1. W ORLD W AR II: T HE E UROPEAN T HEATRE

2. E L A LAMEIN (Oct 23-Nov 4, 1942) Part of Operation Torch, Allied invasion of North Africa German “Afrika Korps” led by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (The “Desert Fox”) American and British forces led by Gen. George S. Patton Allied victory; Axis forces in North Africa surrender by May 1943

3. T HE A TLANTIC (Sept 3, 1939 – May 7, 1945) German U-boat fleet vs. Allied navies and merchant ships German submarines reach as far as US East Coast Allies adopt convoy system ; merchant ships sail in large groups protected by fast navy ships May-June 1942: Germans sink 1.2 million tons of Allied shipping sonar – technology that allowed ships to “see” under water

4. S TALINGRAD (July 17, 1942 – Feb 2, 1943) Important industrial city in the Soviet Union Controlled access to all resources USSR needed to fight the war; Hitler wants it Stalin orders his troops to hold the city at all costs Entire city reduced to rubble; Germans forced to fight house by house Turning point - 91,000 Germans surrender; 5,000 actually survive Soviet prison camps

5. S ICILY (July 9 – Aug 17, 1943) Operation Husky – Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s plan for the invasion of Sicily Led by British General Montgomery and US General Patton Soft underbelly - Plan to attack Germany through Italy because it was weaker Caused Italian government to force Mussolini out of office; Italy surrenders on Dec 8 Germany retains control of Northern Italy

6. N ORMANDY (June 5-6, 1944) Operation Overlord – Allied invasion of Europe, planned by Gen. Eisenhower Two phases: men in parachutes on June 5 (D-day -1) and beach landings on June 6 ( D-Day ) 5 beaches: Omaha, Utah, Sword, Gold, Juno Toughest fighting at Omaha Beach Allies establish foothold in Europe; begin to push Germans out of France

7. B ATTLE O F T HE B ULGE (Dec 16, 1944 – Jan 25, 1945) Final German offensive of the war; surprise attack in Belgium during a snowstorm Pushed Allied lines backwards, forming a “bulge” Centered on the town of Bastogne; Germans surround American troops in the town for almost two weeks German army runs out of gas; attack fails. Germany loses more than 100,000 men