Section 4: War in Europe and Africa To win the war, the Allies had to regain control of North Africa and most of Europe

Key terms: D-Day, genocide, Holocaust Essential Questions: What factors contributed to the Allied victory in Europe? What factors contributed to the Allied victory in Europe?

North African Campaign Time of Peril British & American forces began to push back the Axis forces, who were under the command of Erwin Rommel, in North Africa. In Nov. 1942, the British turned Rommel back at El Alamein in Egypt. Why was this important? Allies used bases in North Africa to launch an invasion of southern Europe. Rome was liberated in June 1944 after the Italians overthrew Mussolini and surrendered.

Tide Turns in Europe Air campaign started over Germany in summer of 1942 but did not crack Germany’s determination. After invading the Soviet Union German troops moved quickly surrounding Leningrade in battle lasting nearly 900 days. Germans tried to capture Moscow in Germany launched another offensive on Stalingrad where rich oil reserves were located in 1943.

Invasion of France As Soviets pushed toward Germany from the east, the Allies were planning massive invasion of France from the West under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower. On June 6, 1944 – D-Day – allied ships landed on the coast of Normandy. Paris was liberated on August 25, 1944.

Victory in Europe Last desperate offensive by the Germans was at the Battle of the Bulge on Dec. 16, By mid April 1945, the Soviets had surrounded Berlin. Hitler committed suicide on April 30. Germany signed an unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945 ending the war in Europe. The Allies declared May 8 VE Day for “Victory in Europe” President Roosevelt did not share in the victory celebration because he died suddenly on April 12, 1945 and V.P. Harry S Truman became President.

The Holocaust As the Allies liberated areas that had been under German control, they found horrifying evidence of Nazi brutality. Nazi leaders had developed what they called “the final solution of the Jewish questions” – genocide. Nazi troops had sent thousands of Jews to concentration camps – many of them death camps. As many as 6 million Jews died in what has become known as the Holocaust. They also killed Soviet prisoners of war, Poles, Gypsies, and people with handicaps. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is located in Washington DC