Germany has a solid hold on Europe and the allied armies are too weak to reinvade. What should they do in the meantime? When the allies are finally strong enough, where should they invade first?

The End of World War II The End of World War II Allied Offensives in Europe Allied Offensives in Europe Create a new Google Doc called “Ending the War” Create a new Google Doc called “Ending the War”

Objectives Take notes today on material that matches the following: What was the allied strategy to defeat Hitler? Where did the Allied armies invade Axis- controlled territories? What was “D-Day”? How did it contribute to the end of the war? When did the war end?

DQ: Pretend you are one of the allied generals (American and British). What is your plan for defeating Germany and Italy in Europe? How will you weaken Germany’s war machine? When the time comes, where will you in re- invade Europe?

Weakening the War Machine Allied bombing campaign Americans by day, British by night Factories vs. Cities

Where First?

Operation Torch British fighting against Germans and Italians in Egypt and Libya since 1940 Fall 1942 Americans invade western North Africa “Pincer” move kicks Germans/Italians out in May 1943

Where next?

“The Soft Underbelly” Operation Mincemeat Invade Sicily July 1943 Mussolini’s government falls during the month-long fighting Invade Italy in September, Italy surrenders on September 8, joins Allied side

Germany does not give up control of the land, though Fight the Allies to a standstill until the next May Liberation of Rome June 4, 1944 Allies continue to fight their way north, stalemate in the Alps Mussolini killed by partisans on April 28, 1945

Where next?

The Longest Day D-Day: June 6, ,000 American, British, & Canadian soldiers along 60-mile stretch of Normandy coast 2,245 killed, 1,670 wounded Allied planes and French partisans worked for months to disrupt the rail and communications systems so the Germans cannot send reinforcements.

Liberation Allies breakout from Normandy in final days of July Liberate Paris on August 25, 1944 Allies continue to advance through the Low Countries (Belgium & Holland) in the fall

Push from the East While Allies press on through France and low countries, the Soviet Army reaches its pre-war borders by the end of Also knocked out Germany’s allies (Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria)

By the end of March 1945 both Allied and Soviet armies had invaded Germany; Germany fights on but continues to lose ground Hitler commits suicide in an underground bunker in Berlin on April 30 Germany surrenders on May 8, 1945 V-E Day The End of the Reich

Capture of the Reichstag

Who suffered most? How hard was the war on US?