancy September 5, 1944September 15, 1944 Nancy, France Siegfried Line campaign2,851+ [3] American victoryGermany
Operation Market Garden September 17, 1944September 25, 1944 The Netherlands Siegfried Line campaign3,974 [3] Allied 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 strategy
Battle of Hürtgen Forest September 19, 1944February 10, 1945 Hurtgen Forest, German-Belgian borderSiegfried Line campaign33,000 [3] German defensive victoryGermany
  • longest ever battle fought by the U.S. Army
  • Failure to capture the Rur River
Battle of Metz September 27, 1944December 13, 1944 Metz, FranceSiegfried Line campaign2,851+ [3] American tactical victory, German strategic victoryGermany
Battle of Aachen October 2, 1944October 21, 1944 Aachen, Germany Siegfried Line campaign5,000 [3] American 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 Basin
Battle of the Bulge December 16, 1944January 25, 1945 The Ardennes, Belgium, Luxembourg, and GermanySiegfried Line campaign89,500
(19,000 killed, 47,500 wounded, 23,000 missing) [10]
Allied victoryGermany
Operation Nordwind January 1, 1945January 25, 1945 Alsace and Lorraine, FranceSiegfried Line campaign12,000
(3,000 killed, 9,000 wounded or missing) [11]
German operational failureGermany
  • Failure of German strategic objective to destroy Allied forces in Alsace and Lorraine
  • Resulted in German salient in central Alsace
Colmar Pocket January 20, 1945February 9, 1945 Alsace, FranceSiegfried Line campaign8,000 [3] Allied victoryGermany
  • Failure of German objective to recapture northern Alsace
  • Resulted in full French control of Alsace
Ruhr Pocket March 7, 1945April 21, 1945 Ruhr Area, Germany Western Allied invasion of Germany Allied victoryGermany
Operation Varsity March 24, 1945 Wesel, GermanyWestern Allied invasion of Germany2,700 [3] Allied victoryGermany
Battle of Frankfurt March 26, 1945March 29, 1945 Frankfurt, GermanyWestern Allied invasion of Germanyunknown [3] American victoryGermany
  • Achieved Allied capture of Frankfurt
Battle of Paderborn March 30, 1945March 31, 1945 Paderborn, 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 Kassel April 1, 1945April 4, 1945 Kassel, GermanyWestern Allied invasion of GermanyUnknown [3] American victoryGermany
Battle of Heilbronn April 4, 1945April 12, 1945 Heilbronn, GermanyWestern Allied invasion of Germany422 (60 killed, 250 wounded, 112 missing) [3] American victoryGermany
Battle of Nuremberg April 16, 1945April 20, 1945 Nuremberg, GermanyWestern Allied invasion of GermanyAmerican victoryGermany
  • Most intense urban battle of the war.
  • Considered a major blow to Germany.
Spring 1945 offensive in Italy April 6, 1945May 2, 1945 Northern Italy Italian Campaign16,258
(1,288 killed, 15,453 wounded and 93 missing) [3]
Allied victoryGermany
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, 1941December 23, 1941 Wake Island 627
(130 killed, 49 wounded and 448 captured) [3]
Japanese victoryJapan
  • 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, 1942April 9, 1942 Bataan Peninsula, Philippines Philippines campaign (1941–1942) 15,000 captured and interned [3] Japanese victoryJapan
  • Last stand of American and Filipino forces
  • Ended in Japanese capture of Bataan Peninsula
Doolittle Raid April 18, 1942 Tokyo 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 morale
Battle of the Coral Sea May 4, 1942May 8, 1942 Coral Sea, between Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands New Guinea campaign 656 killedJapanese tactical victory, Allied strategic victoryJapan
Battle of Milne Bay August 25, 1942September 7, 1942 Milne Bay, Papua New GuineaNew Guinea campaign14 killed [3] Allied 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 lines
Battle of Wau 29 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 Wakde 18 May 194421, May 1944 Wakde, IndonesiaNew Guinea campaign147 (40 killed, 107 wounded) [3] American victoryJapan
  • Wakde Airfield is obtained.
Battle of Biak 27 May 1944August 17, 1944Biak, IndonesiaNew Guinea campaignAllied victoryJapan
  • Biak becomes a logistical center for the Allies.
Battle of Driniumor River July 10, 1944August 25, 1944Near Aitape, Papua New GuineaNew Guinea campaign3,000 (440 killed and 2,560 wounded) [3] American victoryJapan
  • Resulted in withdrawal of Japanese forces after heavy fighting
Battle of Sansapor July 30, 1944August 31, 1944 Bird's Head Peninsula, IndonesiaNew Guinea campaign49 (15 killed and 35 wounded) [3] American victoryJapan
Battle of Midway June 3, 1942June 7, 1942Near Midway Atoll 307 killed [12] American 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 offensives
Battle of Guadalcanal August 7, 1942February 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 victoryJapan
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands October 25, 1942October 27, 1942 Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands campaign266 killed [3] Japanese tactical victory, American strategic victoryJapan
  • Ended in retreat of Allied surface ships
  • Resulted in loss of Japanese aircrews
Battle of Tarawa November 20, 1943November 23, 1943 Betio, Tarawa Atoll Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign 3,296
(1,000 killed and 2,296 wounded) [3]
American victoryJapan
  • American amphibious landing
  • Resulted in capture of Tarawa Atoll after heavy fighting
Battle of Makin November 20, 1943November 24, 1943 Makin Atoll, Gilbert Islands Gilber and Marshall Islands campaign948 (763 killed and 185 wounded) [3] American victoryJapan
Battle of Kwajalein January 31, 1944February 3, 1944 Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign1,964
(372 killed and 1,592 wounded) [3]
American victoryJapan
  • Ended in American seizure of Kwajelein Atoll
  • Provided major boost to American morale
Battle of Eniwetok February 17, 1944February 23, 1944 Enewetok Atoll, Marshall IslandsGilbert and Marshall Islands campaign1,269 (313 killed, 879 wounded, 77 missing) [3] American victoryJapan
Battle of Saipan June 15, 1944July 9, 1944 Saipan, Mariana Islands Mariana and Palau Islands campaign 13,313
(2,949 killed and 10,364 wounded) [3]
American victoryJapan
Battle of the Philippine Sea June 19, 1944June 20, 1944Philippine SeaMariana and Palau Islands campaign109 killed [3] American 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, 1944 Guam, Mariana IslandsMariana and Palau Islands campaign7,800
(1,747 killed and 6,053 wounded) [3]
Allied victoryJapan
Battle of Tinian July 24, 1944August 1, 1944 Tinian, Mariana IslandsMariana and Palau Islands campaign1,919 (326 killed and 1,593 wounded) [3] American victoryJapan
  • Ended in American capture of Tinian as forward air base
Battle of Peleliu September 15, 1944November 27, 1944 Peleliu, Palau Islands Mariana and Palau Islands campaign9,804
(1,794 killed and 8,010 wounded) [3]
American victoryJapan
Battle of Angaur September 17, 1944September 30, 1944 Angaur, Palau IslandsMariana and Palau Islands campaign260 killed [3] American victoryJapan
  • Ended in American capture of Angaur as forward air base
Battle of Leyte Gulf October 23, 1944October 26, 1944 Leyte Gulf, Philippines Philippines campaign (1944–45) ~1,500 killed [3] Allied 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 Philippines
Battle of Luzon January 9, 1945August 15, 1945 Luzon, PhilippinesPhilippines campaign (1944–45)~37,870
(8,310 killed and 29,560 wounded) [3]
Allied victoryJapan
  • Highest net casualty for U.S. forces during World War II
  • Resulted in Allied liberation of Luzon
Battle of Manila February 3, 1945March 3, 1945 Manila, PhilippinesPhilippines campaign (1944–45)6,575
(1,010 killed and 5,565 wounded) [3]
Allied victoryJapan
Battle of Bessang Pass June 1, 1945June 15, 1945 Ilocos Sur,

Philippines

Philippines campaign (1944–45)339 (119 killed and 220 wounded) [3] Allied victoryJapan
Battle of Iwo Jima February 19, 1945March 26, 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan Volcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign 26,038
(6,821 killed and 19,217 wounded) [3]
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 Okinawa April 1, 1945June 22, 1945 Okinawa, JapanVolcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign51,429
(12,513 killed and 38,916 wounded) [3]
Allied victoryJapan
Battle of Java Sea February 27, 1942 February 27, 1942, Java Sea Java Sea(2300 Americans Killed)Japanese victory

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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 [ dead link ]
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. "German War Machine : : InfoDetails". Archived from the original on 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  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