Pacific Theater of War

Pacific and European Theaters of War Pg. 598 – B-24, “The Liberator”

All Quiet on the “Eastern Front” * Most epic and intense fighting front in the history of mankind

Battle of Berlin April 20 to May 2, 1945 Soviet Union takes Berlin, Hitler commits suicide, and Germany surrenders the city

Siege of Leningrad Sept. 8, 1941 to Jan. 27, 1944 Now called “St. Petersburg,” the cultural center of Russia 872-day siege Death of 1,500,000 soldiers and civilians 1,400,000 civilians evacuated, mainly women and children

Diary of Tanya Savicheva During Siege of Leningrad Shown at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials She describes the starvation faced by her family …

Two German soldiers outside Moscow, 1941 … I imagine them saying, “Hey Claus, did you pack any winter gear?” “No Dieter. They told us we’d beat the Soviets in four months.”

Battle of Moscow (1941) Oct., 1941 to Jan., 1942 Nazis stall 19 miles outside Moscow Hitler is furious, fires head of Wehrmacht, and takes over control Let’s Defend Moscow

Battle of Stalingrad German advance halted and Soviets go on the offensive Bloodiest battle in the history of warfare Most strategically decisive battle in WWII - Sept. 1942 to Feb. 1943

Battle of Stalingrad - Sept. 1942 to Feb. 1943 2 million soldiers killed, wounded, or captured!! 144,000 Axis prisoners; 6th Army destroyed; Wehrmacht never recovers; Japan never declares war on Soviet Union.

U.S. Aid and Geography 5 million tons of food, enough for a ½ pound ration for every Soviet soldier for every day of the war 13 million boots 2/3rds of vehicles Soviet Army used

Battle of Kursk July & Aug., 1943 Last major German offensive on Eastern Front Largest tank battle in history Only time in WWII the German blitzkrieg is ineffective

Maginot Line

Maginot Line

Battle of Kursk July & Aug., 1943 Last major German offensive on Eastern Front Largest tank battle in history Only time in WWII the German blitzkrieg is ineffective

Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive Operation Bagration “Maskirovka” June 2 to Aug. 19, 1944 Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive Soviet Offensive Almost complete destruction of Nazi “Army Group Center.” Largest German defeat in WWII July 13 to Aug. 29, 1944 These offensives lead to the Soviet repossession of Belarus and Ukraine Almost complete liberation of western Soviet Union Soviet Offensive Almost complete destruction of Nazi “Army Group South.” Soviets advance through Ukraine into Romania

Vistula–Oder Offensive Jan. 12 to Feb. 22, 1945 Soviet Offensive covers 300 miles from Vistula River in U.S.S.R. to 43 miles from Berlin

Battle of Berlin April 20 to May 2, 1945 Soviet Union takes Berlin, Hitler commits suicide, and Germany surrenders the city