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Fighting the war: European Theater

Fighting the war: European Theater. D-Day, June 6, 1944. U.S. + British plan to attack Axis from west Dwight D. Eisenhower: Supreme Allied Commander in Europe; led invasion on D-Day Aug. 25, 1944: Paris liberated  Allied victory over Europe, May 8, 1945. US Soldiers landing on Omaha Beach.

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Fighting the war: European Theater

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  1. Fighting the war: European Theater

  2. D-Day, June 6, 1944 • U.S. + British plan to attack Axis from west • Dwight D. Eisenhower: Supreme Allied Commander in Europe; led invasion on D-Day • Aug. 25, 1944: Paris liberated •  Allied victory over Europe, May 8, 1945

  3. US Soldiers landing on Omaha Beach Going over the top D-Day

  4. V-E Day • By 1945, Soviets surround Berlin • Hitler commits suicide April 30, 1945 • Germany signs an unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945 • V-E Day—Victory in Europe—May 8, 1945

  5. Liberating the Camps • Disturbing Pictures to follow…

  6. Fighting The War: Pacific Theater

  7. Japanese empire • By early 1942, Japan controlled • Hong Kong, French Indochina (Vietnam), Malaya, Burma, Thailand, parts of China • Formosa (Taiwan), Dutch East Indies, Guam, Wake Island, Solomon Islands, other islands

  8. Japan Captures Philippines • U.S. surrenders Philippines to Japan April 1942 • Bataan Death March: forced march of American and Filipino POWs to POW camp • Japanese war atrocities • Douglas MacArthur: Supreme Allied Cmdr of Pacific theater; told Filipinos: “I shall return”

  9. US/Allied Strategy • Reclaim the Pacific • Island-Hopping: conquer one island, clear it, use it as base of operations for next island • Why is this the best strategy for the Pacific? • What problems might arise?

  10. Japanese Strategy • War of attrition: Bleed the enemy dry • Dig into island, build underground bunker, use heavy artillery + suicide attacks • Jap. use kamikaze (“divine wind”) suicide pilots loaded with explosives • Where have you seen this strategy before? Where will you see it again? Why do you think?

  11. Kamikaze Aftermath

  12. Key Battles • Bombing Raid of Tokyo (April 1942) • Battle of Coral Sea (May 1942): • Prevented Jap. advance to Australia • Battle of Midway (June 1942) • Turning point: prevented Jap. advance to Hawaii, Jap. on defensive for rest of war

  13. Key Battles • Guadalcanal (Aug 1942-Feb. 1943): Jap. first defeat on land • Leyte Gulf (Oct 1944): US reclaim Philippines; • Iwo Jima (Feb. –March 1945): Strategic air access to Japan • Okinawa (April-June 1945): Last Jap. defensive spot

  14. MacArthur Returns to Philippines

  15. US marines raising the flag on Iwo-Jima Why is this such an iconic picture?

  16. The End is in Sight… • May 1945 Allied forces plan Operation Olympic, the invasion of Japan itself in Nov. • US planners feared casualty estimates of one million! • Japan was desperate but unwilling to surrender!

  17. BTW… • FDR dead • Truman sworn in • Inherits difficult decision….

  18. Manhattan Project • Purpose: to build an atomic bomb • Scientists, military ppl and civilian policymakers all had doubts on using bomb • Truman warned Japan: “prompt and utter destruction” if it doesn’t surrender • Victory over Japan: Sept. 2, 1945

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