1. US Strategy  DO NOW-Work with a partner  1. What are the strengths or advantages the US has going into the war?  2. What are the US weaknesses or disadvantages going into the war?  3.What strategy should the US have in fighting WWII? (fight who first? All out in the beginning or wait, where to fight? Etc.?) Aim: How can we describe the fighting in WW2?

2. US Strategy US Strengths –Population –Industrial strength (potential) –Isolated location –Relatively unharmed from WWI –technology US Weaknesses –2 front war –unprepared –In a Depression –Military hurt by Pearl Harbor –Coming into a losing war –Where to start the fighting? Fortress Europe or overtaken Pacific islands US Plan –Minimal forces in Pacific to halt further Japanese gains while concentrating on Hitler 1 st ….. Why? Japan can only take some small islands, chance of invading continental US minimal We have to keep our Allies alive (England and USSR) –Delay for as long as possible…. Why? The more time they can delay, the more time for their factories to out- produce the enemy We need to mobilize the army Aim: How can we describe the fighting in WW2?

3. European (African) Theatre US and England enter the fight actually in northern Africa….Why? US and England enter the fight actually in northern Africa….Why? They have no opportunity to fight elsewhere They have no opportunity to fight elsewhere US and England must stop Germany from getting to Middle East oil fields!! US and England must stop Germany from getting to Middle East oil fields!! Desert Fox vs. Monty Desert Fox vs. Monty “Fortress Europe” “Fortress Europe” Germany basically controls all of Europe Germany basically controls all of Europe France fallen France fallen England getting bombed every night...London Underground England getting bombed every night...London Underground Germany marching towards Moscow Germany marching towards Moscow USSR constantly retreating, Hitler capturing and killing millions of Russian troops, civilians, Jews, and Poles USSR constantly retreating, Hitler capturing and killing millions of Russian troops, civilians, Jews, and Poles Aim: How can we describe the fighting in WW2?

4. Pacific Theatre Japan able to conquer much of the Pacific by 1942 because US concentrating on Germany Japan able to conquer much of the Pacific by 1942 because US concentrating on Germany Most Pacific islands controlled by Japan Most Pacific islands controlled by Japan Wake, Guam, Philippines, etc. Wake, Guam, Philippines, etc. Japan cutting deep into China Japan cutting deep into China Australia and India was expected to soon be attacked and conquered Australia and India was expected to soon be attacked and conquered Aim: How can we describe the fighting in WW2?

5. 1942- Turning of the Tides- Europe German blitzkrieg halted at Stalingrad US enters Europe through “soft underbelly” of Italian peninsula –Rome falls to Allies –Mussolini captured, freed, captured again D-Day- June 6 th 1944- invasion of Normandy –Largest naval assault ever –5000 ships, 13000 aircraft Battle of the Bulge –Last ditch effort by Germans Bombing of Dresden Hitler commits suicide- April 30, 1945 VE Day May 8th Aim: How can we describe the fighting in WW2?

6. 1942- Tide Turns in Pacific Battle of Midway- June 3-6 1942 “island hopping” campaign Coral Sea Guadalcanal Philippines Iwo Jima Okinawa Japan?????? Aim: How can we describe the fighting in WW2?

7. World War II Technology Radar Sonar Cracking the Code –German Enigma –Japanese code broken by cipher machine in 1942 penicillin Weapons –Air craft carriers –Jet fighters –Manhattan Project Aim: How can we describe the fighting in WW2?

8. Summary Answer the Aim: Aim: How can we describe the fighting in WW2?