The Mediterranean and Eastern Europe WWII

British Resistance Changed Hitler’s game plan He would now look to the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and the Soviet Union

North Africa Germany’s 1 st objective in the Mediterranean, mainly because of its partner Mussolini Sept. 1940, while the Battle of Britain was raging, Mussolini ordered his army to attack British- controlled Egypt.

Suez Canal Egypt’s Suez Canal was key to reaching the oil fields of the Middle East Within a week, Italians had drove 60 miles into Egypt forcing back the British

Britain Strikes Back December 1940 Britain strikes back Disaster for Italy By February 1941, Britain had swept 500 miles across North Africa and taken 130,000 Italian Prisoners

Hitler Aides His Axis Ally Sent a German tank force (Afrika Korps) Gen. Erwin Rommel (Desert Fox) led the German attack against the British and forced them to retreat Fighting went back and forth until eventually the allies were defeated

War in the Balkans Summer of 1940 Hitler began planning an attack on his ally, the USSR, but 1 st wanted to strengthen his power in Eastern Europe Through the threat of force, Hitler convinced Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary to join the Axis Powers Yugoslavia and Greece resisted, but were conquered in a matter of days.

Operation Barbarossa Hitler’s plan to invade the Soviet Union June 22, 1941, German tanks and aircraft invaded The USSR was surprised and unprepared The Soviets used their famous scorched-earth policy

Siege of Leningrad September 8, Leningrad was cut off from the rest of the USSR Hitler was ready to starve its 2.5 million inhabitants to force surrender Inhabitants ate whatever they could find 1 million died that winter The city refused to fall

Moscow Slow progress at Leningrad led Hitler to the capital city of Moscow Germans weren’t prepared for the cold and began to retreat until Hitler ordered them to stay Germans made no gains, but it cost them 500,000 soldiers

U.S. Aids its Allies Cash and Carry Sell American arms to the allies Sell American arms to the allies Lend-Lease Act Lend or lease to any country vital to the U.S. Lend or lease to any country vital to the U.S. Hitler ordered submarines to sink all cargo ships

Atlantic Charter Joint declaration between Roosevelt and Churchill Upheld free trade, and the right of people to choose their own governments Served as the Allied plan for peace at the end of WWII

September 4, 1941 German U-boat fired on a U.S. destroyer in the Atlantic Roosevelt ordered navy commanders to shoot German submarines on sight U.S. was now involved in an undeclared naval war with Hitler