Topic: Evaluating how the United States won a Multi-Front War Do Now: Which do you feel was more vital to American interest- the Pacific Theater or the European Theater? Use specifics when justifying your answer.

The Axis on the Attack Allies “space for time” Japan seizes American and British possessions in the Pacific Macarthur & the Philippines Bataan Death March Hitler seizes most of Europe Collaborators and resisters The “Final Solution” and America’s response Hitler’s big mistake at Stalingrad

America in Europe American and British forces in Africa America invades Italy Failure? Stalin demands a “Second Front” Gen. Eisenhower in charge of Allied forces, plans 2nd front D-Day: 6/6/44 (Overlord) Normandy, France August- Paris liberated Meanwhile, Soviets push into Eastern Europe Election 1944 (FDR vs. Dewey) FDR 4th Term VP Truman selected Germany invaded “Strategic Bombing” of Germany (Dresden) Battle of the Bulge US/UK from west, USSR from East April 30, 1945: Soviet troops in Berlin Hitler’s suicide May 8: Germany Surrenders (VE Day)

European War Map

The Pacific Theater of Operations Turning point: Battle of Midway (Nimitz) Island Hopping and superior air power MacArthur and the Philippines (1944) Iwo Jima (March ’45) Potsdam Declaration August 1945: Atomic Bomb dropped on Japan Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan surrenders, but keeps the Emperor

Pacific War Map

Conclusion “It was the Soviet Union, not the United States, which truly won World War II”. Assess the validity of this statement