1. Chapter 17 Section 2 Notes
The U.S. (FDR) & Britain (Churchill) unite after Pearl Harbor
The Plan
Focus on Germany and Italy 1st, Japan 2nd.

2. The Battle of the Atlantic
After Pearl Harbor, Hitler orders sinking of all U.S. ships
His goal = stop food or war materials from reaching Britain = surrender
At 1st, Germany very successful
Wolf packs sank a bunch of ships in
early stages of the war (see graph)
Led by German Admiral Karl Doenitz

3. U.S. organizes convoys to take control
Cargo (supply) ships escorted by
Destroyers (with sonar to detect underwater)
Planes (with radar to detect vessels on surface)
Very successful, especially when combined with extra ships being made in U.S. (Section 1). Germany can’t compete eventually (being bombed)

4. The Battle Between Russia & Germany
Why Did Hitler Invade Russia?
More land
More resources (oil especially)
More Jews
Started fighting in summer of 1941
Russia lost a bunch of territory in 1st 6 months
Winter slowed Germans down outside of major cities
Stalingrad

5. Battle of Stalingrad (turning point)
Occurred August 1942 – January 1943
Hitler focuses attention there. Why?
Center of industry
huge oil reserves
Would destroy Soviet morale
named after leader
Luftwaffe bombed entire city
German army gained control of
90% of city before winter
Door to door combat
Russia sends tanks to surround city
Cuts off supplies to Germans
Russia destroys its own city
Including own civilians
Germany eventually surrender
1st major victory for Allies
From that point on, Germany
lost territory to Russia.
1.2 million Russians died
850,000 Germans died
Deadliest battle of WWII

6. U.S. and Britain coordinate invasion
Took cautious approach
Wanted to ensure success early
Picked weakest areas to invade 1st
Ticked off Russia
Wanted help immediately
U.S. army in Europe/Africa (Atlantic)
led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Later became President

7. 1st step = North Africa (Nov. 1942 – May 1943)
Named Operation Torch
Around 100,000 Allied troops
German and Italian forces about half that size
Led by General Erwin Rommel (Desert Fox)
Major tank battles eventually won by Allies

8. 2nd step = Italy (June 1943 – Mar. 1945)
Allies capture island of Sicily 1st – then go to Southern Italy
Most Italian citizens want out of the war
King of Italy signs armistice with Allies
Some Italian troops join Allies
Some Italians simply stop fighting
King strips Mussolini of power
Put in prison for awhile
Eventually rescued by Nazis
Helps Nazis continue to fight against Allies
in Central and Northern Italy until end of
the war with those still loyal to him.
Gets killed fleeing the country by own people
At very end of the war
Roughly 500,000 Italians die in WWII
Mussolini getting rescued
Mussolini hung upside down
After being shot by firing squad

9. Minority Groups in Combat during African and Italian Campaigns
African Americans
Tuskegee Airmen
Group of pilots (Red Tails)
Helped liberate Italy
Buffaloes (92nd Infantry Division)
Numerous awards for Bravery
Mexican Americans
Company E
Saw lots of intense action
Japanese Americans
Purple Heart Battalion
Most decorated unit in U.S. history

10. 3rd Step = Paris invasion called Operation Overlord
Made phony plans for it to happen at Calais (map on next slide)
Fake radio messages, bases, wooden tanks, etc…
invasion occurs in Normandy region of France (map)
June 6th, 1944 (D – Day) ***
3 million troops
Some parachute in, most come in by sea
Largest operation of its kind ever
Major losses for Allies (they knew this would occur)
Around 57,000 dead (12,000 French civilians)
Around 170,000 wounded
Estimates for 1st 2.5 months of battle
Losses for Germany less than half of the Allies
Within a week, a part of France was secure
Could get troops and supplies in easy

13. General Omar Bradley
Orders air and land bombing concentrated in one area of German defense.
General George Patton
Leads tanks through the gap and liberates Paris after 4 years of German occupation (August 25th, 1944)

14. 4th Step = the rest of France, Belgium, and Luxembourg
all liberated and free of German forces by the end of Sept. 1944
Belgium residents returning home

15. 1944 Election FDR elected to 4th term (Truman is VP)
Kinda close popular vote, not in electoral college

16. 5th Step = Invade Germany (began Oct. 1944)
Slow go at 1st (Siegfried Line = trenches at border)
Battle of the Bulge
Hitler’s last gasp offensive
German tanks split Allied forces in 2
Temporarily gained some territory back
Executed Allied POW’s

17. Largest U.S. loss of life in WWII (19,000)
Allied Forces eventually regain control (takes a month)
German losses (troops and supplies) were very high
120,000 troops, 600 tanks, 1,600 planes
Couldn’t be replaced.
Largest U.S. loss of life in WWII (19,000)
Germany retreated until end of the war.

18. The Eastern Front
While the U.S. and Britain launch Normandy invasion….
Germany losing ground to Russia
Russia liberates 1st death camp in Poland (July 1944)
Eventually liberates all of Poland
Russia enters Berlin 1st (late April 1945)

19. Hitler’s Death He knows all is lost
Marries longtime girlfriend (Eva Braun)
They commit suicide and have bodies burned

20. Germany Surrenders
May 8th, 1945 (V-E Day… roughly a week after Hitler’s death)
FDR died (stroke) about a month before this happened
Truman had become President