An important note…….  The following focuses on what occurred in Europe during the war, with reference to the war in the Pacific.  It is important to remember that the war was raging in Africa, the Balkans, various European countries and, of course, through the south Pacific.

LATE 1941 Germany’s invasion of Russia  Stalin’s scorched earth policy had a devastating affect on the Axis powers that were invading the USSR  It also resulted in an alliance between the Soviets and the British

LATE 1941 Nazis seize Leningrad  However, they weren’t entirely successful.  The Nazis seized Leningrad in the August of 1941  This image shows Nazi soldiers ‘rounding up’ Jewish people  The Nazi captivity of Leningrad would last until early 1944  Thousands died through murder and starvation

LATE 1941 October 1941: Germans advance on Moscow  The Germans planned to invade Moscow and capture before the onset of the next winter  The toll from the last winter, combined with fresh Soviet troops defending the city resulted in them being unsuccessful  In December 1941, the soviets put forth a counter offensive that drove the Germans back several hundred kilometres

German prisoners of war in Moscow

LATE 1941 Pearl Harbour  On December 7 th 1941, the Japanese invaded Pearl Harbour  This effectively meant America were now in the war.  They declared war on the Japanese, and consequently, the Germans declared war on America

1942 Americans join British troops (Another image of Pearl Harbour)  In January 1942, the first American troops arrive in Britain

1942 April 1942 German’s begin bombing Britain again

 But more about the later June 1942 Auschwitz Concentration Camp opens

July 1942 – Germany begins a drive towards Stalingrad

September 1942 The Battle of Stalingrad begins

November 1942 Counter offensive attack at Stalingrad

The story so far....  Operation Barbarossa had little success. Leningrad was captured, but Russian troops kept the Axis armies at bay in Moscow and Stalingrad  The bombing of Pearl Harbour brings America into the war. They join the allied forces in attempting to repel the Axis powers in Europe  Meanwhile, fierce fighting is occurring in the Pacific. The Australians play a key role in preventing the spread of the Japanese imperial forces

1943 Counter offensive at Stalingrad  In January the Russians fiercely fight back and by February the Germans are forced to surrender. Again, the winter is a determining factor  This is the first major loss for Hitler so far, and the cracks in his bid for dominion over Europe begin to show

1943 British attack Germans  In May 1943, the British, with the assistance of the Americans, begin an aerial assault on Germany

1943 The decline of Fascist Italy  July 1943: Allies bomb Sicily and then bomb Rome. Mussolini is arrested.  September 1943: Italian surrender is announced. Germans occupy Rome and rescue Mussolini who re-establishes a Fascist government  October 1943: Allies enter Naples, Italy. ITALY DECLARES WAR ON GERMANY

1943 British attack Berlin  In the November of 1943, Britain unleash a devastating attack on Berlin, Germany’s capitol city

1944 SOVIETS ADVANCE INTO POLAND  January 1944: Soviet troops advance into Poland

1944 Liberation of Leningrad  January 1944: Leningrad relieved after a 900- day siege.

1944 British intensify bombing of Germany  March 1944: British drop 3000 tons of bombs during an air raid on Hamburg, Germany

1944 D-Day  It was not until June 1944 that the Allies were strong enough to invade the German occupied French territory  On the 6 th of June, American and British troops began landing on 5 beaches on the Normandy coast of France

1944 D-Day continued...  They landed on 5 beaches. On some beaches opposition was slight, but on Omaha beach the fighting was ferocious  By the end of the day the Allies gained a vital foothold on mainland Europe. They immediately poured supplies and reinforcements into France and fought their way inland

What does all this mean? Allies (America and Britain) recapture France Soviets gradually take back eastern Europe Allies overthrow Fascist Italy and turn Italians against Allies unleash devastating aerial attacks on Germany. The Nazis are beginning to lose the war

Attempt to assassinate Hitler  Fails in July Rastenburg assassination plot lead by German military leaders. 200 suspects are killed

Germans surrender at Aachen  October 1944: Massive surrender of Germans at Aachen, border of France and Germany

By the end of Hitler and the Nazis were all but defeated