Ch. 14 Sec. 1 U.S. Fighting in Europe D-Day, Battle of the Bulge, Battle of the Atlantic

Theaters (Places of Fighting) of WWII North Africa Europe Pacific/Asia

The Allies viewed Germany as the most dangerous Axis Power. For these reasons, the Allies agreed to a “Europe First” strategy to defeat Hitler. The German military could: bomb Britain • fight both the U.S. and British navies • invade the Soviet Union

The Battle of the Atlantic Naval battles between US and Germany German U-Boats fought in “wolf packs” and sunk over 300 US ships New U.S. airplanes using radar were able to spot U-boats easier In 1941, U.S. was able to crack the German Enigma, Germany’s code system for communication

Meanwhile, Allied forces pressured the Axis on another front—the deserts of North Africa. Known as Operation Torch. Tank battles dominated the fighting, pitting two brilliant tank strategists against each other. German General Erwin Rommel, the “Desert Fox” American General George S. Patton, Jr.

Allied Advances

In 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allies. The campaign ended the rule of Benito Mussolini. The Allied victory in North Africa paved the way for an invasion of Italy, with forces capturing Sicily. In 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allies.

In 1943, Allied leaders agreed to open a second front in the war in Europe. American and British troops would cross the English Channel and invade France. The secret operation was code-named Operation Overlord. General Dwight Eisenhower was the mission’s commander. 8

Operation Overlord was a massive operation. It required careful planning and involved an elaborate hoax to fool the enemy about where troops would land. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the Allies landed at Normandy. 9

Amid intense fighting, the Allies captured the beaches. Within a month, more than one million troops landed in France. D-Day June 6, 1944 Allied force of 3.5 million soldiers Germans were slow to respond Estimated 10,000 Allied casualties, including 6,600 Americans The Allies landed almost 1 million soldiers and 180,000 vehicles. 10

The Allies seized the momentum. The Americans and British advanced from the west, liberating Paris. The Soviets advanced from the east, liberating Latvia, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary. 13

Hitler launched a counterattack, creating a bulge in the American lines. The Americans pushed back, forcing a German retreat. General Patton and his men led victory at Bastogne which turned the Germans around 14

By 1945 Germany was in full retreat World War II in Europe, 1942–1945 By 1945 Germany was in full retreat 16