The Mediterranean and the Eastern Front (More notes from 32.1)

Axis Forces Attack North Africa July 1940: Italy enters the War on Axis Side Sept 1940 Italian army attacked British-controlled Egypt Suez Canal was key to reaching Middle East’s oil fields! Italy pushed 60 miles inside Egypt, then both sides dug trenches and waited

Britain Strikes Back December 1940 GB struck back, disaster for Italy! By Feb 1941 GB had swept 500 miles across North Africa, taken 130,000 Italian prisoners

Hitler Sends Help Hitler sent his German tank force, the Afrika Korps, under command of General Erwin Rommel

Rommel attacked in late March 1941, caught GB forces by surprise, retreated east to Tobruk, Libya GB began to drive Rommel back, pushed him by mid-Jan 1942 to original position June 1942 tide turned again: Rommel regrouped, pushed GB back and seized Tobruk, shattering defeat for Allies

The War in the Balkans Hitler had begun plans to attack USSR Early 1941, through threat of force, persuaded Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary to join Axis Powers April 1941 invaded Yugoslavia and Greece, which had resisted-fell in days

Hitler Invades the Soviet Union June 22, 1941 Hitler began Operation Barbarossa: plan to invade USSR USSR army not prepared, Germany pushed 500 miles inside Russians used scorched-earth policy

Sept 8 Germany began siege of Leningrad, completely cut off from rest of USSR -to force surrender Hitler decided to starve the 2.5 million inhabitants. -nearly 1 million died during winter of 1941-42, but would not surrender.

Lake Lagoda: “Road of Life”

Hitler impatient so looked to capital of Moscow- began drive on Oct 2, 1941, made it to outskirts USSR counterattacked; Hitler sent order to troops not to retreat even though temperatures began dropping; German soldiers dug in, held line until march 1943 Attack against USSR gained nothing but cost 500,000 German lives

The US Aids Its Allies Most Americans wanted to stay out of the war 1935-1937 Congress passed Neutrality Acts Sept 1939 FDR asked Congress to allow Allies to buy Americans arms if they paid cash, carried goods=Cash and Carry Act

Lend-Lease Act of 1941 President could lend or lease arms to countries vital to the US-by summer US Navy was escorting British ships carrying US arms. Hitler ordered subs to sink any cargo ships FDR and Churchill met and issued joint declaration Atlantic Charter: upheld free trade, right of ppl to choose their own gov’t this would later serve as Allies peace plan to end WWII