The War in Europe and North Africa Ch 24-1

The Main Idea

After entering World War II, the United States focused first on the war in Europe.

Content StatementSummarize how atomic weapons have changed the

nature of war, altered the balance of power and began the nuclear age.

Ch 24-1 vocabulary

• Wolf pack: submarine tactic in which submarines hunt as a group and attack at night. U.S. and Britain did not have enough ships for convoys so U-boats were very effective.

• Erwin Rommel: German General during WWII. Commanded Africa Korps; known as the Desert Fox.

• Operation Torch: Code name for Allied invasion of North Africa in WWII. Decided to invade instead of Europe a first. Invaded Morocco and Algeria.

• Dwight D. Eisenhower: 34th president; he led Allied invasion of North Africa and D-Day invasion of France. He commanded Allied forces in Europe during WWII.

• Tuskegee Airman: Unit of African American pilots that fought in WWII. Fought in Italy.

Ch 24 vocabulary continued

• Operation Overlord: code name for the Allied invasion of mainland Europe in WWII, starting with D-Day landing. Wanted to end war as quickly as possible. Symbol of American strength and destination. Largest military operation ever mounted.

• Omar Bradley: American General who led Allied troops in Operation Overlord during WWII.

• D-Day: June 6, 1944; first day of Allied invasion of Normandy in WWII.

*Knock out Punch Russians from east, Allied from South (Italy and Africa), by September from France to Belgium to Netherlands

1.Battle of the Atlantic/U-boat attacks

Defeating the Axis Powers depended on control of the seas. The Atlantic needed to be kept safe for shipping so that soldiers and goods could be transported from the United States to the other Allied nations.

Germany had a very powerful navy including with new surface ships (including the giant Bismarck) and U-boats.

German used new tactics to increase U-boat effectiveness such as the so-called wolf pack. U-boats sent hundreds of ships and tons of supplies to the bottom of the sea. At the same time, the German navy lost few of their boats.1940-1941- German “happy time”. In the span of a few months Germans sank 360 U.S. ships while losing only 8 U-boats of U.S. coast

The entry of the United States into the war would help turn the tide in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Allied ships and aircraft

Cracking the Enigma

• American shipyards began producing new ships at an amazing rate. INDUSTRIAL POWER!!

• The new ships were used to form larger, better-equipped convoys, which cut down on the effectiveness of U-boat attacks.

• Allied aircraft protected convoys from the air.

• The Allies broke the German code system, which was called the Enigma.

• The Allies began to gain vital information about the locations and plans of U-boat formations.

• Finally, the Allies had an advantage over the Germans.

• By war’s end 70% of Germans who served on submarines were dead. Atlantic belonged to Allies.

2. The Allies Fight Back

3.The War in the Soviet Union

3. Hitler broke his nonaggression pact with Stalin and invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.

• The Soviets then joined the Allies as enemies of the Axis Powers.

• At first the Soviets seemed unable to stop the German blitzkrieg; however, the bitterly cold Russian winter proved a great ally.

• Still, the Germans held a vast portion of the western Soviet Union and besieged the city of Leningrad. 200,000 Russians in Leningrad died in January and February alone due to siege.

4. The Battle of Stalingrad: The Germans attacked Stalingrad in August 1942.

• The Soviets refused to let Stalingrad fall. Major industrial center for Russia.

• Germany failed to take Stalingrad and exposed themselves to Russian counterattack. 250,00 Axis soldiers trapped by Soviets. Rest surrender in early 1943.

Stalingrad marked the beginning of Germany’s collapse in the Soviet Union. Turning point of WWII.

• Soviet forces pushed Germany out of Russia. Germans lost 2 million soldiers; Russians lost 12 million soldiers and millions of civilians.

• Russian forces begin to push into German strongholds from east.

5. American Forces in North Africa and Italy

Why was North Africa important?By controlling North Africa, the British could protect shipping on the Mediterranean Sea. They needed the ability to ship oil from the Middle East through the Suez Canal.

What was the result of fighting in North Africa?Italy could not drive the British from Egypt. Hitler sent troops under the direction of Erwin Rommel – nicknamed the Desert Fox. After a back-and-forth battle for North Africa, the Allied forces handed the Germans a major defeat at the battle of El Alamein.

6. OPERATION TORCH: Stalin wanted Allies to invade Europe to divide Hitler’s attention. Instead the Allies focus on North Africa. Gained valuable battle experience. Base for attack vs. Italy.What happened in Italy?

British and American forces invaded Italy in 1943. The Italian people forced Mussolini from power, but Hitler rushed into Italy to stop the Allies. Around 300,000 of Allied Forces were killed or wounded in Italy.

Overview #7,8, and 9

To end the war as quickly as possible, the Allies planned Operation Overlord—a large invasion of mainland France. KNOCK OUT PUNCH!!

The Allies landed at Normandy on June 6, 1944—called D-Day—and began to march on France.

The Battle of the Bulge became a symbol of American strength and determination. Along border of Belgium and Germany.

7.Operation Overlord

• Planned invasion of France from the beaches of Normandy

• General Omar Bradley led the American troops.

• Good planning and speed were vital.

• Americans were concerned about the V1 flying bomb and the V2 rocket.

8.The Landing at Normandy

• June 6, 1944

• Allied force of 3.5 million soldiers

• Estimated 10,000 Allied casualties, including 6,600 Americans

• The Allies landed almost 1 million soldiers and 180,000 vehicles.

• “The whole western front has been ripped open.” Paris free from Germans by August 1944

9.Battle of the Bulge

• Many thought Germans were done.

• Surprise offensive by Germans . Final German Offensive.

• Lieutenant General George S. Pattonprovided relief for the soldiers at Bastogne.

• German bulge pushed back by Jan. 1945

• Symbol of American strength and determination

D-Day Pictures

D-Day Pictures

D-Day Pictures