European Conflict
European Conflict
The War for Europe
The War for Europe
• GB and America
GB and America
• The United States and Great Britain were very close • Franklin Roosevelt (US President) decided that Germany posed a greater threat so they decided to focus on them first
greater threat so they decided to focus on them first.
• Battle of the Atlantic
• Hitler
Hitler order submarine attacks against US ships that were carrying order submarine attacks against US ships that were carrying
supplies to GB.
• During the first four months of 1942, German U‐Boats sank 87 US s ps
ships
• Convoys, Planes, and US Subs helped occupy the German U‐Boats (changed the outcome of this battle)
Germany invades USSR
Germany invades USSR
• German advance into USSR
• Problem: USSR had way too many people, horrible winter
• Battle of Stalingrad
• Hitler wanted to wipe out the city of Stalingrad because it was a l
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major industrial city. (and named after Stalin)
• German Luftwaffe (Air Force) bombed Stalingrad for weeks.
• Stalin ordered the city to be defended even though it was St li
d d th it t b d f d d
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h it
surrounded by the Germans.
• Slow, guerilla style fighting.
• Germans could never gain complete control of the city, eventually Germans could never gain complete control of the city eventually
they were surrounded by the Soviet Army.
• End Result: Soviets lost 1.1 million people, but were finally able to stop the German Advance
stop the German Advance
Africa
• Stalin
Stalin wanted America and GB to open a wanted America and GB to open a
second front against Germany.
• Operation Torch
Operation Torch—Invasion
Invasion of Axis controlled of Axis controlled
North Africa
• Dwight Eisenhower
Dwight Eisenhower—leader
leader of this invasion of this invasion
and campaign.
• Within a short time, the Allies were able to Within a short time, the Allies were able to
take control of most of Northern Africa.
Italy
• Decided to attack Italy instead of going through y
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France.
• Won the island of Sicily fairly easily. • Hitler was determined to stop the Allied advance through Italy.
• Italy was very difficult to fight in because of the bad It l
diffi lt t fi ht i b
f th b d
land.
Allied forces would fight in Italy until the end of the
• Allied forces would fight in Italy until the end of the war.
Varieties of People Serving
Varieties of People Serving • African
African Americans
Americans—Tuskegee
Tuskegee Airmen, won Airmen won
two Distinguished Unit Citations
• Mexican Americans
Mexican Americans
• Japanese Americans—Fought in Italy and N h Af i
North Africa
Preparing for Invasion of France
Preparing for Invasion of France
• Allies
Allies gathered about 3 million British, gathered about 3 million British
American, and Canadian troops in England
• Eisenhower planned to attack the beaches of Eisenhower planned to attack the beaches of
Normandy (located in France)
• He tried to keep this a secret by setting up H i d k
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fake invasion sites (Calais)…Hitler put most of hi
his generals there.
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Actual Invasion of France
Actual Invasion of France
• Operation Overlord (D
Operation Overlord (D‐Day)
Day)
• June 6th, 1944, the Allies began their invasion of France. • 3 Divisions of Paratroopers went down beyond German p
y
front lines.
• Then thousands of soldiers invaded the coast. • This was the largest land/sea/air invasion in history. (book page 781)
Invasion
• The
The Allies had a difficult time getting past all Allies had a difficult time getting past all
the German guns that were on the coast.
• Omaha Beach saw the highest death rates.
Omaha Beach saw the highest death rates.
• After 7 days of fighting, the Allies had claimed an 80 mile strip of Northern France.
an 80 mile strip of Northern France.
• Within a month, the Allies were able to get a ton of supplies and men within France.
ton of supplies and men within France.
Advancing within France
Advancing within France
• George Patton
George Patton
• Leader of American Army
th,, they took back Paris from the Germans. • August 25
g
y
American troops began moving all throughout France.
• German Retreat
• Leaving France, now in Belgium and Luxemburg
Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
• Hitler was trying to counterattack to break the Allied y g
lines, he wanted to get back the Belgium city of Antwerp. • Hitler was able to break through the initial line, l
bl
b k h
h h
ll
creating a bulge in the Allied Defense.
• The battle would last for a month, until the Germans The battle would last for a month until the Germans
were forced back into Germany. ,
p,
,
,
• Germans lost 120,000 troops, 600 tanks, and 1,600 planes…there was nothing that the Germans could do but retreat….the war was almost over.
Death Camps
Death Camps
• American
American and Soviet troops began to push and Soviet troops began to push
towards the center of Germany.
• Along the way, both sides would find Along the way both sides would find
numerous death camps used by the Germans.
End of European Front
End of European Front
• By
By April of 1945, Soviet armies had invaded Berlin April of 1945, Soviet armies had invaded Berlin
(capital of Germany).
th,, 1945.
• Hitler committed suicide on April 30
p
• VE‐Day—Victory in Europe Day, May 8th 1945, the war in Europe was officially over.
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y
• On April 12th, President Roosevelt died, he was replaced by his vice president, Harry Truman