ILLUSTRATED HISTORY: RELIVE THE TIMES: Images Of War, History , WW2: World War Two In Brief: 1942

FEBRUARY 15th 1942
Singapore Surrenders

The British fortress at Singapore was forced to surrender to the Japanese. The Japanese advanced down through the Malayan pennisula. They crossed onto the island of Singapore on the night of February 7th and forced the more numerous British troops to surrender.

VIDEO: FALL OF SINGAPORE: PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

APRIL 18th 1942

Doolittle's Bomber Attacks Tokyo

An American bomber scored a major psychological victory, when, under the command of General Doolittle, they bombed Japan. Only minor damage was inflicted by the forces of medium bombers. These bombers were specially modified to be launched from Carriers.

VIDEO: DOLITTLE RAID ON JAPAN, 1942

MAY 3rd 1942

Battle of the Coral Sea

The Japanese were advancing toward Australia, with the intention of assaulting Port Moseby. US task forces engaged a Japanese force in the Coral Sea. It was the first battle in which two naval forces engaged, without ever coming within shooting distance of each other. Japanese planes managed to sink the American carrier "Lexington" and damage the "Yorktown." The Americans sank a Japanese light-carrier and put two Japanese cruisers out of commission. The Japanese advance was halted.

VIDEO: BATTLE OF CORAL SEA

MAY 30th 1942

British Launch 1,000 Aircraft Raid on Cologne

The British launched a 1,000-plane night raid on Cologne. This raid was just one of many night raids visited on German cities.

VIDEO: BRITISH BOMB COLOGNE, MAY 30, 1942

JUNE 4th 1942

Battle of Midway

The Japanese planned to attack the Island of Midway, expanding their hold on the Central Pacific. American intelligence intercepted Japanese plans and knew of the impending Japanese attack. The Americans sent their entire carrier force, including the recently damaged "Yorktown," to intercept the Japanese force. The Americans succeeded in sinking four Japanese carriers, loosing only the "Yorktown." This was the turning point in the Pacific War.

VIDEO: BATTLE OF MIDWAY

AUGUST 19th 1942

Dieppe Raid

The Raid on Dieppe took place on August 19, 1942. Its mission was to test German coastal defenses. It was carried out primarily by Canadian troops. The raid turned into one of the greatest allied fiascoes of the war. The element of surprised was completely lost, and the air force was unable to provide sufficient air support. Of the 4,963 Canadians who took part 3,367 were killed wounded or taken prisoner.

VIDEO: DIEPPE RAID

AUGUST 27th 1942

German Troops Reach Stalingrad

German troops reached the Russian city of Stalingrad, on the Volga, and laid seige to it. German troops advanced on Stalingrad and broke through Russian lines, but did not succeed in taking the city. Hitler would allow no withdrawal from Stalingrad, and the Russian troops gradually wore down the Germans.

VIDEO: GERMANS REACH STALINGRAD

OCTOBER 23rd 1942

British Are Victorious At El Alamein

German forces, under the command of Rommel, met the British forces, under the command of General Montgomery at El Alamein. Montgomery had a two-to-one advantage in tanks, and was victorious. The victory in El Alamain eliminated the German threat to the Suez Canal and the Middle East.

VIDEO: BRITISH VICTORY AT EL ALAMEIN