Allies Turn the Tide

Why it Matters Pearl Harbor attack brought the U.S. into WWII on the allied side In 1942 the Allies began to stop the Axis powers The most aggressive threat to world peace and democracy had been halted

Axis and Allies Plan Strategy Axis powers had never coordinated a strategy to defeat the Allies Common enemies but individual dreams Hitler- dominate Europe and eliminate “inferior” people Mussolini- dreams of an Italian Empire stretching from the eastern Adriatic to East Africa Tojo- Japanese control of the Western Pacific and Asia

Europe First Allies had a common goal All considered Germany the most dangerous enemy Resources to bomb Britain, fight U.S. and British navies, and invade the Soviet Union Allies agreed to fight and win a two-front war and pursue a “Europe First” strategy

Turning the Tide in Europe Wolf Packs- of German U-Boats patrolled the Atlantic to cut the lines between the U.S. and Britain As in WWI, convoys protected Allied shipping Radar helped Allied vessels locate U-boats on the surface at night U.S. was able to bomb U-boats faster than German could manufacture them

Soviets Turn Back Nazis at Stalingrad Germany attacked Russia in June 1941 One army to Leningrad, one to Moscow Soviet resistance and a brutal winter stopped the German Advance 1942 Hitler’s goal was the Caucasus oil fields He would have to capture Stalingrad

Soviets Turn Back Nazis at Stalingrad Ferocious battle- Soviets counter attacked and trapped the Germans Hitler refused to let his army retreat Starving, sick, and frostbitten, the surviving German troops surrendered January 31, 1943

Battle of Stalingrad Stalingrad was the true turning point of the war It ended any hopes of Hitler dominating Europe Soviets were now on the offensive

Casablanca Conference Two important decisions Allies decide to continue bombing Germany and invade Italy FDR announced the allies would only accept an unconditional surrender Giving up completely without any concessions

Allies Invade Italy Eisenhower commanded American-British forces Axis forces escaped Sicily to the Italian mainland Gave Allies complete control of western Mediterranean and ended the rule of Benito Mussolini Hitler helped him escape and put him in charge of a puppet state in northern Italy

Bombers Batter Germany Early 1942, Allied bombers launched non stop attacks against Germany Saturation bombing- British planes dropped massive amounts of bombs on German cities Done at night Strategic bombing- American bombers targeted Germany’s key political and industrial centers During the day

Turning Point: Battle of Midway Admiral Yamamoto wanted to destroy American aircraft carriers before the U.S. could retaliate for Pearl Harbor Turned his attention to Midway Would force Americans back to the California Coast Navy code breakers had intercepted Japanese plans Admiral Chester Nimitz sent aircraft carriers to Midway

Turning Point: Battle of Midway In the most important naval battle of WWII, the U.S. defeated the Japanese U.S. only lost 1 aircraft carrier Battle of Midway became a TURNING POINT in the Pacific Japan still had powerful abilities, but would never again threaten Hawaii or Pacific domination

Americans Take the Offensive August 1942 Americans take the offensive with an assault on Guadalcanal U.S. drove Japanese off the island