1. Thinking… Are there “good guys” in a war? Take 3 minutes
Think about this question
Write down a few thoughts on a piece of scratch paper
Be prepared to discuss

2. World War II… in 7 minutes

3. The European War

4. Extent of Axis Control, May 1941

5. The Allies: December 8, 1941 United States Great Britain France
Soviet Union
China
Commonwealth Nations

6. Fortress Europe

7. Russian Front
Germany invaded USSR on June 22nd, 1941 (prior to America joining the war)
Almost took Moscow, but was pushed back due to cold winter conditions on the front
In 1942, Germany renewed their push toward Stalingrad
This became the bloodiest battle of the war
It was downright nasty

8. Fighting in Stalingrad

9. Fighting in Stalingrad (2)

10. Eastern Front Windup
After Stalingrad, Germans never able to re-capture the offensive on the Russian Front
Russians slowly march back toward Germany
Really bloody fighting
Desire for Second Front
Russians will eventually take Berlin in May 1945

11. North African War Fought over access to the Suez Canal
If the Germans won, they would get oil from the Middle East
British tried to keep oil for themselves
Rommel vs. Monty
Battle of El Alamein, October 1942

12. Operation Torch
US troops landed in present-day Morocco and pushed east toward Rommel’s exposed rear
First US fighting against Nazis
Kasserine Pass: US gets slaughtered
Americans bounce back quickly, however

13. The “Soft underbelly”
Winston Churchill (Prime Minister of England) wanted to attack Italy
Allied Forces expected a quick victory
Instead, it was a long, bloody slog up the peninsula
Monte Cassino, 1943

14. The Big One: Overlord
“Overlord” was the codename given to the invasion of Normandy, France in 1944
Took place on June 6th, 1944
Involved three airborne divisions, plus six Allied infantry divisions
Opened a second front

15. D-Day

16. Endgame: Europe
By late summer 1944, American troops are streaming across France, toward Germany
Germans temporarily halt the US advance during the Battle of the Bulge, then it’s on to Berlin
The war in Europe ends on May 8, 1945
However, Allied troops marching through Germany discover the Holocaust

17. The Holocaust
The Holocaust was Hitler’s plan to create “racial purity” for his “master race”
Meant the elimination (on a massive scale) of all European Jews
Also killed Slavs, Gypsies, homosexuals, disabled persons, and many others

18. Images of the “Final Solution”