1. Axing the Axis: Allies Take the Offensive, 1942-1944

3. The Atlantic Wall A “wall” of defenses to block an Allied invasion
Plans called for over 2,500 miles of defenses from Norway to Spain

4. Plans for Atlantic Wall:

5.                                                                                                                                                                                         
WHERE TO INVADE??? Brainstorm 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage to the Allies invading each location #1-4.
#2: Germany
#1: France
#3: Italy
#4: North Africa

6. STALINGRAD Aug 1942-Feb 1943
Major industrial city in Southern Russia. Hitler ordered troops to take the city at all costs (500,000 troops).
Soviets trapped German army inside city. 90,000 Germans surrendered.
TURNING POINT! (USSR now advances toward Germany)

7. USSR and Allies 1942: Stalin asked Allies to invade France
1942: Allies invaded North Africa instead (didn’t listen)
Stalin began to think the Allies wanted to let Germany weaken the Soviet Union (didn’t trust them)

8. Operation Torch 1942-43 Allied invasion of North Africa
U.S.-Algeria, Tunisia; Britain/France-Libya, Egypt
Benefit: a. not highly defended by Axis
b. gives USA time to get more troops & supplies
Drawback: a. still not in Europe, b. desert fighting
Operation Torch

9. Allied Success!!!

10. Operation Husky 1943-44 Allies next invaded Italian Peninsula
Conquered Sicily in 1 month
Conquered Rome 1944
Benefit:
a. close to North Africa
b. Part of Europe
c. Mussolini out
Drawback:
-still no invasion in France to help USSR!

11. USA Steps Up… By 1944, USA has been in war for 2 years
Millions of soldiers gain experience, millions of tons of supplies produced each day
Axis: Italy now defeated, Germany worn down
Allies now have the strength to plan an invasion of France!

13. Operation Overlord (D-DAY) 1944
Largest invasion force ever (150,000 men/ 5,000 ships) Need to re-take France from Nazi Germany
Preparation:
1) Fake invasion force assembled at Dover, Eng. (across Channel from Calais, Fr., 200 mi from Normandy)
2) Parachute troops sent in night before (sabotage)
INVASION- June 6, :00 am 5 armies land on beach in Normandy, France
SUCCESS! 9,000 dead, but 100,000 more landed and began defeating Nazi Germany

14. FAKE ARMY
HITLER MAIN FORCE
ACTUAL INVASION

17. USSR
USA, Allies
“Battle of the Bulge”: Dec. 1944… Germany’s last attack on the Allies, pushed into France and formed a “Bulge” in Allied lines. (they lost, though)
“V-E Day” May 8, 1945: The date Germany formally surrendered to the Allies and USSR. “Victory in Europe Day”