Transcript A New Kind of War

A New Kind of War
Pgs. 331-333
A New Kind of Weapon
• Rather than fighting from trenches,
soldiers moved quickly by tank, ship, and
airplane.
• Bombs dropped in air raids destroyed
factories, hospitals, and homes.
• Thousands of innocent civilians were
killed.
• WWII was fought over a large area
covering more than half the Earth.
Weapons Used in WWII
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Machine guns
Grenades
Flamethrowers
Rocket Launcher
Air Tank Weapons
Armored Car
Two Major Fronts
• WWII was fought on two fronts or battle
lines:
– Europe and Africa
– Pacific
• Victory on both fronts was necessary to end
the war.
Africa and Europe
• The first step in the Allies plan for victory was to
gain control of the Mediterranean Sea and
invade Italy.
• The Allies had to defeat the Germans and the
Italians in North Africa.
• In November 1942, Americans joined the British
in Morocco and Algeria.
• The British pushed the Axis forces out of Egypt.
• In May 1943, the Allies won North Africa and
started pushing north through Italy.
Italy Surrenders
• After leaving the African continent, the
Allies entered Italy.
• Heavy fighting went on against German
forces in Italy until June 1944, when
Americans captured the city of Rome.
D- Day
• While the Allies were
fighting in Italy, plans
were being made for an
invasion of Europe.
• June 6, 1944 was coded
D-Day. It was the largest
water-to-land invasion in
history.
• American General Dwight
Eisenhower, the Supreme
Commander of Allied
Forces, led the invasion.
D-Day
• “You are about to embark upon a great
crusade . . . . The hopes and prayers of
liberty-loving people everywhere go with
you.”
» General Dwight Eisenhower
D-Day
• On the morning of June 6 American, Canadian,
and British troops crossed the English Channel.
• They landed on the beaches of Normandy, in
France where German forces met them with
heavy gunfire.
• Many soldiers died on D-Day, but the invasion
was successful.
• The Allies broke through the German lines
pushing the Germans back.
Battle of the Bulge
• The Germans counterattacked at the
Battle of the Bulge in December 1944.
• American General George Patton, turned
the Germans back.
• In March 1945 Patton’s troops entered
Germany.
• At the same time, the Soviets were also
fighting the Germans.
German Surrender
• Surrounded by the Allies, the Germans
surrendered.
• On May 8, 1945 the Allies accepted the
surrender.
• FDR did not live to see the end of the war.
He died on April 12, 1945.
• After the surrender Allied Forces learned
Hitler had killed himself.