WWII-U.S. Key Battles

U.S. and Allied Strategy  By 1941, most of Europe controlled by Germans, Pacific by Japan  Dec – “…a day that will live in infamy.”  Victory in Europe 1 st priority, defend Pacific  Early victories in N. Africa & Italy

Battle for the Atlantic  German Wolf Packs  approx. 681 ships sunk in 1942  Convoys, including airplanes  Help from new technology, radar & sonar  1943 U.S. builds 140 Liberty ships per month

N. Africa  Stalin requested second front of war be established  Allies felt N. Africa was easier than crossing English Channel  Operation Torch – commanded by Eisenhower  Nov – 107,000 Allied troops land in Casablanca, Oran, & Algiers  Erwin Rommel (a.k.a. Desert Fox) German Commander  Allies victorious by May 1943

Italian campaign  Before victory in N. Africa, Allied leaders agree for unconditional surrender only.  Churchill suggested Italian invasion  Early Allied win costs Mussolini his life, 1943  Hitler adds forces to ensure no further advance  Battle of Anzio 1943  Hard fought  Conquer Italy in 1945

D-Day invasion June 6, 1944  Coordinated effort by U.S., Great Britain, & Canada  Attack thru air, sea, and land  Specialized groups  Paratroopers  Gliders  Engineers  Etc.  Turning point in WWII  Allows for victory in Europe

Battle of the Bulge  Dec. 16, Jan. 21, 1945  Germany launches surprise attack on Western Front  Form “bulge” in Allied defense lines, bend but don’t break  Allies take Germany afterwards

Pacific Theater  “island hopping” strategy  June 1942 – Midway  Destroy Japanese aircraft carriers  Feb – March 1945 – Iwo Jima  Important fueling station  6,000 marines die  April – June 1945 – Okinawa  Last obstacle before assault on Japan  Last 3 months  Raises caution for invasion on Japan