Allies fight the Germans Ch 17 Sect 2 Allies fight the Germans

I.Battle of the Atlantic Roosevelt & Churchill favored “Europe First” strategy – Germany was more dangerous than Japan. Germans wanted to stop supplies from US to Britain. German U-Boats sank 681 Allied ships. US responded with convoys, sonar & radar technology. Also built 140 new ships. By mid-1943, Allies were winning at sea.

II. Victory in North Africa Allies, led by General Eisenhower, invaded Germans in N. Africa. They felt they didn’t have enough troops for a European invasion yet. Operation Torch began in Nov. 1942. By March 1943 the Germans, led by General Rommel, were defeated in Africa. After meeting in Casablanca, Allies decided to attack Sicily b/c of supply routes. Within 2 weeks, Mussolini was forced out of office, arrested & Italy signed armistice. Heroes of Italian Campaign – Tuskegee Airmen Germany held N. Italy until 1945.

III. German Army Suffers Defeat on Eastern Front While US & British fought in Italy & Africa; Soviet Union fought on Eastern front. Hitler’s army suffered major defeat at Stalingrad & finally surrendered in Jan 1943. Soviets lost over 1 million soldiers, but continued fighting until reaching Germany.

IV. British & Americans attacked Germany at Normandy Preparations began in early 1944; over 3 million Allied troops were gathered. Germans did not expect invasion at Normandy; rocky area, rough waters. Operation Overlord – name given to invasion. June 6, 1944 – D-Day; Germans suffered blitzkrieg type of attack. Largest attack in history. By July, Allies broke through German lines. Allies recaptured Paris in August after 4 years of German occupation.

V. Germans Faltering Germany staged last offensive attack – Battle of the Bulge; German formed a bulge 80 miles long & 50 miles wide. Airpower & Soviet attack from East overwhelmed them. Germans surrendered in a month. Liberation of death camps came in July 1944.

VI. Yalta Conference Feb, 1945 – “Big Three” met in Yalta. Disagreed about Germany…FDR gave in to gain Soviet help in Japan. Allies divided Germany into 4 occupation zones (to keep an “eye” on them). Stalin agreed to have free elections in Poland & Eastern Europe and join United Nations.

VII. Nazis Surrender April 30, 1945 – Allies within miles of Hitler, he committed suicide. May 8, 1945 - General Eisenhower accepted unconditional surrender of Germany. Allies celebrated V-E Day . Roosevelt did not live to see this. FDR passed away April 12, 1945. Harry Truman became president.