The U.S. Joins WWII—Europe

Allies

vs.

Axis

Mobilization

• The U.S. first must prepare for war.

Roosevelt and Churchilla. Winston Churchill—

prime minister of Great Britain.

b. U.S. & G.B. goalsi. Defeat the

Germans first.ii. Unconditional

surrender.

Battle of the Atlantica. Priority 1—

protect merchant ships

b. Radar and Sonar used to locate and destroy U-boats

Stalingrada. Germans are hundreds

of miles into USSR.b. Hitler decides to move

on Stalingrad.i. Germans are low on

oil.ii. Controlling it would

stop the shipment of goods to Moscow.

Stalingrad

c. The Soviets win the battle after seven months of fighting.

d. This was a major turning point in the war.

The Military Situation in

1942

What should be the plan to begin liberating Europe?

Operation TorchA. Germans controlled much of Northern

Africa.B. Operation Torch—Allied invasion of

Northern AfricaC. November 1942 to May of 1943.D. What to do next?

A.Roosevelt –launch invasion across the English Channel into France.

B.Churchill—play it safe and attack Italy.

Invading Italy

A. Allies capture Sicily.B. Mussolini is removed from power

and Italy joins Allies.C. Hitler sent troops into Italy; fighting

lasted for 18 months.

Liberating EuropeA. Operation

Overlord (6/6/1944).

B. Normandy Peninsula

C. Paratroopers, 156,000 troops

D. Allies suffer heavy casualties

E. General Patton led Allied troops into France

F. By September 1944 most of Western Europe was freed

F. In October 1944, the Allies reached Germany

G. Germans launched a surprise offensive known as the Battle of the Bulge.

Liberating Europe

G. Germans pushed bulge in Allied line, but Allies hold

H. Allies push toward Germany and concentration camps were found and liberated.

I. April of 1945, the Allies had reached Berlin, and Hitler commits suicide.

J. On May 8, 1945, General Eisenhower accepts unconditional surrender of Germans. This day became known as V-E Day.

Liberating Europe