1. Allies Turn the Tide

2. Why it Matters
Pearl Harbor attack brought the U.S. into WWII on the allied side
In 1942 the Allies began to stop the Axis powers
The most aggressive threat to world peace and democracy had been halted

3. Axis and Allies Plan Strategy
Axis powers had never coordinated a strategy to defeat the Allies
Common enemies but individual dreams
Hitler- dominate Europe and eliminate “inferior” people
Mussolini- dreams of an Italian Empire stretching from the eastern Adriatic to East Africa
Tojo- Japanese control of the Western Pacific and Asia

5. Europe First Allies had a common goal
All considered Germany the most dangerous enemy
Resources to bomb Britain, fight U.S. and British navies, and invade the Soviet Union
Allies agreed to fight and win a two-front war and pursue a “Europe First” strategy

6. Turning the Tide in Europe
Wolf Packs- of German U-Boats patrolled the Atlantic to cut the lines between the U.S. and Britain
As in WWI, convoys protected Allied shipping
Radar helped Allied vessels locate U-boats on the surface at night
U.S. was able to bomb U-boats faster than German could manufacture them

7. Soviets Turn Back Nazis at Stalingrad
Germany attacked Russia in June 1941
One army to Leningrad, one to Moscow
Soviet resistance and a brutal winter stopped the German Advance
1942 Hitler’s goal was the Caucasus oil fields
He would have to capture Stalingrad

9. Soviets Turn Back Nazis at Stalingrad
Ferocious battle- Soviets counter attacked and trapped the Germans
Hitler refused to let his army retreat
Starving, sick, and frostbitten, the surviving German troops surrendered January 31, 1943

10. Battle of Stalingrad Stalingrad was the true turning point of the war
It ended any hopes of Hitler dominating Europe
Soviets were now on the offensive

11. Casablanca Conference
Two important decisions
Allies decide to continue bombing Germany and invade Italy
FDR announced the allies would only accept an unconditional surrender
Giving up completely without any concessions

12. Allies Invade Italy Eisenhower commanded American-British forces
Axis forces escaped Sicily to the Italian mainland
Gave Allies complete control of western Mediterranean and ended the rule of Benito Mussolini
Hitler helped him escape and put him in charge of a puppet state in northern Italy

13. Bombers Batter Germany
Early 1942, Allied bombers launched non stop attacks against Germany
Saturation bombing- British planes dropped massive amounts of bombs on German cities
Done at night
Strategic bombing- American bombers targeted Germany’s key political and industrial centers
During the day

14. Turning Point: Battle of Midway
Admiral Yamamoto wanted to destroy American aircraft carriers before the U.S. could retaliate for Pearl Harbor
Turned his attention to Midway
Would force Americans back to the California Coast
Navy code breakers had intercepted Japanese plans
Admiral Chester Nimitz sent aircraft carriers to Midway

15. Turning Point: Battle of Midway
In the most important naval battle of WWII, the U.S. defeated the Japanese
U.S. only lost 1 aircraft carrier
Battle of Midway became a TURNING POINT in the Pacific
Japan still had powerful abilities, but would never again threaten Hawaii or Pacific domination

16. Americans Take the Offensive
August 1942 Americans take the offensive with an assault on Guadalcanal
U.S. drove Japanese off the island