Transcript D-Day Invasion - Lincoln High School

Duking it out with
Germany in Europe
Muy Importante Leaders…
General Dwight D. Eisenhower: Led
invasion of North Africa
 General George Patton: Led forces in
Morocco
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General Erwin Rommel: Commanded the
German “Afrika Korps” in Egypt
Early Battles in
Europe/Africa
The Struggle for North Africa
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British had defeated the “Desert Fox” at the
Battle of El Alamein
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Invasion of Morocco and Algeria (French
territories under German control) by the British
and Americans
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Would give experience to army without that
many troops
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Would be able to assist British troops in Egypt
Battle of the Atlantic (1939-1945)
Germans targeted American cargo ships
 To protect ships, cities dimmed lights at
night and drove with headlights off
 Created the convoy system: Cargo ships
traveled in groups escorted by warships
 Americans developed radar, sonar and
depth charges to attack submarines
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Stalingrad (1942-1943)
Hitler wanted to destroy the Soviet Union
economy
 Germans captured strategic oil fields,
industries and farmland including the city of
Stalingrad
 Stalingrad was a major railroad junction
and controlled the Volga River
 Soviets surrounded the city and trapped the
Germans inside (Put Germans on the
defensive)
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Luftwaffe nightly bombed the city
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Germans targeted civilians
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German generals urged Hitler to retreat
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Feb. 2, 1943:
– 90,000 frostbitten, starved German troops
surrendered (army had been 330,000 strong)
– Soviets lost over 1 million soldiers
Late Battles in Europe
1944-1945
D-Day Invasion
June 6, 1944
Normandy, France
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Allies prepared secretly in Great Britain
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Commander: General Dwight D.
Eisenhower
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Code name: Operation Overlord, “greatest
land and sea attack in history”
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British, American, French and Canadian
troops
The outcomes:
Americans lost 3,000 soldiers on the beach
 Germans began retreating on July 25th
 By September the Allies had liberated:
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– France
– Belgium
– Luxembourg
– Most of the Netherlands
Battle of the Bulge
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1944-1945: The last major Nazi offensive
Hitler planned to break up the alliance between
France, Britain and the U.S.
Aimed primarily at American forces
Was still suffering from D-Day invasion; had
depleted supplies
Allies were initially surprised
German soldiers infiltrated the American line
Bad weather helped the Germans in the
beginning
Germans lacked the fuel necessary for an
armored attack
 Intense cold and rainy conditions caused
exposure and trench foot
 Largest battle fought by Americans in
WWII
 81,000 of the 600,000 Americans were
killed
 Germans were forced to abandon their
vehicles
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End of War in Europe
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April 1945
– 3 million Allied soldiers and 6 million Soviets converged
on Germany
– April 12: President Roosevelt dies suddenly
– April 25, 1945: Soviets surround the city of Berlin
– Hitler blames Jews for starting war and his generals for
losing the war
– Hitler takes poison and then shoots himself
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May 1945
– May 7th: General Eisenhower accepts surrender of
Third Reich.
– May 8th official surrender signed (V-E Day)