Reviewing Key Battles for WWII Battles to discuss from the packet: Battle of Midway The Battle of the Atlantic Stalingrad D-Day Battle of the Bulge
Battle of Midway June 1942 Admiral Chester Nimitz intercepted Japanese code U.S. launched surprise attack on Japan at Pacific island called Midway U.S. was successful in the Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway The Japanese lost 4 carriers, a heavy cruiser, 3 destroyers, some 275 planes, at least 4,800 men, and suffered heavy damage among the remaining vessels of their fleet. American losses included 1 carrier, the Yorktown, a destroyer, about 150 planes, and 307 men
Battle of the Atlantic 1939 – 1945 (Jan. 1942 – July 1943 were decisive) German U-Boats were sinking unprotected U.S. and other Allies' merchant ships Allies began using convoys to protect ships The Allies also used a sonar system to detect German U-Boats The Germans were very successful in the beginning, but by mid - 1943, the Allies had the upper hand
"The Battle of the Atlantic was the only thing that really frightened me" - Winston Churchill.
Battle of Stalingrad (June 1941 – January 31, 1943) Germans violated nonaggression pact with Soviet Union and attacked Hitler hoped to captured Soviet oil fields Germans nearly won (controlled 9/10 of the city) Winter of 1943 hit
Battle of Stalingrad cont… Hitler forced Germans to stay put Soviets used to their advantage and won Soviets lost 1,100,000 people in this battle Turning point in WWII and from that point on, Soviet army began to move westward towards Germany
Normandy Invasion (D-Day) June 6, 1944 During this time, Soviet Union was pushing into Poland and Allies were pushing North in Italy Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and George Patton influential in leading attack 3 million ally troops to attack
D-DAY June 6, 1944
Normandy Invasion cont. D – Day Ø 60 mile stretch of beach Ø 156,000 troops Ø 4,000 landing craft Ø 600 warships Ø 11,000 planes Ø Largest land-sea-air operation in history Ø Omaha beach known as one of the most brutal areas
Normandy Invasion cont. The battle continues W/in 1 month, a million more troops arrive in France September 1944, France was freed from Nazi control
Battle of the Bulge December 16, 1944 German tanks broke through American lines (80 mile front) Fought in Belgium - Germany was trying to capture Antwerp Very brutal war - one of the most extensive of U.S. military (120 American GIs captured and mowed down by SS machine guns and pistols)
Battle of the Bulge Cont. Germans were winning in the beginning 120,000 Germans died (also lost 600 tanks and guns and 1,600 planes – leading to defeat)) 80,000 Americans died Americans won, but were close to losing
“Island-hopping” US forces elected to focus on capturing only certain strategic islands in the Pacific – ones that would allow US bombers to get within striking range of Japan and create a safe route for troop and supply movement
Firebombing of Japan Gen. Curtis LeMay ordered the use of napalm (jellied gasoline) bombs on Japanese cities because his bombers were having trouble hitting their targets The napalm was designed to start massive fires, which would ensure the destruction of the desired military targets, but would also lead to heavy losses of civilian life Mar. 9, 1945: firebombing of Tokyo killed over 80,000; by the war’s end, 67 Japanese cities had been destroyed using napalm
Douglas MacArthur 1880 – 1964 Seasoned veteran of WWI, highly decorated soldier who had won the Medal of Honor Had vowed to return to the Philippines when forced to evacuate in 1942 Led US effort to retake the Philippines and proclaimed “I have returned” when he finally landed in Oct. 1944 Later was US commander of occupied Japan after WWII and led UN forces in the Korean War
Review Questions from the Packet Why was the Battle of Midway considered a turning point in the Pacific Theater? What did the Allies do to win the Battle of the Atlantic? Explain why D-Day’s success was so vital to an Allied victory. What strategy did the United States Navy use to advance across the Pacific?