Chapter 17: The U.S. in WWII Section 2: The War for Europe and North Africa

Standards 11.7 Students analyze America's participation in World War II Students analyze America's participation in World War II..2 Explain U.S. and Allied wartime strategy, including the major battles of Midway, Normandy, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the Battle of the Bulge..2 Explain U.S. and Allied wartime strategy, including the major battles of Midway, Normandy, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the Battle of the Bulge.

Objectives Following lecture and reading of this section, students will be able to: Following lecture and reading of this section, students will be able to: Summarize the Allies’ plans for winning the war Identify events in the war in Europe Describe the liberation of Europe.

The U.S. & Britain Align War Plans- U.S. & Britain join in alliance Churchill convinced FDR to go after Hitler first, then Japan Britain still in danger of falling to Hitler We needed them to stay in the war The Battle of the Atlantic Hitler ordered U-boat (submarine) attacks against supply ships to Britain Wolf packs destroyed hundreds of ships in 1942 Allies organized convoys of cargo ships with escort destroyers with sonar; planes with radar Construction of Liberty ships (cargo carriers) increased

Important Reasons for Alliance 1. FDR always considered Hitler to be the #1 threat Hitler pushed for world domination 2. Stalin, and USSR, who were now allies needed help from us. We did not want to allow the USSR to fail they were keeping Hitler occupied with war 3. The U.S. needed Britain and USSR in order to defeat Japan, and for the moment they were busy with Hitler. Once Hitler is out those who we are helping would help us.

The Battle of Stalingrad Hitler wanted to capture Caucasus oil fields and destroy Stalingrad Stalingrad was strategically located on the Volga R. Germany could choke out most of Russia by controlling the flow of supplies on the river (Mississippi R.) After a long struggle, the Soviets defeated the Germans in bitter winter campaign Deaths: Germans 230,000 Soviets1,100,000 The Battle of Stalingrad was the turning point The Soviet army began to move towards Germany

The North African Front Stalin wanted some aid by the other allies Stalin suggested the U.S. & Britain invade to Germany’s west (France) to force Hitler to send troops there The U.S. & British decided to begin the campaign in North Africa Commanded by General Dwight Eisenhower General Erwin Rommel (“Desert Fox”) led Afrika Korps (Nazis) and surrendered in May 1943

The Italian Campaign From North Africa, the Allies went northeast toward Italy Allies decided to only accept the unconditional surrender of the Axis Powers Sicily captured (summer 1943) Mussolini forced to resign Hitler re-installs Mussolini as leader 1944 Allies win “Bloody Anzio” Germans continue strong resistance

Heroes in Combat African Americans Tuskegee Airmen Buffalo Soldiers Highly decorated- lots of medals for heroism Mexican-Americans 17 received congressional medal of honor Japanese-Americans 442 nd Regimental Combat Team Most decorated unit in U.S. history

D-Day (Page 575) The first day of the Allied invasion of Europe Allies set up phantom army Sent fake radio messages to fool Germans Real attack cam 150 miles away from the fake attack Eisenhower directed Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day June 6, 1944 Very difficult fighting Germans held the high ground but lost it

2 Fronts in Western Europe USSR North Africa

Paratroopers

WWII, Sept 1944 Italy North Africa USSR France

English Channel France Great Britain

Great Britain

France English Channel

Normandy, France

Axis Powers Allied Powers Neutral Germany Italy Vichy France Poland Occupied USSR Norway Finland Britain Syria USSR Sweden Turkey North Africa World War II Europe, 1942 Occupied France

North Africa Axis Powers Allied Powers Neutral WWII, Early 1943

WWII, USSR North Africa Axis Powers Allied Powers Neutral After the Battle of Stalingrad Germany 1944

WWII, July 1943 Axis Powers Allied Powers Neutral Italy North Africa USSR

English Channel France Great Britain

Normandy, France

WWII, Sept 1944 Italy North Africa USSR France Axis Powers Allied Powers Neutral D-Day Invasion Germany

Yalta Conference

Yalta Conference

Harry S. Truman

WWII, Sept 1944 Italy North Africa USSR France Axis Powers Allied Powers Neutral D-Day Invasion Germany

The Allies Gain Ground General Omar Bradley bombed to create gap in enemy defense line General George Patton led the Third Army They reached Paris in August Taking back of Paris was a big step The tide of the war had now turned FDR was reelected for his 4th term with running mate Harry S. Truman Don’t change horses mid-race

The Battle of the Bulge October 1944, Allies capture first German town, Aachen Hitler had to do something In December, German tank divisions drove 60 miles into Allied area Battle of the Bulge—Germans pushed back allies Formed a bulge in the allied lines The last German offensive A desperate attempt by Hitler to regain control of the war Too many losses to Nazis in this battle to continue

Liberation of the Death Camps Allies move in on Germany Soviets from the east arrive in Poland and liberate concentration camps Soviets found: Starving prisoners Corpses Evidence of killing Americans eventually find similar conditions in other camps all over Germany

Unconditional Surrender April 1945 Soviet army stormed Berlin Hitler committed suicide Shot himself Orders his body burned Eisenhower (& allies) accepted unconditional surrender of Germany May 8, 1945, V-E Day Victory in Europe Day FDR died April 12, 1945 Vice President Harry S. Truman became president Had to deal with Japan and aftermath of war

WWII, 1942 Axis Powers Germany Germany Austria Austria Czech Czech Poland Poland Norway Norway Denmark Denmark Netherlands Netherlands Belgium Belgium France France Finland Finland 1/3 of Russia 1/3 of Russia Romania Romania Italy Italy Albania Albania Greece Greece Yugoslavia Yugoslavia Parts of N. Africa Parts of N. Africa Japan Japan 1/3 of China 1/3 of China Islands in Pacific Islands in Pacific French Indochina French Indochina Thailand Thailand Bulgaria Bulgaria Hungary Hungary Allied Powers Great Britain Great Britain Egypt Egypt Canada Canada Australia Australia India India New Zealand New Zealand South Africa South Africa Fiji Fiji ¾ of USSR ¾ of USSR ¾ of China ¾ of China Iran Iran United States United States Mexico Mexico Cuba Cuba Haiti Haiti Brazil Brazil Costa Rica Costa Rica Dominican Republic Dominican Republic El Salvador El Salvador Guatemala Guatemala Honduras Honduras Nicaragua Nicaragua Panama & Peru Panama & Peru