War in Europe & Africa

1. War in Europe & Africa Major Battles

2. Battle of the Atlantic • German U-Boats sank any supply ship in the Atlantic • 1st seven month of ’42 = 681 ships lost • Allied Solution: Convoy system • U boats were to cut off aid before it got to Europe

3. Stalingrad • S-Grad: major manufacturing and communications center city of So. Russia. • Sept. – Oct ’42: Germans surrounded the city • Winter helped the Soviets • Bring in reinforcements and surround the Germans who were inside the city. • German surrender in Jan. ’43 marked the beginning of Germany’s retreat westward.

5. North Africa • Allies didn’t think they had the men/resources for a European invasion • Instead they launched Operation Torch – Nov. ’42 • Commanded by American General Dwight D Eisenhower • Landed in Casablanca, Oran and Algiers in North Africa • Chased the Afrika Corps led by General Rommel aka the Desert Fox Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, at Headquarters in Europe During WWII

7. Lessons learned The Sahara presented many problems for US soldiers. In hot dry weather , sandstorms choked and blinded troops. In wet weather, mud halted machinery High visibility in desert Needed aggressive officers and better trained troops Appointed George S Patton to lead in Africa May 1943-US Troops advanced trapping Rommel's Troops but the desert fox escaped.

8. Leaders George Patton Desert Fox -Rommel

9. Decision time • Germany is now on the defensive. • Jan 1943-Roosevelt and Churchill meet in Casablanca • They decided on two important things: • Invade Italy and increase bombing of Germany • Accept only unconditional surrender and nothing else!

10. Italian Campaign Italy chosen before English Channel invasion Patton’s Sixth Army Sicily fell to the Allies in 1943 Allies now had complete control of the Western Mediterranean Sept 3, 1943-Ended the rule of Mussolini and Italy surrendered.

12. Hitler Not Giving Up Hitler rescues Mussolini, and installs him as the puppet leader of North Italy. Battle of Anzio-lasted 4 months ending in May 1944 25000 Allied soldiers dead and 30000 Axis dead Allies were aided the Italian resistance movement

13. D-Day • June 6, 1944-Operation Overlord • Largest land-sea-air operation in history • Planned for 2 years • 5 main beaches • Gold • Sword • Juno • Omaha • Utah

14. D-Day(Operation Overlord) 156,000 men (3 million total) 6,000 landing craft 11,000 planes 800 warships 60 miles of coastline to secure Break down the Atlantic Wall

16. Success at Normandy Within one month: 1 million Allied troops occupied the beaches Began the process of pushing the Germans back towards Belgium On August 25, Paris was liberated after 4 years of Nazi Occupation. Patton “Dear Ike, today I spat in in the Seine”

17. 9378 Americans buried w/crosses and Stars of David 209,000 total Allied casualties 200,000 estimated Germans D-Day Memorial

18. Saving Private Ryan Inspired in part by the true story of Fritz Niland, one of four brothers from New York state who saw action during the war.  Two Niland brothers were killed on D-Day, while another was missing in action in Burma and was presumed dead,   Fritz was located in Normandy .