War in Europe North Africa to Berlin

Patton vs. Rommel Operation Torch: Allied invasion of North Africa German general Erwin Rommel commands “Afrika Corps” & nearly captures all of North Africa Americans take heavy losses b/c they didn’t know how to fight the Germans General George S. Patton leads American forces against the Germans The battle of the Kasserine Pass in Tunisia, U.S. beat Rommel in largest tank battle

D-Day June 6 th 1944 Normandy, France 6 June 1944 Operation Overlord: D Day—commanded by Dwight D. Eisenhower 150,000 troops by sea, 23,000 troops by air Omaha Beach—American troops faced machine gunners as they came ashore—2,000 American casualties U.S. Paratroopers land behind enemy lines to prevent reinforcements from coming in Other beaches met light opposition Germans thought the attacks were coming further north—no reinforcements were sent

Battle of the Bulge 17 December 1944, German forces make one last assault to drive the Allies back Heavy snow—battle took place in the wooded region of northern France Largest counterattack the Germans launched during the war 200,000 German troops attacked 80,000 U.S. troops German ordered a surrender, but the Allies sent in reinforcements Germany retreated and their offensive failed

Air War Bombing missions crush German industry B-17 Flying Fortresses & B-24 Liberators perfect aerial bombing Norden Bombsight makes bombing extremely accurate from high altitudes P-51 fighters could escort bombers to & from the target

Cologne, Germany 1945

Yalta Conference Roosevelt, Stalin, & Churchill meet in Yalta This meeting was to discuss Russia’s entry in the war against Japan 3 months after German surrenders Discussed dividing up Germany after the war Roosevelt decided to run for a fourth term and he easily won

Final Attacks on Germany Allied bombers blasted German cities Attack on Dresden—total civilian deaths estimated between 30,000 and 60,000 The U.S. occupied western Germany to the Elbe River— The Soviets occupied the east Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945 while hidden in a bunker below Berlin Germany surrendered on May 7 th – next day was called VE (Victory in Europe) Day