Warm Up Which reason best explains why certain nations suffered higher rates of human loss than others during the war? Countries close to the Axis powers suffered the most with deaths to both military and civilian personnel at the hands of the German and Japanese armies. Which nation suffered the highest percentage loss of its population? Poland 416,800 American soldiers died fighting in World War II. Which reason best explains why the rate of human losses suffered by the United States was a lower percentage than other nations in the war? The U.S. population overall is much larger than most of the countries on the graph. Which reason best explains why India and Czechoslovakia had a lower rate of human loss than many other nations during the war? They were not directly attacked by the armies of the Axis.

U.S. at War in Europe

Hitler and Mussolini Nazi Germany, also known as the Third Reich, is the common name for Germany when it was a totalitarian state ruled by Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP). The Italian Social Republic (puppet state of Nazi Germany that existed from 1943 to 1945), under the Republican Fascist Party.

Blitzkrieg is a German word describing all-motorized force concentration of tanks, infantry, artillery, combat engineers and air power, concentrating overwhelming force at high speed to break through enemy lines, and, once the lines are broken, proceeding without regard to its flank. Total war is a war in which a belligerent engages in the complete mobilization of fully available resources and population.

Germany split their armed forces when they invaded Poland and their battle moved to a multiple front war which weakened their armed strength.

MAJOR EUROPEAN EVENTS OF WORLD WAR II

Operation Torch (initially called Operation Gymnast) Operation Torch (initially called Operation Gymnast) was the British–American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942.

An attack on French North Africa was proposed instead, which would clear the Axis Powers from North Africa, improve naval control of the Mediterranean Sea and prepare for an invasion of Southern Europe in 1943.

The invasion of Normandy codenamed Operation Neptune – June 6,1944, Allied invasion of Northern France to repel the occupation of the German Army

The Normandy landings, codenamed Operation Neptune, were the landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy, in Operation Overlord, during World War II. The landings commenced on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 (D-Day), beginning at 6:30 am British Double Summer Time.

The landings were conducted in two phases: an airborne assault landing of 24,000 British, American, Canadian and Free French airborne troops shortly after midnight, and an amphibious landing of Allied infantry and armored divisions on the coast of France starting at 6:30 am.

Surprise was achieved thanks to inclement weather and a comprehensive deception plan implemented in the months before the landings. Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces was General Dwight Eisenhower. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCEFOx5Hc2Y

MILITARY CONTRIBUTIONS OF LEADERS DURING WORLD WAR II Omar Bradley – “The Soldier’s General” served with Patton in North Africa and Italy, led the First Army Division on the D-Day landings

Dwight Eisenhower – commander of Allied forces in Europe for the D-Day Invasion, later becomes President of the United States

George Patton – colorful and celebrated American general and tank commander for the Third Armored Division who spearheaded the final attack into Germany

How American patriotism inspired exceptional actions by citizens and military personnel The bravery and contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen – determined young men who enlisted to become America's first black military aviators at a time when the U.S. military still practiced racial segregation. They participated in over 15,000 sorties and earned over 100 Flying Crosses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EinQzq6AU-g

Show Awesome WWII Map

Label the following battles on your Europe Map assignment: Battle of Stalingrad Italian Campaign Battle of the Bulge Operation Overlord (Battle of Normandy) V-E-Day Operation Torch

Battle of Stalingrad

Italian Campaign

Battle of the Bulge

Battle of Normandy

VE Day

Operation Torch