Transcript WW2-Europe
World War Two War in Europe Reminders/Basics • What started World War Two? • Who were Germany’s allies (the Axis powers)? • What was the other side called? Who were the major countries on this side? • ALLIES: Britain, Russia (Soviets), France, later the U.S. Expansion of Nazi Control • In April-May Germany invaded and won control of: • • • • • Denmark Norway Belgium Netherlands (Holland) Luxembourg • Next target: FRANCE German War Machine Invasion of France, June 1940 • Germany invaded through Belgium, Italy invaded south • France surrendered in about 2 weeks • Nazis directly occupied north & all coastal areas • Southern part called Vichy France had a French government that cooperated with Nazis Battle of Britain • Hitler wanted to invade Britain • to prepare, ordered heavy bombing (from planes). Targets: • cities (big population) • • railroads factories • DIDN’T WORK: British Air force (RAF) successfully fought off Germans and prevented invasion. Hitler shifted focus to invasion of the Soviet Union. U.S. Involvement • officially neutral at the beginning • Gave strong support to the Allies from the beginning: • gave huge loans • gave ships, planes, tanks, guns, etc. • allowed use of naval and air bases • huge build up of our military to prepare for eventually joining the war Invasion of the Soviet Union • June 22, 1941, Hitler broke Non-Aggression Pact • At first, Germany made rapid gains, getting much territory • Stalin then ordered Soviet Red Army to use “scorched earth” tactics- Soviets destroyed crops, factories, RRs, etc. so Nazis could not control them and get supplies. • This and the cold Russian winter slowed the Nazis down Ukrainian Memories North Africa • By 1941 the Axis (Germany & Italy) controlled all of North Africa except Egypt (under British control) • Nazi forces were trying to capture Egypt to gain control of the Suez Canal Turning Point: 1942 • In Russia, Soviets defeated Germans at the Battle of Stalingrad. From that point on the Germans were on the defensive being pushed further and further back toward Germany. Turning Point: 1942 • In North Africa, British defeated Germans at ElAlamein and then start pushing Germans out of North Africa. Next Plan Liberation of Italy • Allies (British & Americans) now controlled North Africa. Used it as a base to invade Italy and free it from Nazi control • Mussolini (Italian dictator) resigned, was arrested. Italy joined the Allied side. • Allies still had to free Italy from Nazi control • The Allies move toward France D-Day, Operation Overlord June 6, 1944 • Allied plan to land troops in France to open up another fighting front and speed up the defeat of Germany • Move troops from Britain across the English channel to land on beaches on the French coast. • 7,000 ships would land, thousands of troops parachuted behind German lines • Huge success: Allies secured control to beaches along a 60 mile strip of coast. Over the next month they landed over 1 million troops and 500,000 vehicles. • Beginning of the end for Germany Hitler’s Last Offensive The Battle of the Bulge By February of 1945 the bombing of Dresden Germany began....... A huge offense against the civilian population - unheard of in previous wars.... In four raids, altogether 3,600 planes, of which 1,300 were heavy bombers, dropped as much as 650,000 incendiaries, together with 8,000 lb. high-explosive bombs and hundreds of 4,000-pounders. In all more than 3,900 tons of high-explosive bombs and incendiary devices were dropped on the city. The resulting firestorm destroyed 15 square miles of the city centre Never before in the history of war was there such intent for civilian destruction. Was it justified? Was it a war crime? Some people justified bombing of a military and industrial target, which was a major rail transportation and communication centre, housing 110 factories and 50,000 workers in support of the Nazi war effort Dresden was not the most severe of World War II. Estimated 22,000 + civilians killed. Hamburg was bombed by the US and the British in 1943, created on of the largest firestorms in history, 50,000 killed. However, Dresden continues to be recognized as one of the worst examples of civilian suffering caused by strategic bombing, and has become a discussion point of the morality of the war The end of the European war is near The allies meet to discuss plans The Allies Meet at Yalta Feb. 1945 Yalta Conference 1. Now Allies will focus on Japan 2. USSR will enter war against Japan 3. USSR will get eastern part of Poland as buffer zone 4. Poland will get part of Germany on the western side 5. Division of Germany after the war into 4 sections: UK, US, Fr, USSR 6. There would be a United Nations 7. Germany would be demilitarized 8. Nazis would be hunted down and brought to justice April 1945 Hitler commits suicide Victory in Europe • May 4, 1945 Germany surrendered, known as V-E Day (Victory in Europe) • Americans now focused all effort on defeating Japan in the Pacific