17.2 and 17.3: Allied Strategy in WWII

1. 17.2 and 17.3: Allied Strategy in WWII How did the U.S. and Allies use wartime strategy, specifically with the battles of Midway, Normandy, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Battle of the Bulge?

2. Overall Allied Strategy • Allies were at a serious disadvantage when the U.S. entered the war in 1941: France was under German control • Great Britain was still under attack • USSR was fighting German invasion • Northern Africa was under German and Italian control; American forces led by General Dwight D. (“Ike”) Eisenhower defeated German troops and they surrendered in May 1943

3. Continued • The Allies decided that war in Europe must be won first • Attacks in North Africa and Italy in 1942-43 brought some Allied success • War in the Pacific would not be the first priority until victory in Europe

4. Normandy (D-Day) • June 6, 1944: 3 million troops total from U.S., Great Britain, and Canada • The Allies had been building this invasion for two years to liberate Europe • Largest land-sea-air operation in military history • Strong German resistance • Allies held while more troops landed; after 1 month 1 million troops in France • Paris liberated in August and all of France by September

7. Continued • General Omar Bradley opened a huge hole in German lines that allowed American General George Patton and his army to liberate Paris • By September, the Allies had liberated other European nations and entered Germany itself • In the U.S., FDR won a fourth term as President

8. Battle of the Bulge (12/16/44-1/21/45) • Allied troops advanced towards Germany in late 1944; Germans launched surprise counterattack in December • Germans penetrated Allied territory and created a ‘bulge’ in Allied lines • After a month, Allies pushed back • German losses severe and they retreated for the remainder of war

10. Continued • Meanwhile, the Soviets pushed through Poland toward Germany • They were the first to liberate the death camps and describe the horrors they saw • By April 25, the Soviets were in Berlin • Hitler responded to certain defeat by shooting himself • On May 8, 1945, or V-E Day, Eisenhower accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany; Harry S. Truman became President on April 12 when FDR passed away

13. Battle of Midway (June 1942) • Japan took Pacific Islands, SE Asia, Philippines, and much of China by early in 1942 • Allies prevented attacks on AUS • General Douglas MacArthur was the commander of the American army • Allies destroyed Japanese planes and ships before they could attack Midway, an island NW of Hawaii • Admiral Chester Nimitz commanded American forces that crushed the Japanese • Severe Japanese losses a turning point in Pacific

14. Iwo Jima (Feb-March 1945) • Allies used “island hopping” to take back Philippines and other islands • Marines stormed the island of Guadalcanal in 1942, which marked Japan’s first defeat on land • Iwo Jima was a very important fueling spot • More than 6000 marines died taking the island; it gave the U.S. a base to launch heavy bombers that could reach Japan itself

15. Okinawa (April-June 1945) • Last obstacle before Allied assault on Japan • Fighting lasted almost 3 months • Number of casualties(7600 American, 110,000 Japanese) raised questions about the human costs of invading Japan