CH. 17WWII:

The Fight in Africa & Europe

LG:How did the US and it’s Allies

win the war in Europe?

1. Battle for the Atlantic (Aug.-July 1942):

a.. German U-Boats control the Atlantic; US needs to ship war materials.

b. US responds w/ convoy system:

i. Navy warships escort/protect transport ships; helped dramatically.

c. US takes control:

i. US industry produces more than Germany could sink.

2. Allies European Strategy:

a. 1st Invade N. Africa.

i. Would give the US army experience.

b. 2nd Invade Europe through Italy.

i. Europe’s “Soft-Underbelly”

c. 3rd/Final: Mainland Europe through France.

3. Invading “Soft-Underbelly” of Europe:

a. Invade N. Africa first (Nov. 1942-May 1943):

i. Would give the US army experience.

ii. Help Britain in Egypt (need Suez Canal for supplies).

***Casablanca Conference (Jan. 1943):

b. Big 3: FDR, Stalin, & Churchill decide on:

i. Open a 2nd front for Stalin; invade Italy.

c. Next, invade Italy (July-Sept. 1943):

i. Allies think Italians will surrender easily, but Allies only take half of Italy.

ii. Italy surrenders,but Nazi’s keep

fighting in N. Italy.

4. Invading Mainland Europe

(Operation Overlord):

a. Led by US General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

b. Used General Patton’s Ghost Army to hide actual invasion location.

c. D-Day June 6, 1944:

i. Overall, Allies are very successful.

ii. Only 10,000 casualties.

5. Battle of the Bulge (Dec. 1944-Jan. 1945):

*** Allies start closing in on Germany.

a. Hitler stages one last desperate surprise offensive; goal to capture Allied supply lines.

*** US controls Bastogne (major supply hub):

b. Germans surround it and demand surrender.

c. US response, “Nuts”; fight and breaks out.

d. Germans last offensive fails; run out of fuel & retreat for good.

i. US wins; 100,000 German casualties.

6. End of WWII in Europea. End of Germany:

*** April 21, 1945: US allows Soviet Union to fully invade Berlin.

*** April 30, 1945: Hitler kills himself.

i. May 7, 1945: Germany’s Unconditional Surrender

- May 8, 1945: V-E Day(Victory in Europe)