Transcript 14_1 War in Europe and North Africa with Pair Share

How and why did the Allies fight the Battle of
the Atlantic?
Defeating the Axis Powers depended on control of the seas.
The Atlantic needed to be kept safe for shipping so that soldiers
and goods could be transported from the United States to the
other Allied nations.
Germany had a very powerful navy including with new surface
ships (including the giant Bismarck) and U-boats.
German used new tactics to increase U-boat effectiveness such
as the so-called wolf pack. U-boats sent hundreds of ships
and tons of supplies to the bottom of the sea. At the same
time, the German navy lost few of their boats.
The entry of the United States into the war would help turn the
tide in the Battle of the Atlantic.
The Allies Fight the Battle of the Atlantic
Allied ships and aircraft
• American shipyards began producing new ships at an amazing
rate.
• The new ships were used to form larger, better-equipped
convoys, which cut down on the effectiveness of U-boat
attacks.
• Allied aircraft protected convoys from the air.
Cracking the Enigma
• The Allies broke the German code system, which was called
the Enigma.
• The Allies began to gain vital information about the locations
and plans of U-boat formations.
• Finally, the Allies had an advantage over the Germans.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/heroes-of-world-war-ii-the-men-who-cracked-enigma/3641651935
Germany Invades Soviet Union
•June 22, 1941-Germany invades
The USSR--Stalingrad
•Hitler had always planned for
This attack but wanted to be ready
first
World War II in the Soviet Union
1. Hitler broke his nonaggression pack with Stalin and invaded the
Soviet Union in 1941.
– The Soviets then joined the Allies as enemies of the Axis Powers.
– At first the Soviets seemed unable to stop the German blitzkrieg;
however, the bitterly cold Russian winter proved a great ally.
– Still, the Germans held a vast portion of the western Soviet Union
and besieged the city of Leningrad.
2. The Germans attacked Stalingrad in August 1942.
– The Soviets refused to let Stalingrad fall, and Hitler suffered a
stunning defeat in early 1943.
3. Stalingrad marked the beginning of Germany’s collapse in the
Soviet Union.
– Soviet forces pushed Germany out of Russia, but lost 12 million
soldiers and millions of civilians.
Discuss the complex relationship
between Nazi Germany (Hitler) and
Communist Soviet Union (Stalin).
How does the invasion of the USSR
change the outcome of WWII?
American Forces in North Africa and Italy
Why was North Africa important?
By controlling North Africa, the British could protect
shipping on the Mediterranean Sea. They needed the ability
to ship oil from the Middle East through the Suez Canal.
What was the result of fighting in North Africa?
Italy could not drive the British from Egypt. Hitler sent
troops under the direction of Erwin Rommel – nicknamed
the Desert Fox. After a back-and-forth battle for North
Africa, the Allied forces handed the Germans a major defeat
at the battle of El Alamein.
What happened in Italy?
British and American forces invaded Italy in 1943. The
Italian people forced Mussolini from power, but Hitler rushed
into Italy to stop the Allies. Also first time African American
airmen fight—Tuskegee Airmen
BATTLE of the BULGE
December 16, 1944
to
January 25, 1945
1. The Battle of the Bulge [12/16/44 – 1/28/45]
was the largest land battle of World War II.
At the
conclusion of
the battle the
casualties
were as
follows:
81,000 U.S. with 19,000 killed, 1400 British
with 200 killed, and 100,000 Germans killed,
wounded or captured.
2. In late 1944 Germany was clearly
losing the war.
A. The Soviet Army was steadily closing in on
the Eastern front
B. German cities were being devastated by
intense American bombing.
C. Hitler knew the end was near if something
couldn't be done to slow the Allied advance. He
soon came up with a plan to do this. [Battle of
the Bulge]
Why did Hitler launch the last
offensive that would later be called
the Battle of the Bulge?
BATTLE FACTS
The coldest, snowiest weather “in memory” in the forest
on the German/Belgium border.
Involved over a million men, 500,000 Germans, 600,000
Americans and 55,000 British.
100,000 German casualties, killed, wounded or captured
81,000 American casualties, including 23,554
captured and 19,000 killed.
800 tanks lost on each side, 1,000 German aircraft.
Battle of the Bulge--Weather
• The weather was so bad, they could not fly
in supply's to the troops, and medicine to
the medics.
• Everything was in short supply.
• Side Note: penicillin was developed during
this period and was used to fight infections
on the battlefield during WWII.
In it’s entirety, the “Battle of
the Bulge,” was one of the
worst battles - in terms of
losses - to the American
Forces in WWII.
What was the importance of the
Battle of the Bulge?
Use p418-425
Battle:
Battle:
Who fought?, Where
was it? Significance.
Who fought?, Where
was it? Significance.
Early Battles
of WWII
Operation Overlord:
Battle of the Bulge:
Who fought?, Where
was it? Significance.
Who fought?, Where
was it? Significance.