1. World War II Battles
World History

2. El Alamein (1942) Rommel (Ger.) vs. Montgomery (Br.)
Desert warfare w/tanks & mines
Suez Canal was threatened by the Germans
Oil threatened by Germans
British victory that saves Egypt and Suez Canal
German forces driven out of Africa
Leads to invasion of Italy by Allies

3. Stalingrad ( )
Turning point of Operation Barbarossa (invasion of the Soviet Union) .
Winter warfare with street fighting
SW Russia on the Volga river
“Lebensraum” for Germany (farm land and oil fields) desired by Hitler
90,000 (entire German army) captured
1 million casualties result from Operation Barbarossa

4. Pearl Harbor 8:00 a.m. attack on December 7, 1941
3 waves of plane attacks planned
Led by Admiral Yamamoto
Brings U.S. into World War II (ends Great Depression)
Goal was to knock out the Pacific Fleet

5. Philippines Jungle fighting w/malaria & guerilla warfare
2nd Campaign ( ) – U.S. retakes Philippines from Japan
Staging point for the invasion of Japan

6. Guadalcanal (1942) 1st U.S. offensive against the Japanese in WW II
Part of the “island hopping” campaign
Jungle fighting w/night attacks & malaria
Japanese wanted bloody battles
Became launching point for South Pacific campaign
Saves Australia from invasion by the Japanese

7. D-Day (June 6, 1944)
Operation Overlord - largest amphibious operation ever
Paratroopers preceded landings
Opened a second front against Germany
Supreme Allied Commander was General Eisenhower
Beaches: Omaha, Utah, Sword, Juno, & Gold
U.S., British, and Canadians participated
Liberation of Western Europe was the goal

8. Battle of Midway (June 1942)
Turning point in the Pacific War
Japanese lose 4 aircraft carriers that they can not replace

9. Battle of Britain (July-October 1940)
Hitler wants to invade Great Britain, but needs air supremacy
Germans attack air bases first, but then switch to cities
Radar and “home field” advantage helps the English
Invasion plans are thwarted

10. Battle of the Bulge (Dec. 1944-Jan. 1945)
Last German offensive in World War II
Allied forces were caught off guard
Created a “bulge” in the Allied line
Was the bloodiest battle for U.S. forces in WW II
Delayed the ending of the war by several months