Key Terms – World War II – The Western Front Pearl Harbor Battles of El Alamein Battle of Stalingrad D-Day Battle of the Bulge V-E Day

Japanese Aggression Japan's conquest of Nanking in 1937 and its brutal treatment of the people there caught the attention of the Allied Nations. Japan sought to take over Indochina and the Dutch East Indies as the Nazis were taking the Netherlands. F.D.R. Would respond by blocking the export of important goods to Japan (petroleum, scrap metal). Japan tried to have the U.S. lift its ban on exports but failed leading them to rely on military action

Pearl Harbor – “A Day That Will Live in Infamy” On December 7, 1941, Japanese zero planes arrived at Pearl Harbor and began a massive assault on the U.S. naval fleet stationed there. The Japanese believed that by crippling the U.S. Pacific Fleet, they would be able to keep the United States away from Asia. F.D.R. Would declare war the very next day on Japan. The Axis Powers would declare war on the United States in response.

Anti-Japanese War Propoganda

Background The United States and 23 other nations would sign the Declaration of the United Nations and form the Allied Powers. The Allied Powers would concentrate on winning the war in Europe and then would focus on dealing with Japan and Asia.

The Battles of El Alamein Italy, with the help of Germany in 1941, attempted to take the Suez Canal and establish control of North Africa. The British would engage in two battles in 1942, known as the Battles of El Alamein and in the second battle, drive out the Axis from Egypt and prevent their access to Persian oil fields. This battle raised the morale of the Allies since it was their first true victory since the start of the war.

The Axis Removal from North Africa With the arrival of the rest of the Allied forces in 1943, the Desert Fox (Rommel) and his tank division were defeated and the Axis were chased out of North Africa. The first leg of the Allied strategy was now complete as they now had access to Sicily through North Africa allowing for a direct invasion of Italy.

The Battle of Stalingrad Hitler, bent on getting the Soviet Union out of the war before U.S. involvement, sent a large chunk of his infantry and tank division into Stalingrad to take the city. Though the city had already been demolished, the Red Army held the Volga River and managed to slowly use building to building combat to weaken the German flanks and encircle the Nazis. Roughly 4 million troops fought on both sides combined and ultimately, the Soviet winter slowly wittled the Nazi forces down and gave the Soviet Union the hard fought victory.

Results of Stalingrad The battle would last 5 months (August to February) and would lead to more than 2 million killed. Hitler's decision to cut off the Soviet oil supplies and win over the Soviet Union before the arrival of American troops would ultimately cost him the war. The loss of infantry would completely inhibit any future Nazi advances and now the Soviet Union could march its way through the Eastern European countries and invade Berlin from the East.

Invasion of Sicily The Allies would invade Sicily in 1943 and Mussolini would be arrested after being removed by the King of Italy. He would be rescued by German special forces only to be captured by anti- Fascists in Northern Italy and executed. Italy would sign an armistice in September 1943.

D-Day (Operation Neptune) The Allies prepared for an amphibious invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 (D- Day) at 6:30 AM (H-Hour). The American troops were to land on five separate beaches while being supported by the Royal Air Force while being aided by the Free French who were to disrupt communication. The Allied invasion of Normandy was brutal but led to the liberation of France and Belgium which allowed advance into Germany later.

Results of D-Day D-Day proved to be a major success for Allied forces, although there was a great amount of casualties sustained as a result. With the capture of Normandy, the Allied forces were able to enter France and push the Germans back into Germany while at the same time, the Soviet Union was making its advance towards Berlin from the east. This incursion would lead to last major push by the Nazis known as the Battle of the Bulge.

Battle of the Bulge The Battle of the Bulge was considered to be the last major offensive led by the Germans against the Allied Forces. Hitler believed that he could catch the Allied forces off- guard and gain a major victory which would allow him to focus on the Eastern front. The Allies were able to overcome great difficulty and with the help of air raids, force the German defeat.

Results of The Battle of the Bulge The Allied counter-offensive with their aircraft allowed the Allies to destroy many of the German supply lines and forced Hitler to use the remainder of his Luftwaffe. With the Allied victory, Hitler had used up his reserves, his remaining Luftwaffe and much of his ground forces. Hitler was now effectively pushed back into Germany where the Allies could now push toward with the Soviet Union already closing in.

V-E Day The Allied Forces would now push into Berlin and the Soviets would take the lead. The Soviet encirclement and massive ordinance decimated Berlin into submission by May 2, Hitler would commit suicide along with many of his officers who refused to quit. May 8, 1945 is now known as V-E Day, Victory in Europe Day

Hitler's Bunker Today