Transcript War Plans
War Plans •Europe First –Hitler was viewed as the #1 enemy of the US –Soviet Leader Stalin, with the Allies, was desperate for help against Germany –Only after Germany was defeated could the US look to Britain and the Soviet Union for help in defeating Japan. The Battle of the Atlantic • German U-boats – Attack US shipping along the Atlantic Coast line, Atlantic Ocean, & the Caribbean – US organize a Convoy System • Ships sail in large groups escorted by destroyers equipped with the latest Anti-sub technology • Aircraft support the Destroyers in escort/sub detection – US build specially designed cargo ships called Liberty Ships. • Built in sections and of concrete, speed up ship production The Battle of the Atlantic The Eastern Front • The Battle of Stalingrad – Germany reached the gates of Moscow • Objective changes to the capture of cities – Consumes hundreds of thousands of German troops – Germany goes from the offensive to the defensive – The turning point of the European Eastern theater of War The North African Front • US Enters Combat for the First time – Use North Africa as “on the job training” for the “green” untried American Combat soldiers – Operation Torch: The Invasion of North Africa • US coordinate with British forces operating out of Egypt • Eventually defeat the Famed Afrika Corps lead by Field Marshall Erwin Rommel The Italian Front • Casablanca Conference – Britain and US meet to discuss the next target • Debate of the invasion of Europe – US want a massive invasion fleet from England to France – British want to play it safe with an invasion of Italy – Compromise • Plan for a cross channel invasion while allied troops invade Italy The Italian Front • Capture of Sicily – Summer of 1943 – Easily won by the Allies • King of Italy stripped Mussolini of power • Mussolini was arrested • Italy ended its war or did they? – Hitler seizes control of the War in Italy & re-installs Mussolini – German soldiers dig in and the Allies slug it out for the next 18 months – Battle of Anzio and Monte Cassino Italian Campaign & Beyond http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwtwo/launch_ani_italy_campaign.shtml# The Western Front • The Allies Liberate Europe – D-day: Operation Overlord • Two years of planning and building • Open a Western Front in Europe • Cross English Channel Invasion – Deception and Surprise – 156,000 combat troops • Established a foot hold in Normandy, Northern France D-Day The Battle of the Bulge • Hitler’s Surprise! – Last-ditch offensive for Germany – Capture the town of Bastogne • Seize the town and control the five roads • Move on the Belgian port city of Antwerp • Reverse Allied momentum – Germans catch Americans by surprise and pushed deep behind Allied lines – Americans counter and slowly regain territory Battle Of the Bulge Battle Of the Bulge The Impact of the War • Economic Gains – Unemployment fell to 1.2% – Paychecks rose 70% – Crop production increased by 50% – Women enjoyed employment gains • Wide range of work • Many would return home after the War Impact of the War • Population Shifts – Using page 757, answer the following: • Which region lost population? – The South -1,244,800 • Which regions gained? – West Coast, Mountain & Plains, Midwest, Middle Atlantic, & New England • Which region gained the most? – Midwest +523,200 Population Shifts • What caused the Population Shifts? – Military bases attracted people located in the regions such as the West Midwest and Mid Atlantic – Towns with Defense Industries attracted people – Detroit= – New York, Boston, & Philly= – West Coast (California) =