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European Front Battles World War II- 1944 Look at these pictures and think about: • What is the mood? • What are the feelings the people might be experiencing? RemembeR that… • Nazis occupied most of the European continent and into Russia and N. Africa starting in May of 1940 • Hitler’s goal was to gain territory to create Lebensraum or “living space” for the Third Reich War of North Africa • • • • • • 1922-1942 El Alamein, Egypt August Allies: General Patton, Montgomery Axis: Mussolini, Rommel Eventually Patton comes in and helps Allies win Early Italian victories but eventually Germans/Italians pushed north into Italy • Germans out of Africa- British secures Suez Canal, control of the Mediterranean Sea • http://www.history.com/topics/world-warii/battle-of-elalamein/videos/world_war_ii_in_north_africa Operation: Barbarossa • June 22, 1941- December 6, 1942 • Ukraine and Soviet Union-severe weather temperatures • Allies: Georgi Zhukov and Stalin • US not involved, preoccupied • Germany invades Soviet Union • Soviet troops cut off German food and supplies • Soviet Union joins Allies, Germany betrays nonaggression pact, closing in on Germany from the east. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RePOWFtsInw • • • • • • • • • Italy July 1943 Sicily Allies: Patton, Montgomery Patton leads forces to help capture Sicily Italians surrender to Allies September 1943 Mussolini is not in power New Italian Government Closing in on Germany from the South http://www.history.com/topics/world-warii/invasion-of-sicily/videos Stalingrad • August 1942- January 1943 • SW Soviet Union- industrial city on Volga River • Allies: Georgi Zhukov • Axis: General Frederick von Pauss • US not involved- too far • Soviets force Germans to retreat • First German defeat, puts Germany on the defensive, defensive turning point Stalingrad D-Day • June 6, 1944 • Omaha Beach along the Normandy coast near Cherbourg, France • Operation Overlord- General Eisenhower • Axis: Rommel (in Germany celebrating wife’s birthday) • More than 2,000 vessels, 11,000 aircraft, 2,876,000 air, sea, and land personnel took part in an allied invasion of German occupied Europe • US provides strategy, manpower, paratroopers, “fake” attack D-Day D-Day • Immense logistical difficulties • Tricked Hitler into believing initially that the Normandy strike was a deceptive move • He thought they would attack at Calais, the narrowest point between Britain on the English Channel • He did not at first send reinforcements • US supplied the strategy, manpower, paratroopers, “fake” attack D-Day • • • • HUGE Allied win Offensive turning point Allies now on mainland Europe Air, sea and land attack Battle of the Bulge • December 1944 • Belgium, Eastern France- last occupied territories (forest) • Allies: George S. Patton • US regrouped and then defeated • Allied win • Germans launched a final offensive • U.S. infantrymen move through the snow-covered Krinkhelter Woods in Belgium Battle of the Bulge • It was known as the Battle of the Bulge because German forces drove nearly 60 miles in a westward bulge through eastern France • Finally stopped by the American 101st Airborne Division and General George Patton's Third Army • The U.S. suffered 77,000 casualties. Significance • What is the significance of D-Day? • Why is it considered one of the greatest military advances of all time? • What is the significance of Battle of the Bulge? Yalta Conference • February 1945 • Crimea, Russia • Ally Leaders meet: – FDR, Churchill, Stalin • Make plans for the end of the war. • Stalin promises to declare war on Japan after Germany surrenders. Yalta Conference Yalta Conference Yalta Conference V-E Day • V-E Day – Victory in Europe Day • May 2, 1945 – Soviets take over the city of Berlin. • May 8 V-E Day