1. U.S. II 7 b Reviewing the Key Battles

2. U.S. II 7 b 1. Germany invades Poland, Sep 1939, WWII starts, “blitzkrieg” warfare. Germans troops at border crossing German bomber over city German dive bomber Hitler reviews troops entering Poland German tanks

3. U.S. II 7 b 2. German invasion of France, May-June 40: Bypass Maginot Line, Ardennes, Dunkirk evacuation, Vichy France, Free French DeGaulle in London Dunkirk Evacuation Vichy France German Panzer (tank) Division German troops crossing Meuse France after the fall

4. U.S. II 7 b 3. Battle of Britain, Aug-Sep 40: Brits win air battle, no German cross-channel invasion, Blitz ( bombing of London) Subway shelters Fires in London during the Blitz. Incoming German bombers met by British British Spitfire chases bomber over London

5. U.S. II 7 b 4. Germany invades USSR, May 41: Operation BARBAROSSA Surrendering Soviet soldiers Soviet civilian watches village burn Hitler plans Barbarossa German infantry, armor, & airforces

6. U.S. II 7 b 5. Rommel’s Afrika Korps pushes Brits back, Mar-Aug 42 Rommel at the front Afrika Korps Panzers advancing

7. U.S. II 7 b 6. Stalingrad, Aug-Dec 42, Huge German defeat, Soviets on the attack. German commander (Von Paulus) surrenders Ruins of Stalingrad German troops in Stalingrad Soviet troops counterattack German POWs

8. U.S. II 7 b 7. El Alamein, Oct 42: Brits defeat Rommel, go on the offensive, Montgomery “Monty” in charge RommelMontgomery Brits beat back German tanks German tank surrenders Allied tanks counterattack

9. U.S. II 7 b 8. Operation Torch, Nov 42: US enters Africa, Vichy France falls Royal Navy convoys US forces US troops land in AlgiersUS troops move inland US occupies Casablanca

10. U.S. II 7 b 9. Battle of the Atlantic, June 43: German U-boats fail to stop Allied convoys Allied convoy under air escort German U-boat Sunk Allied ship Allied destroyer hunting U-boat

11. U.S. II 7 b 10. Allies invade Sicily, July 43: Italy withdraws from the war Allied rivals: Patton(US) & Montgomery(UK) Allies loading up in Tunisia Allies landing in Sicily

12. U.S. II 7 b 11. Allies invade Italy, Sep 43: Second front in Europe to help Soviets US troops liberate Rome Bombed Monte Cassino Abbey US troops move inland

13. U.S. II 7 b 12. Allies invade Normandy, June 44: Operation Overlord, Omaha Beach most difficult landing Eisenhower talks with paratroops Pinned down on Omaha Beach Allies pour men & material into the beachheads

14. U.S. II 7 b 13. Allied breakout: July 44: Patton’s race for Berlin, Operation Market Garden and Battle of the Bulge slow Allies, Soviets take Eastern Europe

15. U.S. II 7 b 14. Soviets advance & take Berlin, Jan 43 - Apr 45; VE Day May 8

16. U.S. II 7 b 1. Japan attacks US at Pearl Harbor, 7 Dec 41: US declares war on Japan, Germany declares war on US; Battleships destroyed, but not aircraft carriers.

17. U.S. II 7 b 2. Japan invades US Philippines, Dec 41- Jan 42: Bataan Death March, Corregidor

18. U.S. II 7 b 3. Japan Take British Singapore, Feb 42: Back Door invasion

19. U.S. II 7 b 4. Battle of Coral Sea, May 42: Tactical draw, strategically, US stops Japanese plan to invade Australia.

20. U.S. II 7 b 5. Battle of Midway, June 42: Carrier battle; First major Japanese defeat; US on the attack from then on.

21. U.S. II 7 b 7. Leapfrogging, Apr-42-Oct 44: MacArthur leads US Army advance to retake Philippines

22. U.S. II 7 b 6. Island Hopping, Aug 42-Apr 45: US Navy retakes island chains, Gilberts, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Kamikazes

23. U.S. II 7 b 8. US drops atomic bombs on Japan, 6 Aug 44 on Hiroshima, 9 Aug 44 on Nagasaki: Japan surrenders 2 Sep 44 (VJ Day). “Little Boy” Japanese surrender onboard USS Missouri “Enola Gay” Hiroshima