Main Idea

1. Chapter 14.2 The Allied Response Main Idea The early years of World War II went poorly for the Allies. But after the United States joined the war, the Allies soon recovered and began making gains against the Axis.

2. Early American Involvement • Countries in World War II • Allies- USA, Britain, USSR, “The Big Three” • Others– Poland, France, China, India, Brazil, Ethiopia, more than 50 total • Axis- Germany, Italy, Japan • Others– Finland, Thailand, Iraq • Allies Goals • Win the Atlantic Supply Lines • Win Africa  Trade Routes to Russia • Win Italy  Attack from the South

3. American Home Front • U.S. entered war on Dec. 8, 1941 • Enormous task of mobilization • Men and women volunteered for service • Factories converted; “victory gardens” planted; scrap drives and recycling to collect materials • Some negative effects of patriotism • Japanese Americans placed in internment camps

4. German U-boats in American waters Tried to destroy American merchant ships Allied factories at full production Losses dropped sharply Winning the Atlantic • The Battle of the Atlantic • Control of the ocean important • Food and equipment for England and Soviet Union shipped by sea • Germany relied on U-boats • Inflicted great damage to shipping

6. Back-and-forth fighting Americans join the battle • Afrika Korps led by Erwin Rommel • Pushed British back into Egypt • 1942—Battle of El Alamein • British victory under Gen. Bernard Montgomery • Axis power lessened in North Africa • Soviets wanted European front • Dwight D. Eisenhower led troops • Rommel caught between forces in east and west • Supply problems worsened • May 1943—surrendered to Allies War in North Africa and Italy • The Suez Canal and M. East oil fields were essential to British • Hitler was forced to send German troops to support the Italians. • Nearly 250,000 Axis soldiers taken prisoner • 1943 all of North Africa in Allied hands

7. Next Allied goal: Italy itself July 1943, Allied soldiers landed on the island of Sicily Allies capture Sicily September 1943 Allies move into southern Italy Strong German resistance as troops moved north Bloody fighting continued for months Fighting in Italy

8. A Turning Point in the Soviet Union • 1941 German invasion halted with winter • German equipment failed in bitter cold • Poorly equipped troops suffered greatly • Siege of Leningrad • Citizens under siege in Hitler’s attempt to force a surrender • Winter of 1941—1942, 3-4,000 starved to death daily • cost 1 million civilian lives

9. Battle of Stalingrad • Germans poised to take Stalingrad • Key industrial city for Soviets • Factories supplied Soviet armies • Ports shipped grain, oil, and other products throughout country • City bombed into rubble; German troops moved in • Axis soldiers with no food or ammunition • Hitler—“Surrender is forbidden” • 1 million Soviet soldiers died • Allied victory turning point in war

10. Three Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers undamaged Vital territoryfell to Japanese Singapore, Hong Kong, Burma, and strategic islands Target —U.S.-held Philippines U.S. general Douglas MacArthur led doomed defense Americans surrendered in April 1942 Bataan Death March Forced march of 70,000 American and Filipino prisoners Brutal violence, tropical heat, and lack of food or water Many survivors perished in inhumane prison camps A Turning Point in the Pacific

11. Battle of Midway Battle of the Coral Sea • First carrier battle—May 1942 • A Japanese advance had been stopped • June 1942- Midway a strategic island—home to U.S. military base • U.S. advantage—Japanese secret code broken • Japan’s navy suffered terrible blow Carrier Battles • Island Hopping • Japanese lost sea advantage after Midway • Allies developed island-hopping strategy • Skipped over strongholds and captured weaker targets • Captured islands used as bases for next attacks • Bypassed Japanese strongholds cut off from outside supplies