1 / 28

WWII in Africa and Europe - Mobilizing and Advancing to Victory

Learn about the Allies' defeat of the Axis powers in Africa and Europe during World War II, including the mobilization efforts, battles in Africa and Italy, D-Day invasion, and eventual victory in Europe.

jyazzie
Download Presentation

WWII in Africa and Europe - Mobilizing and Advancing to Victory

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Bellwork Please take out your notebooks, a pen or pencil, and label the next entry in your notebook, “WWII in Africa and Europe”

  2. War in Africa and Europe WWII

  3. Main Idea • The Allies defeated the Axis powers in Europe and Africa.

  4. Why It Matters Now • During World War II, the United States assumed a leading role in world affairs that continues today.

  5. Mobilizing for War • US officially enters the war in 1941 after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor

  6. US had to build up military • Millions volunteers and millions were drafted under the Selective Service Act (or draft) which says that all men ages 18-38 had to register for military service

  7. 300,000 Mexican Americans fought • 1 million African Americans fought • 300,000 Women fought • This is critical to the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Fighting for freedom abroad, but don’t have it in your own country.

  8. Notes – Title: War in Africa and Europe • Mobilizing for War • US entered the war • Millions volunteered • Millions drafted (men 18-38) • Women and minorities volunteered as well • 300,000 Mexican Americans • 1 million African Americans • 300,000 women

  9. Battles in Africa and Italy • Allies were planning a European invasion to try to stop the Germans, however, they weren’t quite ready. First the Allies drove German troops out of North Africa. They did this so they could take control of the Mediterranean and have more access to Europe, specifically, they would be able to attack through Italy.

  10. British had control over Egypt and wanted to protect their access to the Suez Canal • British troops faced tough opposition from Erwin Rommel, Germany’s General, aka Desert Fox • Battle at El Alamein (only 200 miles from Suez Canal) British drove the Germans out and were assisted by Dwight D. Eisenhower, America’s General, and eventually, the Allies took over Northern Africa

  11. Southern European Invasion • The Allies began by invading Sicily • After they forced the Germans out of Sicily and swept into Italy • By this time, Italians had turned on Mussolini and imprisoned him • Italy surrendered to the Allies in 1943

  12. Notes • Allies wanted to secure Northern Africa before their European Invasion • Able to secure the Mediterranean for easier access • American General Dwight D. Eisenhower was able to drive the Germans out of Northern Africa • Allies invaded Sicily and then captured Italy

  13. The Allied Advance and D-Day • In June 1944, the Allies planned to invade France • June 6, 1944 – 5000 ships and landing craft carried 130,000 soldiers across the English Channel to a region in northern France called Normany

  14. D-Day was the largest seaborne invasion in history • More than 10,000 Allied troops were killed, but were able to secure the beaches by the end of the day

  15. Allied Advance Into France • By the end of June 1944, more than 850,000 Allied troops had landed in France • In August, the Allies had liberated Paris and continued to free the rest of France

  16. Battle of the Bulge • German troops attacked the Allies stationed in Luxemburg and Belgium, the Allies were able to defeat the Germans (Germany’s last major offensive) • 120,000 Germans were killed and 80,000 Americans were killed, wounded or captured

  17. Notes • Allies planned their European invasion • June 6, 1944 5000 ships carried 130,000 soldiers to Normandy, France (D-Day/Operation Overlord) • Largest seaborne invasion in history • 10,000 Allied troops died but they were able to secure the beaches by the end of the day • Allies continued to march into France to liberate the country

  18. Notes Continued • Battle of the Bulge – German troops attacked the Allies in Belgium and Luxemburg, Germans were defeated. • Heavy Casualties • 120,000 German died • 80,000 Americans died, injured, or captured

  19. Victory in Europe • Yalta Conference – the “Big Three” (Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin) met to make plans for the end of the war and the future of Europe • Met at Yalta, a resort in the Soviet Union

  20. Agreed that they would establish an international peace keeping organization after the war and discussed the type of governments that would be set up in Europe • Roosevelt died shortly after the Yalta Conference and Harry S. Truman took over as president

  21. The Germans were in rough shape and they were being defeated • On April 30, 1945 Hitler committed suicide in his bunker • Days later, on April 2 the Soviet’s captured Berlin and on April 7 German leaders surrendered at General Eisenhower’s headquarters in France • May 8 was known as V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day

  22. Notes • Yalta Conference – “Big Three” – Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met to discuss the end of the war and the future of Europe • Roosevelt died in office and Truman took over • Hitler commit suicide on April 30, 1945 • Berlin captured on May 2, 1945, surrendered on May 7 and V-E Day was declared on May 8, 1945

More Related