WWII: Pushing the Axis back

Ch 12.4

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

• Daily goal: Understand how Island hopping worked and the significance of Operation Overlord.

Strategic Bombing

• The campaign’s goal was to destroy Germany’s War Economy.

• Germany’s aircraft factories, oil supply and railroad lines took heavy damage.

• Killed many civilians.

North Africa and Italy

• The Allies first invaded North Africa (1942), then Italy (1943).

• The Italians surrendered shortly after the invasion, which forced the Germans to invade Italy and spread their resources.

Operation Overlord

• The invasion of Nazi-occupied France took place on the Normandy Coast and began on D-Day.

• The invasion forced the Nazis to fight a war in the East and West.

D-Day

• The Americans landed on Omaha and Utah beaches.

Island Hopping

• Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur advanced through the Pacific hopping island to island.

• Islands that were heavily fortified Japanese positions would be skipped and only the most strategically valuable islands would be invaded to minimize American casualties.