War in EuropeWar in Europe1941-19451941-1945

German DominationGerman Domination

• Germany, Italy, JapanGermany, Italy, Japan

• Blitzkrieg “lighting war”Blitzkrieg “lighting war”

• Central Europe and France Central Europe and France are under German control are under German control by mid-1940.by mid-1940.

• ““Lebensraum” Lebensraum”

Allies Strategy for VictoryAllies Strategy for Victory• Weaken Germany through Air Campaign.Weaken Germany through Air Campaign.

• Attack the “soft underbelly” of Europe.Attack the “soft underbelly” of Europe.

• Remove Hitler.Remove Hitler.

• Unconditional Surrender.Unconditional Surrender.

• Beat the Soviets to GermanyBeat the Soviets to Germany..

Three Front War

• Eastern Front – Soviets

• Southern Front – “Soft Underbelly”

• Western Front - “D-Day”

Mobilization – Getting there is half the fun

Operation TorchOperation Torch• “Soft Underbelly”

• First U.S contact with Germany.

• November 8, 1942

Defeating the Desert FoxDefeating the Desert Fox

• German Armored (Tank) German Armored (Tank) Commander – Commander – Erwin Erwin RommelRommel..

• Led the Germans to Led the Germans to early victories.early victories.

• By early 1943 the By early 1943 the Germans are driven Germans are driven from Africa.from Africa.

Erwin Rommel

The Push Through ItalyThe Push Through Italy• July of 1943 – Italian Campaign BeginsJuly of 1943 – Italian Campaign Begins

• Sicily is taken by mid-August 1943Sicily is taken by mid-August 1943

• Mainland Italy invaded in September 1943 Mainland Italy invaded in September 1943 to Winter 1945to Winter 1945

• Push to the Gothic Line – Spring 1945Push to the Gothic Line – Spring 1945

• 320,000 allies die in the Italian campaign320,000 allies die in the Italian campaign

10th Mountain Division• Mountaineering

Troops.

• Skiers, Climbers, adventurers

• Many with ties to the Wausau Area

• Trained in ColoradoCooper Mountain, CO

1010thth Mountain Division Mountain Division

Camp Hale, COCamp Hale, CO

Eastern Front - SovietsEastern Front - Soviets• June 22, 1941 – German Military strategy June 22, 1941 – German Military strategy

Operation BarbarossaOperation Barbarossa begins. begins.

• German Army scores early victories.German Army scores early victories.

• Germans lay siege to Leningrad and Germans lay siege to Leningrad and Moscow. – Snow Falls; 60 degrees below Moscow. – Snow Falls; 60 degrees below zero! zero!

• Germans move too fast for reinforcements.Germans move too fast for reinforcements.

• The tide of the Eastern Front changes……The tide of the Eastern Front changes……

Soviets Move Towards BerlinSoviets Move Towards Berlin• Battle of Stalingrad – Battle of Stalingrad –

turning point for the turning point for the Soviets.Soviets.

• January of 1944 the January of 1944 the Soviet offensive begins.Soviet offensive begins.

• By June 1944 Soviets By June 1944 Soviets are at the border of are at the border of Poland.*Poland.*

• Soviets enter Germany Soviets enter Germany in late winter of 1945.in late winter of 1945.

* D-Day June 6, 1944

Soviets Push on to BerlinSoviets Push on to Berlin

Soviet soldiers raise flag over Reichstag – May, 8 1945

Defeating the Germans Through the AirDefeating the Germans Through the Air

Air CampaignAir Campaign• British and American’s try to weaken the British and American’s try to weaken the

Germans – Germans – Summer of 1942 to Spring 1945.Summer of 1942 to Spring 1945.

• Round the clock missions.Round the clock missions.

• Extremely dangerous and deadly.Extremely dangerous and deadly.

• 4,750 B-17’s (1/3 of the total) were lost 4,750 B-17’s (1/3 of the total) were lost in combat.in combat.

• 88,119 U.S. Airmen killed in the war.88,119 U.S. Airmen killed in the war.

Air Campaign Success

1. Kept the Nazi Luftwaffe (airplanes) off the eastern front from attacking Russian tanks

2. Slowed war supply production

3. Reduced the number of qualified pilots for the German Luftwaffe.

B-17 - Flying FortressB-17 - Flying Fortress

B-24 Bomber