Why did the US join the war?... The War in Europe (D-Day, VE Day and the Holocaust) SS5H6: The student will explain the reasons for America’s involvement in WWII. B. Describe major events in the war in both Europe and the Pacific; include Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, D-Day, VE Day, VJ day, and the Holocaust.

The United States Involvement- Pearl Harbor The United States was very concerned about Germany and Japan (both Axis powers). Many citizens did not want to go to war. In 1941, Japanese leaders believed that the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was anchored too close to Japan. They felt it threatened Japan’s expansion.

The United States Involvement- Pearl Harbor On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The attack destroyed US ships and planes. It also killed nearly 3000 people. The next day, President Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war and Congress agreed.

The United States Involvement- Pearl Harbor Because Germany and Japan were allies, the US found itself at war with Germany and had entered WWII.

The War in Europe- Background Info/ North Africa and Italy In WWII, soldiers moved quickly by tank, ships, and airplane. Bombs dropped in air raids destroyed factories, hospitals and homes and killed many civilians. The war was fought over an area much larger than any other war. It was fought on two major fronts, or battle lines. The first was in Africa and Europe and the second was in the Pacific.

They then fought their way east. At the same time British pushed the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy & Japan) west out of Egypt. The allies won North Africa and started pushing through Italy. Background Info/ North Africa and Italy The first step for the allies (US, Great Britain & Russia) battle plan in Europe was to gain control of the Mediterranean Sea and invade Italy. First the allies had to defeat Germans and Italians in North Africa. In November 1942, American forces invaded Morocco and Algeria.

Background Info/ North Africa and Italy The Italian government surrendered, but heavy fighting went on against German forces in Italy until the Americans captured the city of Rome.

D-Day While the allies were fighting in Italy, they were planning another invasion of Europe. On June 6, 1944, the date know as D-Day, the Allies worked together in the largest water-to- land invasion. American General Dwight Eisenhower led the invasion.

D-Day On D-Day, Allied troops crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France for the surprise invasion. The German forces met them with heavy gunfire. Although many soldiers died, it was a huge success! The allies broke through the German line and started moving inland from the west, pushing back the enemy.

VE Day In April 1945, Hitler realized he had lost. As Soviet troops surrounded Berlin, Hitler committed suicide rather than being captured. In May, Germany surrendered. The Allies celebrated VE Day (Victory in Europe Day)

VE Day President Roosevelt did not see the day of victory, he died earlier that month. Harry Truman became the new president of the United States.

The Holocaust As the allies advanced through Europe, they made a horrible discovery! They found concentration camps housing thousands of starving and tortured prisoners. –During the war, many people knew that Hitler and the Nazis had been putting people in concentration camps. Gypsies, people with disabilities and Jews were targeted. Hitler blamed the Jews for Germanys economic problems after WWI.

The Holocaust At first, Hitler’s government simply passed laws discriminating against Jews. After he invaded the Soviet Union, however, Hitler tried to get rid of the Jewish people. He also sought to kill other people the Nazis felt were unfit to live. Among these were Slavs, Gypsies, the mentally ill, homosexuals and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The Holocaust None of these groups suffered as much as the Jews. Jewish people of all ages were arrested. Many were executed immediately of shipped to camps where they were killed upon arrival. Others were forced to work or were tortured in the camps before finally being murdered. –In most camps, guards beat prisoners for no reason and in some camps Nazi doctors used prisoners for cruel medical experiments.

The Holocaust In 1941 Hitler began what he called the “final solution to the Jewish question.” It was a campaign of mass murder against all European Jews and other people he called “undesirable”. Over 6 million Jewish people perished (died). This horrible period became known as the Holocaust.

The Holocaust After the war, a number of German leaders stood trial for their crimes and most were found guilty. Some received long prison sentences and others were hanged.