The Mediterranean and The Mediterranean and Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

WWIIWWII

British ResistanceBritish Resistance

Changed Hitler’s game planChanged Hitler’s game plan

He would now look to the He would now look to the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Mediterranean, the Balkans, and the Soviet Unionthe Soviet Union

North AfricaNorth Africa

Germany’s 1Germany’s 1stst objective in the objective in the Mediterranean, mainly because of Mediterranean, mainly because of its partner Mussoliniits partner Mussolini

Sept. 1940, while the Battle of Sept. 1940, while the Battle of Britain was raging, Mussolini Britain was raging, Mussolini ordered his army to attack British-ordered his army to attack British-controlled Egypt.controlled Egypt.

Suez CanalSuez Canal

Egypt’s Suez Canal Egypt’s Suez Canal was key to reaching was key to reaching the oil fields of the the oil fields of the Middle EastMiddle East

Within a week, Within a week, Italians had drove Italians had drove 60 miles into Egypt 60 miles into Egypt forcing back the forcing back the BritishBritish

Britain Strikes BackBritain Strikes Back

December 1940 Britain strikes December 1940 Britain strikes backback

Disaster for ItalyDisaster for Italy

By February 1941, Britain had By February 1941, Britain had swept 500 miles across North swept 500 miles across North Africa and taken 130,000 Italian Africa and taken 130,000 Italian PrisonersPrisoners

Hitler Aides His Axis AllyHitler Aides His Axis Ally

Sent a German tank force (Afrika Sent a German tank force (Afrika Korps)Korps)

Gen. Erwin Rommel (Desert Fox) Gen. Erwin Rommel (Desert Fox) led the German attack against the led the German attack against the British and forced them to retreatBritish and forced them to retreat

Fighting went back and forth until Fighting went back and forth until eventually the allies were defeatedeventually the allies were defeated

War in the BalkansWar in the Balkans

Summer of 1940 Hitler began planning Summer of 1940 Hitler began planning an attack on his ally, the USSR, but 1an attack on his ally, the USSR, but 1stst wanted to strengthen his power in wanted to strengthen his power in Eastern EuropeEastern EuropeThrough the threat of force, Hitler Through the threat of force, Hitler convinced Bulgaria, Romania, and convinced Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary to join the Axis PowersHungary to join the Axis PowersYugoslavia and Greece resisted, but Yugoslavia and Greece resisted, but were conquered in a matter of days.were conquered in a matter of days.

Operation BarbarossaOperation Barbarossa

Hitler’s plan to invade the Soviet UnionHitler’s plan to invade the Soviet Union

June 22, 1941, German tanks and June 22, 1941, German tanks and aircraft invaded aircraft invaded

The USSR was surprised and The USSR was surprised and unpreparedunprepared

The Soviets used their famous The Soviets used their famous scorched-earth policyscorched-earth policy

Siege of LeningradSiege of Leningrad

September 8, Leningrad was cut off September 8, Leningrad was cut off from the rest of the USSRfrom the rest of the USSR

Hitler was ready to starve its 2.5 million Hitler was ready to starve its 2.5 million inhabitants to force surrenderinhabitants to force surrender

Inhabitants ate whatever they could findInhabitants ate whatever they could find

1 million died that winter1 million died that winter

The city refused to fallThe city refused to fall

MoscowMoscow

Slow progress at Leningrad led Hitler Slow progress at Leningrad led Hitler to the capital city of Moscowto the capital city of Moscow

Germans weren’t prepared for the Germans weren’t prepared for the cold and began to retreat until Hitler cold and began to retreat until Hitler ordered them to stayordered them to stay

Germans made no gains, but it cost Germans made no gains, but it cost them 500,000 soldiersthem 500,000 soldiers

U.S. Aids its AlliesU.S. Aids its Allies

Cash and CarryCash and Carry Sell American arms to the alliesSell American arms to the allies

Lend-Lease ActLend-Lease Act Lend or lease to any country vital Lend or lease to any country vital

to the U.S.to the U.S.

Hitler ordered submarines to sink Hitler ordered submarines to sink all cargo shipsall cargo ships

Atlantic CharterAtlantic Charter

Joint declaration between Joint declaration between Roosevelt and ChurchillRoosevelt and Churchill

Upheld free trade, and the right of Upheld free trade, and the right of people to choose their own people to choose their own governmentsgovernments

Served as the Allied plan for Served as the Allied plan for peace at the end of WWIIpeace at the end of WWII

September 4, 1941September 4, 1941

German U-boat fired on a U.S. German U-boat fired on a U.S. destroyer in the Atlanticdestroyer in the Atlantic

Roosevelt ordered navy Roosevelt ordered navy commanders to shoot German commanders to shoot German submarines on sightsubmarines on sight

U.S. was now involved in an U.S. was now involved in an undeclared naval war with Hitlerundeclared naval war with Hitler