World War II

December 7, 1941 Carrier-based Japanese planes bombed naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii More than 2400 Americans killed U.S. Pacific fleet temporarily crippled

Japanese intended to knock out U.S. military power Aircraft carriers followed less detectable northern route U.S. officials knew of a coming attack, but not at Pearl Harbor Not meant to be a “sneak attack” Japanese aerial view of Pearl Harbor under attack

Commander of the Japanese Imperial Fleet Planned the Attack on Pearl Harbor Planned Japanese Strategy in the Pacific Killed in 1943

FDR’s War Message

George Marshall Army underfunded and underdeveloped in late 1930s Marshall became Army Chief of Staff Convinced FDR and Congress to provide increased manpower and funding Over 60,000 enlisted immediately after Pearl Harbor

This victory turned the tide in the North African Campaign Ended the Axis threat to Egypt, the Suez Canal, and of gaining access to the Middle Eastern and Persian oil fields via North Africa. El Alamein revived the morale of the Allies.

In September 1942, the German Army advanced into Stalingrad The battle for the city became one of the most brutal in World War Two. Marshal Zhukov about one million men to surround the city. Unable to break out, the Germans had to face winter. Hitler ordered General Paulus to fight to the last bullet, and him to field marshal. By the end of January 1943, the Germans could do nothing else but surrender. 91,000 Germans were taken prisoner.

June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50- mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end on June 6, the Allies gained a foot- hold in Normandy. The D-Day cost was high -more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded -- but more than 100,000 Soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Supreme Commander of ALL Allied Forces in Europe Planned and directed D-Day invasion

Omar Bradley Planned & participated in the Normandy Invasion (D-Day). Commanded the Twelfth Army Group First chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff

George Patton  Helped lead the Allies to victory in the invasion of Sicily.  Instrumental to the liberation of Germany from the Nazis.  Led the Third Army across France  Skilled at tank warfare.

Formed in 1943 Made up of Nisei Fought with distinction in Italy and France Most decorated combat unit in U.S. history Members of the 442nd hiking through France, late 1944 All-black combat unit formed in th Fighter Squadron formed in AL Escorted bombers over central Europe Proved superior or equal to white pilots Airmen Marcellus G. Smith and Roscoe C. Brown in Italy, 1945

Kursk the largest tank battle in history, involving some 6,000 tanks, 2,000,000 troops, and 4,000 aircraft. Last German offensive in Russia. Germans lost 230,000 men, 2400 tanks, and 1200 planes

 The last major Nazi offensive against the Allies in World War Two.  A last ditch attempt by Hitler to split the Allies in two and destroy their ability to supply themselves.  The Germans had to abandon their vehicles due to a lack of fuel and surrender, or make their way back to Germany on foot – 1945