D-Day & Battle of the Bulge December 20, 2016

Summary 1941: Pearl Harbor Pacific: McArthur/ Bataan Death March Battle at Midway (1942) Guadalcanal (February 1943) Japan tries to capture AUSTRALIA (March 1943) Europe: Allies push Germans & Italians out of North Africa (May 1943) Allies on OFFENSIVE/ Axis on DEFENSIVE Pacific Goal: Island Hopping Strategy Also in 1943…U.S. creating NEW WEAPON that will change warfare forever Allies invade Italy (Eisenhower in command) Go in from Sicily (2 miles from Italy) Capture Mussolini but he escapes Hitler rescues October 1943: Italy joins Allies Italy declares war on Germany Soviets headed towards Germany from EAST And fighting Germans in France

Soviets have done most of fighting in Europe & their troops are dwindling December 1943: Stalin insist that U.S. & Britain get there to invade Germany from West Force Germany to divide troops 2 Front war Churchill against the invasion German U-boats in channel; recalls numerous WWI deaths; not prepared But…Eventually agree crossing English Channel best way to enter Europe PLAN: U.S. & Britain will invade France & march towards Germany Invasion code named “OPERATION OVERLORD” Mission set for June 5, 1944 6 months of preparation

Normandy Invasion Most experienced officers used Years of training in U.S. & England Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower planned invasion Operation Overlord a.k.a. D-Day Involved over 50 divisions Invaded 50 mile stretch of beach in Normandy, France Mission takes place June 6, 1944 (6:30AM) Largest fleet EVER assembled 156,000 soldiers 73,000 are American 15,500 are U.S. paratroopers 11,000 planes 5000 ships 5 beaches in Normandy Omaha, Utah, Juno, Gold, & Sword Omaha MOST DANGEROUS Over 10,000 casualties/ 2500 American

Battle of the Bulge December 21, 2016

August 1944: Allies liberate Paris Following D-Day: Germany hopeless 2 front war Soviets to the EAST U.S. & England to WEST August 1944: Allies liberate Paris Hitler ordered to destroy but generals disobeyed September 1944: Operation Market Garden Netherlands Unsuccessful/ Americans retreat Forced to go through Belgium Battle of the Bulge Starts December 16, 1944 – Feb. 1945 Hitler’s counterattack to D-Day Germans attack through Ardennes Forest Belgium, Luxembourg

German Advantage: Foggy/ snow storm Prevent planes from sending aid Germans ALMOST succeeded Created “bulge” in allies lines Germans stopped by Allies in Bastogne Surrounded/ outnumbered U.S. troops hold & fight despite frostbite & German bombing January 1945: Skies clear / bomb Patton’s army storms Bastogne Push Germans back & crippled them 80,000 Allied casualties/ 100,000 German Hitler no more reserves February 1945: Soviets reach outskirts of Berlin April 12, 1945: FDR dies Harry Truman takes over as U.S. President April 28: Mussolini captured & executed U.S./ Britain 50 miles west of Berlin