World War II Progress and Conclusion of the War

December 7, 1941 This causes the US to enter WWII

War! Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 U.S. declared war on Japan on Dec. 8, days later, U.S. declared war on Germany

U.S. was not ready at first for the war… but rose to the occasion! 5 million volunteered for service Selective service (the draft) enlisted 10 million more men for service Woman also started to serve for first time

Examples of Mobilization Wars take men and weapons In early 1942, stopped manufacturing cars to build tanks Shipyards and defense plants expanded at an amazing speed – 140 ships built per month Scientists recruited Government set prices Rationing started – food, rubber, metal

THE WAR FOR EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA Days after Pearl Harbor, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrived at the White House and spent three weeks working out war plans with FDR Churchill and FDR decided to focus on defeating Hitler first and then turn their attention to Japan

Europe and North Africa Battle of the Atlantic Hitler U-boats (submarines) destroyed ships delivering food and weapons to England U.S. responded with – Convoys (groups of ships for mutual protection) – Destroyers and airplanes that destroyed the U- boats By mid-1943, shipping lanes were safe again

BATTLE OF STALINGRAD For weeks the Germans pressed in on Stalingrad Then winter set in and the Germans were wearing summer uniforms The Germans surrendered in January of 1943 Although the USSR won the battle, marking a major defeat of the Germans the Soviets lost more than 1 million men in the battle (more than twice the number of deaths the U.S. suffered in all the war) Wounded in the Battle of Stalingrad

Europe and North Africa Battle of the Atlantic Hitler U-boats (submarines) to destroy ships delivering food and weapons to England U.S. responded with – Convoys (groups of ships for mutual protection) – Destroyers and airplanes that destroyed the U- boats By mid-1943, shipping lanes were safe again

THE WAR FOR EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA Days after Pearl Harbor, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrived at the White House and spent three weeks working out war plans with FDR Churchill and FDR decided to focus on defeating Hitler first and then turn their attention to Japan

Europe and North Africa Battle of the Atlantic Hitler U-boats (submarines) to destroy ships delivering food and weapons to England U.S. responded with – Convoys (groups of ships for mutual protection) – Destroyers and airplanes that destroyed the U- boats By mid-1943, shipping lanes were safe again

Europe and North Africa Battle of Stalingrad Russia and Germany had been allies, until Hitler attacked Russia They were fighting since summer of 1942 Approached Stalingrad in August 1942

BATTLE OF STALINGRAD For weeks the Germans pressed in on Stalingrad Then winter set in and the Germans were wearing summer uniforms The Germans surrendered in January of 1943 Although the USSR won the battle, marking a major defeat of the Germans the Soviets lost more than 1 million men in the battle (more than twice the number of deaths the U.S. suffered in all the war) Wounded in the Battle of Stalingrad

Some say that if Hitler hadn’t made the mistake of fighting Russia in winter he might have won the war.

Europe and North Africa North Africa Operation Torch – Invaded North Africa, held by Germany Led by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower(later president) Mainly a battle of tanks – German troops led by Gen. Erwin Rommel called the Afrika Corps – After months of fighting, German surrendered

American Tank in World War II

D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944 D-Day was the largest land-sea-air operation in military history Despite air support, German retaliation was brutal – especially at Omaha Beach Within a month, the Allies had landed 1 million troops, 567,000 tons of supplies and 170,000 vehicles D-Day was an amphibious landing – soldiers going from sea to land

More About D-Day D-Day – June – Led by Gen. Dwight Eisenhower – Later elected president – Omar Bradley and George Patten led forces on the ground – Thousands of paratroopers, soldiers coming in on boats – After massive losses, Allies gained the upper hand and freed France in Sept. 1944

OMAHA BEACH 6/6/44

Landing at Normandy

Planes drop paratroopers behind enemy lines at Normandy, France

Losses were extremely heavy on D-Day

Battle of the Bulge In October, 1944 Allies captured 1 st German town Hitler fought back After a month of fighting, Allies victorious Germany in retreat

ALLIES TAKE BERLIN; HITLER COMMITS SUICIDE By April 25, 1945, the Soviet army had stormed Berlin In his underground headquarters in Berlin, Hitler prepared for the end On April 29, he married his longtime girlfriend Eva Braun then wrote a last note in which he blamed the Jews for starting the war and his generals for losing it The next day he gave poison to his wife and shot himself

V-E DAY General Eisenhower accepted the unconditional surrender of the Third Reich On May 8, 1945, the Allies celebrated V-E Day – victory in Europe Day The war in Europe was finally over

Famous picture of an American soldier celebrating the end of the war

FDR DIES; TRUMAN PRESIDENT-1945 President Roosevelt did not live to see V-E Day On April 12, 1945, he suffered a stroke and died– his VP Harry S Truman became the nations 33rd president