The War For Europe and North Africa Allied forces led by the US and Great Britain battled Axis Powers for control of Europe and North Africa

Winston Churchill and FDR December 9, 1941 “Now that we are, as you say, ‘in the same boat’, would it not be wise for us to have another conference…the sooner the better” Churchill to FDR This is the beginning of the close alliance between the two nations.

The Allies War Plan December 22, 1941 Churchill gets to White House to meet with FDR Talk for the next 3 weeks about who to attack first Japan or Germany Churchill persuades FDR that Italy and Germany pose a greater threat than Japan Allies agree to attack Germany first and win back Europe. By liberating Europe, they would have more resources to attack Japan next.

The Battle of the Atlantic After the attack of Pearl Harbor, Hitler ordered U-boats to attack on US’s eastern seaboard Goal was to cutoff food and supply lines to Europe. Very effective for first couple of months April – July 1942 768 ships sunk off the Atlantic Shore

The Allies Response To The German Attack Began using convoys Groups of ships traveling together for mutual protection Same as in WWI, but this time they had sonar and radar Could find and destroy U-boats and planes easier 1943 Allies command the seas

The Battle on The Eastern Front Hitler advanced into Russia in June 1941 November 1941 Bitter cold stopped German advancement in its tracks Were just outside of Moscow and Leningrad Spring 1942 Hitler took the offensive and captured Southern Russia to the Volga River

The Battle for Stalingrad August 1942 Now that Hitler controlled the south, he went north to Stalingrad Stalingrad =very large industrial city in Russia. Luftwaffe bombed the city for weeks until the German army showed up. September 1942 Germans had control of 9/10 of the city. Russians lose 4.5 million citizens in battles.

The Turning Point of The War

The Turning Point of The War 1942 saw an early winter in Russia Stalin saw this as an opportunity to regain the city Germans were not prepared for the cold Hitler refused to retreat until Spring. January 1943 Germans surrendered because they were being frozen to death Russians lose 1,100,000 soldiers More than all American deaths during WWII

The North African Front While the Battle of Stalingrad was raging Stalin pressured UK and US to open a ‘second front’ in Western Europe Would force Hitler to divert troops from the Soviet Front Churchill and FDR felt they were not prepared to attack mainland Europe yet Decided to invade Axis controlled North Africa Operation Torch

Operation Torch Dwight D. Eisenhower November 1942 American general in command of operation November 1942 107,000 Allied troops land in Morocco & Algeria in Africa Chased the ‘Afrika Korps’ led by Nazi general Erwin Rommel (Desert Fox) May 1943 Allies controlled North Africa

Operation Torch

The Italian Campaign Early 1943 Summer 1943 Before the battle for Africa is won FDR and Churchill meet commanders in Casablanca Agree to only accept the unconditional surrender of the Axis Powers Axis Powers must accept all conditions set by Allies FDR and Churchill agree to attack Italy next Summer 1943 Allies take Sicily, Italy Italian government forced Mussolini to resign and be arrested

Hitler Attempts to Aid Mussolini May ‘44 Battle of Anzio, Italy Nazi Army loses 30,000 soldiers Allies lose 25,000 Summer 1945 Italy is liberated and Germany retreats April 1945 Mussolini was caught trying to escape Italy

Heroes In Combat Among the heroes in Italy were the Tuskegee Airmen All-black pilots who fought and won against the Luftwaffe in Italy 2 Distinguished Unit Citations Military’s highest award 100 Distinguished Flying Crosses

Allies Move To Liberate Europe