Essential Question: What role did the United States play in fighting in Europe during World War II?

World War 2 was a two “theater” war: Europe and the Pacific

Germany controlled almost all of Europe When the U.S. entered WW2 in late 1941, the Axis Powers were clearly winning the war Germany controlled almost all of Europe Germany pressed into the USSR Axis armies controlled northern Africa & threatened the Suez Canal

Japan dominated the western half of the Pacific Ocean

Fighting World War II: The European Theater FDR and Churchill met for two weeks plotting their war strategy. The leaders agreed that defeating Hitler would be their top priority. Once Europe was freed Allied forces could be re-deployed to help the U.S. defeat Japan. 1 2 & 3 President Roosevelt knew the first step toward victory in Europe was to secure the trans-Atlantic supply lines. A major breakthrough came when the British cracked Germany’s coded communications. As a result, the Battle of the Atlantic swung in favor of the Allies and the German U-boat threat was neutralized. Insert 5a & 5b videos enigma

Fighting World War II: The European Theater The Allies first land offensive came in November 1942. U.S. General Dwight Eisenhower - led 107,000 Allied troops ashore in Morocco and Algeria in North Africa 6 Insert 5a & 5b videos 7

Patton Insert 5a & 5b videos

STALINGRAD

Fighting World War II: The European Theater 6 Insert 5a & 5b videos 7 Stalingrad The turning point of WWII and the U.S.A. is not involved

Fighting World War II: The European Theater While the U.S. and Britain – the Western Allies – were fighting in North Africa, the Soviet Red Army refused to surrender the city of Stalingrad. 6 Insert 5a & 5b videos 7

Fighting World War II: The European Theater Stalingrad * Largest single battle in history. * It raged for 199 days * Approximately 2mm casualties 6 Insert 5a & 5b videos 7

Fighting World War II: The European Theater 6 Insert 5a & 5b videos 7 After the battle, the victorious Soviet army began a steady march westward – towards Germany.

Enemy at the Gates Insert 5a & 5b videos

Fighting World War II: The European Theater 6 Insert 5a & 5b videos By the summer of 1943, Allied warplanes were bombing German cities day and night. Most attacks were aimed at military and industrial targets – like bridges, supply depots and factories. But increasingly Allied air forces targeted civilian centers for so called “terror bombing” – designed to demoralize the German public. 7

Fighting World War II: The European Theater 6 Insert 5a & 5b videos The Soviet Army marched through Poland and the Allies pushed north through Italy, 7

OPERATION OVERLORD

Fighting World War II: The European Theater 11 Insert 5a & 5b videos Allied leaders finalized plans for the invasion of Nazi-occupied France and the liberation of Western Europe.

It was the largest military operation ever mounted. The mission was code-named “Operation Overlord,” but history would remember it as D-Day (June 6, 1944). Fighting World War II: The European Theater 11 13 Insert 5a & 5b videos It was the largest military operation ever mounted.

Fighting World War II: The European Theater Insert 5a & 5b videos Within a month there were a million Allied troops on the continent – fighting their way across France

Battle of the Bulge

Fighting World War II: The European Theater With the Battle of the Bulge, Germany makes a final push Insert 5a & 5b videos

Race for Berlin

Fighting World War II: The European Theater On April 23rd, the Soviet army stormed the German capital of Berlin. In face of defeat, Adolph Hitler took his own life rather than surrender. On May 7, 1945, the German High Command surrendered to Allied leaders. The long war in Europe was over. By September 1944 France, Belgium, Luxembourg and much of the Netherlands were free of Nazi control while the Soviet Red Army closed in on Germany from the East. Insert 5a & 5b videos

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HOLOCAUST

But with Germany defeated, Allied troops came face-to-face with evidence of Nazi atrocities... Concentration camps housing thousands of living corpses. History would reveal the true horrors of the Holocaust.

American soldiers could not believe what they saw American soldiers could not believe what they saw. Military film crews were called in to provide documentation

The United States & the Holocaust Examine the timeline “Stages of the Holocaust” & read “Response to the Holocaust from the United States” Answer the 3 discussion questions provided & prepare for a class discussion

Quick World War 2 in Europe Review Victory in North Africa Turning Point: Stalingrad Operation Torch & liberation of Italy Fighting in Europe, 1942-1943

Soviet army seizes Berlin; Germany surrenders May 7, 1945 Europe 1944-1945 Soviet army seizes Berlin; Germany surrenders May 7, 1945 D-Day invasion of Nazi-occupied France Battle of the Bulge