Europe during Second World War Review for years 1941-1945

SWW, Stage 2 Western Offensive, May 1940 Battle for Britain: A turning point? Italy’s parallel war (October, 1940): Mussolini an asset or liability? Balkan conflict (April, 1941): What is the significance of this phase of the war? North African campaign, 1941-1943

Stage 2, cont. Britain stands alone: Battle of Britain (a turning point?) US/British relations up to 1941. Lend-lease Agreement, March, 1941. Operation Barbarossa, June, 1941: What was it and how did it change the course of the war?

The “Inner War” Internal developments: Creating (colonizing) a “New Europe” (e.g., Vichy France, Occupied former Yugoslavia, etc.) Life behind the lines: Women at War; importance of industrial productivity. The Holocaust and crimes against humanity. Role of resistance movements and intelligence (Enigma, Ultra, SOE).

Turning points 1941 -- U.S. enters the war 1942-43 -- Battle of Stalingrad (Kursk, etc.) 1942-43 -- North African campaign/Italy defeated. Opening a second front: Invasion of Italy, July, 1943--Operation Overlord (June, 1944) and Bagration (June, 1944).

Politics of War War-time conferences (Casablanca, Teheran, Yalta, Moscow meeting 1944) Events: Warsaw uprising of 1944. Manhattan project Role of personalities: Hitler, Mussolini, Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, etc. Moral issues raised by war: Crimes against humanity, bombing missions, etc.

End of War Defeating Germany: Significance of final battles (Arnhem,September, 1944; Bulge, December, 1944 -January, 1945; Berlin, April, 1945) Europe transformed: origins of Cold War