WW II: Europe and North Africa

E. America Enters World War II

(1945-Present)

b. Identify the significant military

and political aspects of

World War II

e. Identify and evaluate the

scientific and technological

developments in America during

and after World War II

The Allies

* The USA *

* Great Britain *

* France *

* The USSR (Russia) *

* China *

VS. The Axis Powers

* Germany *

* Italy *

* Japan *

The Alliances of

World War II

The Axis Powers had conquered much of the world

by 1942. Germany conquered in Europe and Japan

conquered in Asia and the Pacific.

Great Britain and the USA

-Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Britain, and FDR agreed to attack in Europe first, even though it was Japan that attacked the USA at Pearl Harbor.

-In the Battle of the Atlantic, Hitler used submarines to attack USA ships, like Germany used in WW I. This hurt Britain by cutting off aid from the USA.

-Eventually, despite the submarines, the USA’s intervention turned the momentum of the Battle of the Atlantic in favor of the Allies.

Even though Japan attacked Pear Harbor, FDR and Churchill

agreed to attack Germany and Italy first. The USA needed

France and Britain protected before they took on Japan.

Germany vs. the USSR: The Eastern Front

-In 1941, Germany broke the Nonaggression Pact with the USSR and invaded the Soviet Union. Yet, the winter weather stopped the Nazis from advancing. In the summer of 1942, Hitler tried to go further and take Russian oil field areas.

-At the Battle of Stalingrad, in 1943, the Nazis became trapped by the USSR. Hitler wanted the industry of the city to be controlled by the Nazis.

-Stalin ordered troops to surround the city and cut off supplies to the Nazis. Over one million soldiers were lost by the Russians. Yet, after this incident, Russia was on the offensive and the Nazis tried to retreat back to Germany.

Hitler broke his pact with Stalin

and invaded the USSR

Stalingrad

Hitler broke his

agreement with Stalin

and invaded the

USSR taking over a

city called Stalingrad.

The Battle of Stalingrad

Stalin surrounded Stalingrad to starve out the

Nazis. Yet, his own people starved as well.

Stalingrad

Stalin set up a

blockade around

Stalingrad, starving

the Nazis out and

forcing Germany to

retreat out of the

USSR.

Operation Torch: The North African Front

-Stalin urged Britain and the USA to invade

Western Europe. Yet, the USA and Britain were not

ready for such an assault against Nazi occupied

Europe.

-Instead they launched Operation Torch. The

Allies invaded Northern Africa and were led by

Dwight D. Eisenhower.

-They entered through Casablanca, Oran, and

Algiers. General Erwin Rommel led the Afrika

Korps for Nazi Germany. He was defeated by the

Allies in May of 1943.

In Operation Torch, the Allies first invaded Northern Africa

before making their way to Europe.

Operation

Torch

After taking North Africa, the Allies

invaded Mussolini’s Italy

The Allies Invade Italy

-After taking Northern Africa, in the Summer 1943,

the Allies gained Sicily, an island off the coast of

Italy. Now, they were ready to take the Italian

peninsula.

-In June of 1943, King Victor Emmanuel II removed

Mussolini from power. The 99th Pursuit Squadron,

called the Tuskegee Airmen, an all African

American squadron, helped to take Italy.

-Italy quickly surrendered to the Allies. Mussolini tried

to escape, but was captured by the Allies and

executed.

The Tuskegee Airmen, an all African American

Squadron, helped take Italy.

Mussolini, a fellow fascist, was a strong supporter of Hitler

and now the Allies had invaded his country

and he tried to flee to Germany.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f5/Hitler_and_Mussolini_June_1940.jpg

Mussolini tried to

escape to Germany

with his mistress,

Clara Petacci. The

Allies apprehended

Mussolini and his

mistress. Both were

shot along with

many aboard their

train, primarily

leaders of the Italian

Social Republic.

Operation Overlord

-Eisenhower also led this operation. On 6/6/1944, D-Day, the invasion of Normandy, commenced. Allied troops stormed the beaches of France to liberate the French from Germany.

-Over one million troops landed within one month. General Omar Bradley led Operation Cobra, the Allies’ march beyond Normandy. George Patton led his Third Army and took the Seine River area south of Paris.

-By September of 1944, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg were free from Nazi control. The Allied invasion of Europe was working, Hitler was being pushed back to Germany.

Dwight Eisenhower led the efforts of

Operation Torch and Operation Overlord.

General Omar

Bradley led in

Operation

Cobra, the

Allies’ march

beyond

Normandy.

George

Patton led his

Third Army

and took the

Seine River

area south of

Paris.

After the success of Operation Torch in Northern Africa, the Allies

launched Operation Overlord to push the Nazis out of France

and invade Nazi occupied Europe.

Operation Overlord was the initial Western invasion

of Nazi Occupied Europe by the Allies.

Allied soldiers invaded the beaches

of Normandy, France, which was

controlled by the Nazis.

The Battle of the Bulge

-The Allies were pushing the Nazis back to Germany. Hitler sent troops to the Belgian port of Antwerp to break supply lines. He was trying to violently rush into the region and take it.

-Germany lost over 100,000 troops and they never took Antwerp. This was a failure for the Nazis and it was clear the Allies were going to push them all the way back to Germany.

-When this battle was over, the Allies began to advance forward. They started to liberate those trapped in concentration camps.

Victory for the Allies

-The Soviets were the first to discover the death camps. Massive crematories, dead bodies, and other proofs remained of the wicked actions of the Holocaust.

-In April of 1945, the Soviets invaded Berlin and attacked. Hitler left a suicide note. However, his body was never found.

-On 4/12/1945, FDR died. He had complications with polio for much of his life and had a stroke. Harry Truman became president. On 5/8/1945, Victory in Europe Day “V-E Day” was celebrated as the Allies successfully crushed the Nazi Regime.

Americans celebrate V-E Day

The USA celebrated as

Victory in Europe was achieved.

Yet, one more empire must fall before the end…

THE

END

Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com

All Rights Reserved.