1. Warm up What countries participated in the invasion?
What are some challenges with conducting an attack such as this?
How would a successful invasion put pressure on Germany?

2. Planning Germany’s Defeat
Tehran Conference- Allied leaders agreed to open a new front in Western Europe
Invasion of France-Operation Overlord

3. D-Day Invasion of Normandy
Diversion
Allies tricked Germans by constructing a false army across from Calais, France
His strongest armor divisions were sent here

4. D-Day Invasion of Normandy
Gen. Eisenhower would command this offensive
US, British, Canadian, and Polish soldiers would invade the 50 miles of beach
5 beaches: Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, and Sword
4,400 ships and landing craft involved

5. D-Day Invasion of Normandy
11,000 planes were used
Bomb German fortifications
Drop paratroopers behind enemy lines
Bad weather caused bombings to fail
The invasion was planned for June 4, 1944, but was delayed due to bad weather
Why would bad weather present a problem?
Despite persistent bad weather, the invasion took place on June 6, 1944
Why could they no longer wait?

6. D-Day Invasion of Normandy
Americans would land at the most heavily defended beaches
Omaha and Utah
Covered with obstacle, pillboxes, etc.
Fired upon immediately, some drowned

7. D-Day Invasion of Normandy
By the end of the day, the Allies were able to establish a beach-head
Over the next month, 1 million+ troops would enter France from here

8. The Liberation of Europe
August 1944-Allies liberated Paris
Germans began to doubt their Fuhrer
Operation Valkyrie-an attempt to assassinate Hitler that failed
Added to Hitler’s feeling of invincibility
Had German leaders killed

9. The Liberation of Europe
Hitler made a desperate attempt to break thru Allied lines near the Ardennes Forest
Battle of the Bulge
Germany did push Allies back, but did not break the lines
Hitler used up resources and morale in this battle and his army would not recover
The Allies would make their push towards Berlin

10. The Liberation of Europe
January Allies had crossed into Germany (both east and west)
Mussolini killed in April 1945

11. Liberation of Europe Hitler would commit suicide in his bunker
May 7, 1945: Germany surrenders
Known as V-E Day

12. Warm up
Are there rules of war? If yes: How are the rules determined/What if they are not followed?
Do you consider dropping the bomb inhumane by a democratic country?
Was the dropping of the atomic bombs morally justifiable?

13. Advancing In the Pacific
Japanese soldiers fought until the end, killing themselves before surrendering
Used Kamikaze pilots to destroy US ships

14. Advancing In the Pacific
Fiercest fighting focused on Iwo Jima (Feb-March 1945) and Okinawa (April-June 1945)
Iwo Jima:
36 days
23,000 US deaths

15. Advancing In the Pacific
Okinawa:
Last major island until mainland Japan
14,000+ Americans killed, estimated 77,000 Japanese killed
82 days

16. Advancing In the Pacific
US could now launch attacks on the Japanese mainland
Firebombed Tokyo
Killed 100,000 Japanese
Made 1 million+ homeless
Ethical?

17. The Atomic Bomb Ends the War
The Manhattan Project
Responsible for developing the first atomic bomb
A “top secret” project that was America’s best kept secret
July 16, 1945: The atom bomb was successfully tested for the first time in Los Alamos, NM
Led by Robert Oppenheimer in Los Alamos, New Mexico
Views on the bomb were mixed

18. The Atomic Bomb Ends the War
FOR dropping the bomb:
Saves US from invading Japan
Shows the world that we have an atom bomb (deterrent)
Would end the war quickly
AGAINT dropping the bomb:
Massive loss of civilians in Japan
Invasion was possible
Opens a new dangerous era of nuclear science

19. The Atomic Bomb Ends the War
The decision was Pres. Truman’s to make
August 6, 1945, the Enola Gay dropped the bomb over Hiroshima

20. The Atomic Bomb Ends the War
Hiroshima (Aug 6th):
60,000+ immediate deaths, many more followed
Aug 9th- After a warning, the next bomb was dropped on Nagasaki
Killed 35,000 + residents
Aug 15, Emperor Hirohito surrendered to the Allies
Known as V-J Day

23. The Atomic Bomb Ends the War
Total cost of life in WWII was 60 million people
Most of these were civilians