1. World War II in Africa and Europe

2. America enters the war
Millions of Americans (from all ethnic / racial groups) volunteered for duty following Pearl Harbor
Selective Service Act in effect
America wanted to invade France right away in 1942 – Stalin agreed
Churchill thought Allies weren’t ready yet
Is a different strategy possible??
How do the Allies defeat the Axis Powers??

4. Battles in Africa
Britain and Germany fought for control of Northern Africa
Egypt was important to British (Access to Suez Canal)
U.S. landed in Africa in Nov. 1942
May 1943 – Allies with American forces defeat German forces led by Erwin Rommel in Tunisia
Allies now able to spring into Italy – overthrowing Mussolini in September 1943
U.S. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

6. More trouble for Germans
The Battle of Stalingrad – brutal defeat for Germans
Germans trapped in city – in winter, many froze to death
Scorched-earth policy
2 million military and civilian deaths (199 day battle)

7. Invasion of France (D-Day)
June 6, 1944
5,000 ships – 130,000 soldiers (American, British, Canadian)
10,000 Allies killed/wounded
Result: Successful in securing the beach

12. Map of Normandy

13. Allied Deception at D-Day

14. Note found with Eisenhower (never used)
“Our landings have failed and I have withdrawn our troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine alone.”
-Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
June 1944

16. Allies fight into Europe
Allies fight Germans into France
Paris liberated in August 1944
Germans final assault made at Battle of the Bulge
Allies defeat Germans
Heavy casualties

18. War comes to a Close
Stalin, Churchill, FDR meet at Yalta to discuss post-war situation
FDR dies of stroke in April 1945
Harry Truman now President
Hitler commits suicide in his Berlin bunker – Allies overrun the Germans

19. Horrors of the Holocaust
6 million Jews – and millions of other people - killed by Nazis
Sent to death centers called “Concentration Camps”
Based on Hitler’s racism
Blamed Jews for Germany’s problems

20. Band of Brothers
The “Band of Brothers” miniseries follows a company of American paratroopers in World War II – E. Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne, known as “Easy Company”

21. Episode Synopsis – Day of Days
In this episode, the focus is on the Normandy invasion and Easy Company’s assignment to take out a German artillery installation firing on U.S. forces making the seaborne invasion. On June 5th and 6th, 1944, thousands of Allied paratroopers dropped from the sky to begin one of the most audacious military campaigns of the war

22. Cast Major Richard Winters – Easy Company’s commanding officer
Captain Lewis Nixon

23. Questions to think about…
1. Red light vs. Green light
2. What do the troops do when being dropped in the incorrect drop zones
3. What other challenges existed? How did they overcome these challenges?
4. What were the major themes of the episode?