Overview of WWII Axis v. Allies: Europe and the Pacific

Allied Powers Britain USSR US France China Also: – Norway – Belgium – Poland – Greece – India – Czechoslovakia Axis Powers Germany Japan Italy Hungary Romania Bulgaria

Europe: German Aggression Invasion of Poland – September 1939 Invasion of Denmark – April 1940 Invasion of Holland – May 1940 Invasion of Luxemburg – May 1940 Invasion of Belgium – Spring 1940 Invasion of Norway – Spring 1940 Invasion of France – June 1940

Hitler in Paris 1940

Europe December 1941 Reds = German–occupied territories Oranges = Italian-occupied territories Salmon = Axis Allies

Pacific: Japanese Aggression Attack of Pearl Harbor – December 1941 Invasion of Guam – December 1941 Invasion of Hong Kong – December 1941 Invasion of the Philippines – Winter – Bataan Death March – 85 miles – Spring 1942 Invasion of Singapore – February 1942

Bataan Death March 1942

Highlights of European Theater Battle of Britain – Summer 1940 – British fight off German advances Blitzkrieg of London – Sept May 1941 – Nightly bombings – millions in damage to the city D Day - June 6, 1944 – Storming of the beaches of Normandy – Turning point for WWII Battle of the Bulge – Winter – Allied victory Highlights of Pacific Theater Battle of Coral Sea – 1942 – Air and sea battle – Both US and Japanese lost ships and aircraft Battle of Midway – 1942 – Fought in the air – Close fight but Japanese retreat – US protects Hawaii Guadalcanal – (6 mo) – Japanese try to invade Australia – Land battle in jungle – US repel Japanese Iwo Jima and Okinawa – Fought on land and bombed from sea – US victories over the Japanese – High casualties on both sides – Strategic positioning close to Japan

US Forces in the European and Pacific Theaters