1. Allies fight the Germans
Ch 17 Sect 2
Allies fight the Germans

2. I.Battle of the Atlantic
Roosevelt & Churchill favored “Europe First” strategy – Germany was more dangerous than Japan.
Germans wanted to stop supplies from US to Britain.
German U-Boats sank 681 Allied ships.
US responded with convoys, sonar & radar technology. Also built 140 new ships.
By mid-1943, Allies were winning at sea.

3. II. Victory in North Africa
Allies, led by General Eisenhower, invaded Germans in N. Africa. They felt they didn’t have enough troops for a European invasion yet.
Operation Torch began in Nov
By March 1943 the Germans, led by General Rommel, were defeated in Africa.
After meeting in Casablanca, Allies decided to attack Sicily b/c of supply routes.
Within 2 weeks, Mussolini was forced out of office, arrested & Italy signed armistice.
Heroes of Italian Campaign – Tuskegee Airmen
Germany held N. Italy until 1945.

4. III. German Army Suffers Defeat on Eastern Front
While US & British fought in Italy & Africa; Soviet Union fought on Eastern front.
Hitler’s army suffered major defeat at Stalingrad & finally surrendered in Jan 1943.
Soviets lost over 1 million soldiers, but continued fighting until reaching Germany.

5. IV. British & Americans attacked Germany at Normandy
Preparations began in early 1944; over 3 million Allied troops were gathered.
Germans did not expect invasion at Normandy; rocky area, rough waters.
Operation Overlord – name given to invasion.
June 6, 1944 – D-Day; Germans suffered blitzkrieg type of attack. Largest attack in history.
By July, Allies broke through German lines.
Allies recaptured Paris in August after 4 years of German occupation.

6. V. Germans Faltering
Germany staged last offensive attack – Battle of the Bulge; German formed a bulge 80 miles long & 50 miles wide.
Airpower & Soviet attack from East overwhelmed them. Germans surrendered in a month.
Liberation of death camps came in July 1944.

7. VI. Yalta Conference Feb, 1945 – “Big Three” met in Yalta.
Disagreed about Germany…FDR gave in to gain Soviet help in Japan.
Allies divided Germany into 4 occupation zones (to keep an “eye” on them).
Stalin agreed to have free elections in Poland & Eastern Europe and join United Nations.

8. VII. Nazis Surrender
April 30, 1945 – Allies within miles of Hitler, he committed suicide.
May 8, General Eisenhower accepted unconditional surrender of Germany. Allies celebrated V-E Day .
Roosevelt did not live to see this. FDR passed away April 12, 1945.
Harry Truman became president.