D-Day & Battle of the Bulge December 10, 2009

Summary –1942 to 1943 Axis powers from OFFENSIVE to DEFENSIVE –1944 to 1945 Final crushing of Axis powers Attack Germany from EAST and WEST –2 front war U.S. cross Pacific Ocean and begin to attack Japan U.S. created NEW WEAPON that will change warfare forever

Soviets have done most of fighting in Europe Stalin insist that U.S. & Britain attack from West –Force Germany to divide troops Churchill doesn’t want to do 1.Recalled deaths in WWI 2.German U-Boats in English Channel 3.Need MORE training/ equipment November 1943: FDR, Stalin, & Churchill meet in Iran 1st face to face meeting

Eventually agree they need to cross Channel PLAN: U.S. & Britain will invade France & march towards Germany 6 months later - massive invasion begins –Code name “OPERATION OVERLORD” D-Day Invasion of Normandy –Most experienced officers –Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower (Supreme Commander) Planned invasion

Operation Overlord a.k.a. D-Day –21 U.S. divisions –26 British, Canadian, & Polish divisions –50 mile stretch of beach in Normandy, France Largest fleet EVER assembled –156,000 soldiers 73,000 are American –15,500 are U.S. paratroopers –11,000 planes –5000 ships 5 beaches in Normandy –Omaha, Utah, Juno, Gold, & Sword Omaha MOST DANGEROUS

A little lie… –Allies create fictional army under Gen. Patton Fake headquarters Fake tanks, ships, & detectable radio –Convince Germans attack will come from Calais…not Normandy –Worked: Hitler ordered top divisions to Calais D-Day –June 6, :30AM Fire from trenches, mined beaches (bombs) Some let off too far from beach –Equipment heavy (drowned) Planes shot down Paratroopers killed

Allies made gains in France –1 month: 1 million troops landed in Normandy Germany hopeless –2 front war –Soviets to the EAST –U.S. & England to WEST August 1944: Allies liberate Paris –Hitler ordered to destroy but generals disobeyed Rommel & German generals threat to overthrow –Plant bomb in Hitler headquarters –Kill 20/ Hitler survives Rommel commit suicide Hitler refuses to surrender

Battle of the Bulge –December 1944 –Hitler counterattack –Allies along English Channel –Germans in Ardennes Plan: English speaking German soldiers in U.S. uniforms to cut telephone lines, change road signs, spread confusion Germans ALMOST succeeded –Created “bulge” in allies lines –Captured many towns –Snow/ clouds prevent allies planes

Germans stopped by Allies in Bastogne (Belgium) –U.S. troops hold on despite frostbite & German bombing Dec. 1944: Skies clear & allies bomb –Push Germans back & crippled them Jan. 1945: Soviets reach outskirts of Berlin April 12, 1945: FDR dies –Harry Truman takes over as U.S. President April 1945: Mussolini captured & executed –U.S./ Britain 50 miles west of Berlin Allies in position of massive assault of Berlin

Hitler physical wreck –Shakes, paranoid, still thinks chance of victory –Giving orders but no one listening April 30, 1945: Hitler & closest associates commit suicide May 7, 1945: Germany surrenders in Eisenhower’s Headquarters Americans celebrate V-E Day –Victory in Europe