The Allies Fight Back

Choosing a Front  Front = the line between two battling armies  3 main fronts existed (a.k.a Theaters)  Europe – Germany  Africa – Italy/Germany  Asia (Pacific) – Japan  FDR, Churchill, Stalin decided Germany was #1  Stalin wanted GB/US to invade right away  GB/US: “no invasion until 1944”

Africa  Italy tried to rebuild Roman Empire  Britain landed in N. Africa in 1941  GB used Medit. For trading with Middle East  Italy Needed Germany’s help  Allies wanted control of Mediterranean Sea to invade Italy  Clear Germany/Italy out of Africa first (enemy behind you?)  Allies/Axis battled back and forth  Finally Allies gained control of Africa

Europe  Allies were not ready to invade Western Europe  Needed time to build up their own forces  Also Wanted to soften up German defenses  bombed cities, factories, and defenses almost daily/nightly  Allied forces did invade Italy in 1943  Mussolini removed from power by Italian government  Italians fought on both sides for the rest of war

Asia (Pacific)  Largely America vs. Japan  Japan dominated the battles early on  Battle for Midway Island was the turning point (1942)  Japan lost three aircraft carriers (5min) - four total  From that point on…..  Japan was mostly defensive  U.S. “island-hopped” closer and closer to mainland Japan

D-Day  (June 6, 1944) Allies invaded France in a…  Region called Normandy (2 parts)  1) During the night…..  Thousands of paratroopers landed behind enemy lines  Cut communication lines; slowed German reinforcements; took control of certain roads  2) Thousands of ships left England and landed in France (approx. 6:30 am)  155,000 soldiers (US/GB/Can) rushed ashore on the first day  Germans were mostly in cement bunkers  2,500 Allies were killed on first day  Successful landing; Allies made into Europe

More pictures: of-d-day-on-the-normandy-beaches/306/ of-d-day-on-the-normandy-beaches/306/