1. Essential Question:
What role did the United States play in fighting in Europe during World War II?

2. World War 2 was a two “theater” war: Europe and the Pacific

3. Germany controlled almost all of Europe
When the U.S. entered WW2 in late 1941, the Axis Powers were clearly winning the war
Germany controlled almost all of Europe
Germany pressed into the USSR
Axis armies controlled northern Africa & threatened the Suez Canal

4. Japan dominated the western half of the Pacific Ocean

5. Fighting World War II: The European Theater
FDR and Churchill met for two weeks plotting their war strategy. The leaders agreed that defeating Hitler would be their top priority. Once Europe was freed Allied forces could be re-deployed to help the U.S. defeat Japan. 1
2 & 3
President Roosevelt knew the first step toward victory in Europe was to secure the trans-Atlantic supply lines.
A major breakthrough came when the British cracked Germany’s coded communications. As a result, the Battle of the Atlantic swung in favor of the Allies and the German U-boat threat was neutralized.
Insert 5a & 5b videos
enigma

6. Fighting World War II: The European Theater
The Allies first land offensive came in November U.S. General Dwight Eisenhower - led 107,000 Allied troops ashore in Morocco and Algeria in North Africa 6
Insert 5a & 5b videos 7

7. Patton
Insert 5a & 5b videos

8. STALINGRAD

9. Fighting World War II: The European Theater6
Insert 5a & 5b videos 7
Stalingrad
The turning point of WWII and the U.S.A. is not involved

10. Fighting World War II: The European Theater
While the U.S. and Britain – the Western Allies – were fighting in North Africa, the Soviet Red Army refused to surrender the city of Stalingrad. 6
Insert 5a & 5b videos 7

11. Fighting World War II: The European Theater Stalingrad
* Largest single battle in history.
* It raged for 199 days
* Approximately 2mm casualties 6
Insert 5a & 5b videos 7

12. Fighting World War II: The European Theater6
Insert 5a & 5b videos 7
After the battle, the victorious Soviet army began a steady march westward – towards Germany.

13. Enemy at the Gates
Insert 5a & 5b videos

14. Fighting World War II: The European Theater6
Insert 5a & 5b videos
By the summer of 1943, Allied warplanes were bombing German cities day and night. Most attacks were aimed at military and industrial targets – like bridges, supply depots and factories. But increasingly Allied air forces targeted civilian centers for so called “terror bombing” – designed to demoralize the German public. 7

15. Fighting World War II: The European Theater6
Insert 5a & 5b videos
The Soviet Army marched through Poland and the Allies pushed north through Italy, 7

16. OPERATION OVERLORD

17. Fighting World War II: The European Theater11
Insert 5a & 5b videos
Allied leaders finalized plans for the invasion of Nazi-occupied France and the liberation of Western Europe.

18. It was the largest military operation ever mounted.
The mission was code-named “Operation Overlord,” but history would remember it as D-Day (June 6, 1944).
Fighting World War II: The European Theater 11 13
Insert 5a & 5b videos
It was the largest military operation ever mounted.

19. Fighting World War II: The European Theater
Insert 5a & 5b videos
Within a month there were a million Allied troops on the continent – fighting their way across France

20. Battle of the Bulge

21. Fighting World War II: The European Theater
With the Battle of the Bulge, Germany makes a final push
Insert 5a & 5b videos

22. Race for Berlin

23. Fighting World War II: The European Theater
On April 23rd, the Soviet army stormed the German capital of Berlin. In face of defeat, Adolph Hitler took his own life rather than surrender. On May 7, 1945, the German High Command surrendered to Allied leaders. The long war in Europe was over.
By September
1944 France, Belgium, Luxembourg and much of the Netherlands were free of Nazi control while the Soviet Red Army closed in on Germany from the East.
Insert 5a & 5b videos

24. Insert 5a & 5b videos

25. HOLOCAUST

26. But with Germany defeated, Allied troops came face-to-face with evidence of Nazi atrocities... Concentration camps housing thousands of living corpses. History would reveal the true horrors of the Holocaust.

27. American soldiers could not believe what they saw
American soldiers could not believe what they saw. Military film crews were called in to provide documentation

28. The United States & the Holocaust
Examine the timeline “Stages of the Holocaust” & read “Response to the Holocaust from the United States”
Answer the 3 discussion questions provided & prepare for a class discussion

29. Quick World War 2 in Europe Review
Victory in North Africa
Turning Point: Stalingrad
Operation Torch & liberation of Italy
Fighting in Europe,

30. Soviet army seizes Berlin; Germany surrenders May 7, 1945
Europe
Soviet army seizes Berlin; Germany surrenders May 7, 1945
D-Day invasion of Nazi-occupied France
Battle of the Bulge