Chapter 18, section 2 The War in Europe

Stalin and the 2nd Front Stalin wants a second front against Germany to relieve pressure on Russia.

Atlantic War German U-Boats prowled the Atlantic Ocean and wreaked havoc on American shipping. No where was safe. Ships were often sunk in sight of the American coast!

Wolf Packs ruled the Atlantic, sinking 175 ships in June 1942 alone. The US countered with the convoy system and anti-U-boat planes.

Operation Torch

George Patton USA Bernard Montgomery Great Britain Erwin Rommel Nazi Germany

May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't.

“No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country “No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.”

“Nobody ever defended anything successfully, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.”

North Africa and Italy The Nazis relieved the Italian Army, who was losing ground to the Allies. Rommel (the Desert Fox) commanded the Afrika Corps.

The Nazis pushed back the Allies until the arrival of Montgomery and Patton Patton invades Italy in April 1943 and Italy is finally freed in July 1945.

As Mussolini attempted to flee Italy, he was captured and shot by an Italian mob

The Eastern Front (Russia) Hitler breaks the Non-Aggression Pact with Stalin and invades Russia their oil supplies Much of eastern Russia is overrun. Russians make a stand at Stalingrad.

The battle lasts 4 ½ months, Turning point on the Eastern Front. 330,000 German casualties, 1.1 MILLION Russians

Bloodiest battle in human history.

Allied Air War Allied bombing began pounding German factories and cities

Precision Bombing vs. Carpet bombing

Carpet Bombing Massive casualties and devastation of some German cities.

Operation Overlord “D Day” Dwight D. Eisenhower was made the Supreme commander Create a 2nd front, and a beachhead in France

Largest amphibious landing in history (150k men in the 1st wave) Hitler thought it was a decoy and delayed reinforcements French Resistance played a key role. France was free after 4 years of Nazi occupation.

French Hedgerows

Battle of the Bulge Last major German offensive (counter attack) Largest battle of the war in Western Europe. Signaled the end of the war for most Nazis

761st Tank Division

Germany Surrenders Hitler commits suicide as Berlin is surrounded Germany surrenders on May 8th , 1945 known as VE Day. FDR died about a month before.

Yalta Conference , February 1945 Germany is divided into occupied zones Stalin promises Enter the war in the Pacific vs. Japan Hold free elections in occupied territories