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World War II in Africa and Europe. America enters the war. Millions volunteer for duty Selective Service Act in effect America wanted to invade France Churchill thought Allies weren’t ready yet Is a different strategy possible?? How do the Allies defeat the Axis Powers??. Battles in Africa.
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America enters the war • Millions volunteer for duty • Selective Service Act in effect • America wanted to invade France • Churchill thought Allies weren’t ready yet • Is a different strategy possible?? • How do the Allies defeat the Axis Powers??
Battles in Africa • Britain and Germany fought for control of Northern Africa • Egypt was important to British (Access to Suez Canal) • May 1943 – Allies with American forces defeat Germans in Tunisia • Allies now able to spring into Italy - Mussolini overthrown
More trouble for Germans • The Battle of Stalingrad – brutal defeat for Germans • Germans trapped in city – in winter, many froze to death • Scorched-earth policy • 2 million military and civilian deaths (199 day battle)
Invasion of France (D-Day) • June 6, 1944 • 5,000 ships – 130,000 soldiers (American, British, Canadian) • 10,000 Allies killed/wounded • Result: Successful in securing the beach
Note found with Eisenhower (never used) • “Our landings have failed and I have withdrawn our troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine alone.” -Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower June 1944
Allies fight into Europe • Allies fight Germans into France • Paris liberated in August 1944 • Germans final assault made at Battle of the Bulge • Allies defeat Germans • Heavy casualties
War comes to a Close • Stalin, Churchill, FDR meet at Yalta to discuss post-war situation • FDR dies of stroke (April 1945) • Harry Truman now President • Hitler commits suicide in his Berlin bunker – Allies overrun the Germans
Horrors of the Holocaust • 6 million Jews killed by Nazis • Sent to death centers called “Concentration Camps” • Based on Hitler’s racism • Blamed Jews for Germany’s problems