2. Operation Barbarosa: Invasion of the Soviet Union
Hitler wants the resources (oil) of the USSR.
Invasion planned for March 1941 – Delayed until June
Big mistake
Soviets retreat deep into their country.
German army races after them.
Soviets make a stand at major cities.
Russian winter sets in – German troops unprepared, lacking supplies.

4. Germans face first defeats.
Massive loss of troops – death or surrender.
Costly and Unsuccessful
Germany is spread too thin.

6. Second Mistake:
Attack on
Pearl Harbor

7. The Allies Strike Back…
WWII:TURNING POINTS
The Allies Strike Back…

8. The Battle of El Alamein(1942)
British stop the German advance in North Africa
US and British forces trap German Army
Germans would eventually retreat and surrender in North Africa in 1943

9. El Alamein (cont’d) Fought in the deserts of North Africa
British forces led under General Montgomery, defeat the “Desert Fox” Irwin Rommel and his “Afrika Korps”.
Afrika Korps surrender in May 1943

10. Invasion of Italy (1943)
North African victory allowed Allies to invade Italy
September 1943 the Allies crossed from Sicily to mainland Italy
Allies slowly fight their way through Italian peninsula against German reinforcements

11. Italy (cont’d) Italians had already overthrown Mussolini
Germans were forced to send troops to Italy
June 4, Allies march into Rome, the first capital to be freed from German occupation

12. Stalingrad(1943)
Soviet Army stops massive German invasion into the Soviet Union
Soviet Army gets an assist from the fierce Russian winter
Forced the German army out of Russia

13. D-Day June, 6, 1944-Allies land in Normandy, France
Broke through German lines to eventually free Paris
A second front is now opened in Europe, taking the pressure off the Soviet Army

14. D-Day (cont’d)
Over 160,000 Allied troops and 30,000 vehicles landed along a 50 mile stretch of coastline