D-Day &Battle of the BulgeDecember 16, 2011

Summary1941: Pearl HarborEurope: North Africa/ ItalyPacific: McArthur/ Bataan Death MarchBattle at Coral SeaBattle at MidwayGuadalcanal1942 to 1943Axis powers from OFFENSIVE to DEFENSIVEJune 6, 1944: D-Day1944 to 1945Final crushing of Axis powersEurope Goal: Attack Germany from EAST and WEST2 front warPacific Goal: Island Hopping StrategyU.S. creating NEW WEAPON that will change warfare forever

Soviets have done most of fighting in Europe (France)U.S./ England went to North AfricaStalin insist that U.S. & Britain invade from WestForce Germany to divide troopsChurchill doesnt want to doRecalled deaths in WWIGerman U-Boats in English ChannelNeed MORE training/ equipmentNovember 1943: FDR, Stalin, & Churchill meet in Iran1st face to face meeting

Eventually agree they need to cross ChannelPLAN: U.S. & Britain will invade France & march towards Germany6 months later - massive invasion beginsCode name OPERATION OVERLORDD-Day Invasion of NormandyMost experienced officersYears of training in U.S. & EnglandGen. Dwight D. Eisenhower (Supreme Commander)Planned invasion

Operation Overlord a.k.a. D-Day21 U.S. divisions26 British, Canadian, & Polish divisions50 mile stretch of beach in Normandy, FranceLargest fleet EVER assembled156,000 soldiers73,000 are American15,500 are U.S. paratroopers11,000 planes5000 ships5 beaches in NormandyOmaha, Utah, Juno, Gold, & SwordOmaha MOST DANGEROUS

D-Day ContinuedBattle of the BulgeDecember 19, 2011

D-Day planned for June 5, 1944FoggyD-Day happens on June 6, 1944 (6:30 AM)A little lieAllies create fictional army under Gen. Patton (fake HQ, tanks, radio, etc.)Convince Germans attack will come from Calaisnot NormandyWorked: Hitler order top divisions to CalaisGermans still on beaches of NormandyFire from trenches, mined beaches (bombs), anti-landing obstructionsSome let off too far from beachEquipment heavy (drowned)Planes shot down/ Paratroopers killed in airHigh casualties10,000 Allied/ 4,500 died/ 2,500 US died

Allies made gains in France1 month: 1 million troops landed in NormandyGermany hopeless2 front warSoviets to the EASTU.S. & England to WESTAugust 1944: Allies liberate ParisHitler ordered to destroy but generals disobeyedSeptember 1944: Operation Market GardenNetherlandsUnsuccessful/ Americans retreatForced to go through BelgiumBattle of the BulgeStarts December 16, 1944 Feb. 1945Hitlers counterattack to D-DayGermans attack through Ardennes ForestBelgium, Luxembourg

German Advantage: Foggy/ snow stormPrevent planes from sending aidGermans ALMOST succeededCreated bulge in allies linesGermans stopped by Allies in BastogneSurrounded/ outnumberedU.S. troops hold & fight despite frostbite & German bombingJanuary 1945: Skies clear / bombPattons army storms BastognePush Germans back & crippled them80,000 Allied casualties/ 100,000 GermanHitler no more reserves February 1945: Soviets reach outskirts of BerlinApril 12, 1945: FDR diesHarry Truman takes over as U.S. PresidentApril 28: Mussolini captured & executedU.S./ Britain 50 miles west of Berlin

Hitler physical wreckShakes, paranoid, still thinks chance of victoryGiving orders but no one listenApril 30, 1945: Hitler commit suicideMay 7, 1945: Germany surrenders in Eisenhowers HeadquartersAmericans celebrate V-E DayVictory in Europe

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