1. Part One: The European Theater
World War II ( )
Part One:
The European Theater

2. Allied Advances 1941-US joins war
Allies begin planning European invasion
Winston Churchill – convinced Allies to start in North Africa, gain control of the Mediterranean then invade Europe through Italy
Allies agreed

3. Egypt and The Suez Canal
Axis and Allies both wanted the Suez Canal to access oil fields and Asia

4. Suez Control
Germany’s General Erwin Rommel (“The Desert Fox”) advanced within 200 miles of canal but was stopped by the British (June 1942)
American Supreme Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower fought Rommel in Tunisia and was pushed back (November 1942)
Allies regrouped and took Africa in May 1943

6. Invasion of Italy
Allies invade Sicily in July 1943 and fought for a month until victory
Allies then swept into Italy (which had turned against Mussolini)
The Italian government surrendered in September 1943

8. Germany on the Defensive
Fighting in Stalingrad, Hitler refuses to retreat (Sept. 1942)
Soviets drive tanks to cut off German supplies
Thousands of Nazi soldiers froze and starved to death, survivors surrender in Feb. 1943
Soviets then begin to fight Germans back towards Germany

9. D-Day
June 6, 1944, just after midnight, Allied Paratroopers land behind German lines in Normandy, France
In early morning more than 5,000 ships took more than 150,000 Allied soldiers to Normandy, France
Largest land-sea-air operation in Army History
American, Canadian, and British troops crossed the English Channel led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower.
More than 10,000 Allied soldiers were killed, but by day’s end Allies controlled the beaches

16. Fighting Continues at Normandy
Allies broke through the German lines
Moved inland, pushing back the enemy
Germans counterattacked
at the Battle of the Bulge
in December 1944

17. Battle of the Bulge
Allied forces were advancing from the West and Soviets were from the East
Hitler’s final assault – December, 1944 German troops forced Allies back to the Ardennes (region of Belgium and Luxemburg)
Allies regrouped and defeated the Germans
120,000 German casualties
80,000 American casualties

18. Allies Gain Ground
American general, George Patton turned the Germans back.
Patton led the way to take the rest of France and push in towards Germany
August, 1944 Allies free Paris
Patton was the most outstanding general during the invasion of France.

19. Yalta Conference:
Feb. 4-11, 1945-The “Big 3” meet in the Soviet resort of Yalta.
1. Soviet Union agrees to declare war on Japan once Germany surrenders.
2. Establish a peace keeping organization
3. What gov’t Eastern Europe will take on post war

20. Russia helps Out
Russian troops pushed the German forces back from the east
May 1945 Allied troops from the east and west met near Berlin, the German capital

21. Germany Surrenders April 1945 Russians reach Berlin
April 30, 1945 – Hitler, sensing defeat, commits suicide
Soviets capture Berlin May 2nd
Germany surrenders May 8th
V-E Day (Victory in Europe)

22. President Roosevelt Dies
Did not live to see the end of World War II
Died on April 12, 1945
Vice President, Harry S.
Truman, became President