1. D-Day June 6 th, 1944

2. What was the situation in 1944? The Russians have defeated the Germans and they are advancing in the East The Russians have defeated the Germans and they are advancing in the East The Allies are victorious in Africa and launch an assault on Italy through Sicily The Allies are victorious in Africa and launch an assault on Italy through Sicily

3. The Russian Front On August 1939, Stalin and Hitler signed a “Non-Aggression Pact” they didn’t want interfere in each other’s business On August 1939, Stalin and Hitler signed a “Non-Aggression Pact” they didn’t want interfere in each other’s business But in June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union But in June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union Stalin and the Soviets were not ready for war Stalin and the Soviets were not ready for war

4. The Eastern Front In the early days Germans drove into the Soviet Union They almost reached Moscow in October In the early days Germans drove into the Soviet Union They almost reached Moscow in October The German army besieged Leningrad for two years. More than one million civilians died. The German army besieged Leningrad for two years. More than one million civilians died. When the severe Russian winter arrived the Nazi offensive broke down. When the severe Russian winter arrived the Nazi offensive broke down.

5. The Tide Turns The Nazis needed supplies and resources to continue the war The Nazis needed supplies and resources to continue the war From September 1942 to February 1943 Germans and Russians fought for the strategic city of Stalingrad on the Volga River From September 1942 to February 1943 Germans and Russians fought for the strategic city of Stalingrad on the Volga River Hitler and the Nazis lost the battle – 500 000 German and other troops were killed or taken prisoner Hitler and the Nazis lost the battle – 500 000 German and other troops were killed or taken prisoner In 1943 a Germany army of 2.5 million soldiers faced an army of 5.5 million Soviet soldiers In 1943 a Germany army of 2.5 million soldiers faced an army of 5.5 million Soviet soldiers

6. Italy From July to August 17 th – the Allies fought and took Sicily from the German Army From July to August 17 th – the Allies fought and took Sicily from the German Army The Campaign of Italy was designed to take the pressure off their Russian Allies The Campaign of Italy was designed to take the pressure off their Russian Allies 9th September, 1943 the attack began on Italy - the Germans refused to give it up 9th September, 1943 the attack began on Italy - the Germans refused to give it up

7. The Italians Surrender On the 8 th of September, 1943, the Italian Government surrenders On the 8 th of September, 1943, the Italian Government surrenders It would be a year before Allied troops entered Rome It would be a year before Allied troops entered Rome Germans invaded France in the same period. Germans invaded France in the same period.

8. The Battle for Italy When Italy formally surrendered on September 8 th, the Italians separated into two camps, pro-Allied and pro- German factions. When Italy formally surrendered on September 8 th, the Italians separated into two camps, pro-Allied and pro- German factions. On September 9, the Americans landed at Salerno and the British landed at Taranto On September 9, the Americans landed at Salerno and the British landed at Taranto The German Army took control of the defence of Germany

9. The Liberation of Rome Rome was declared an open city by the German army and the Allies took possession on June 4 th. Rome was declared an open city by the German army and the Allies took possession on June 4 th.

10. The Plan Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt agreed it was time to open up a new front in the West through the beaches of France Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt agreed it was time to open up a new front in the West through the beaches of France

11. Normandy It Is! Normandy is a peninsula on the French Coast Normandy is a peninsula on the French Coast It was chosen because the Germans expected the attack to be on the Pas de Calais It was chosen because the Germans expected the attack to be on the Pas de Calais

12. Operation “Overlord” There would be five sectors that would be attacked: There would be five sectors that would be attacked: 1. Utah – American 2. Omaha – American 3. Gold – British 4. Juno – Canadian 5. Sword - British

13. The Attack – June 6 th, 1944 Operation Overlord Simulation Operation Overlord Simulation Operation Overlord Simulation Operation Overlord Simulation

14. The Atlantic Wall The Atlantic Wall was an extensive system of coastal fortifications built by the Germans between 1942 and 1944 The Atlantic Wall was an extensive system of coastal fortifications built by the Germans between 1942 and 1944 It was built along the western coast of Europe to defend the continent from Great Britain. It was built along the western coast of Europe to defend the continent from Great Britain. Thousands of forced laborers were forced to construct these permanent fortifications along the Dutch, Belgian and French coasts Thousands of forced laborers were forced to construct these permanent fortifications along the Dutch, Belgian and French coasts

15. The Atlantic Wall Early in 1944, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was assigned to improve the defenses of the Wall. Early in 1944, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was assigned to improve the defenses of the Wall. Rommel believed the existing coastal fortifications were entirely inadequate. Rommel believed the existing coastal fortifications were entirely inadequate. A string of reinforced concrete pillboxes were built along the beaches to house machine guns, antitank guns, and light artillery. A string of reinforced concrete pillboxes were built along the beaches to house machine guns, antitank guns, and light artillery. Minefields and antitank obstacles were planted on the beaches and underwater obstacles and mines were planted in the waters just off shore to destroy incoming craft Minefields and antitank obstacles were planted on the beaches and underwater obstacles and mines were planted in the waters just off shore to destroy incoming craft By the time of the invasion, the Germans had laid almost 6 million mines in northern France. By the time of the invasion, the Germans had laid almost 6 million mines in northern France.

16. The Atlantic Wall!

17. The Time Has Come The D.Day On the evening of June 5 th In the early morning the largest armada of ships left Britain for the French coast On the evening of June 5 th In the early morning the largest armada of ships left Britain for the French coast Heavy bombers dropped their payloads on what was supposed to be the beach defences Heavy bombers dropped their payloads on what was supposed to be the beach defences

18. The Battle for Normandy By August 21, the Germans had either retreated or been destroyed between the Canadian-British and American pincers By August 21, the Germans had either retreated or been destroyed between the Canadian-British and American pincers

19. The Battle of the Bulge The Ardennes Offensive known to the general public as the Battle of the Bulge, started on December 16, 1944 The Ardennes Offensive known to the general public as the Battle of the Bulge, started on December 16, 1944 Three powerful German armies plunged in the Ardennes region of eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg. Three powerful German armies plunged in the Ardennes region of eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg. Their goal was to reach the sea, trap four allied armies, and impel a negotiated peace on the Western front. Their goal was to reach the sea, trap four allied armies, and impel a negotiated peace on the Western front.

20. The Battle of the Bulge American concentrated north and south of the Ardennes. American concentrated north and south of the Ardennes. Even though the German Offensive achieved total surprise, the American troops did not give ground without a fight Even though the German Offensive achieved total surprise, the American troops did not give ground without a fight Within three days the Americans, assisted by the arrival of powerful reinforcements Within three days the Americans, assisted by the arrival of powerful reinforcements

21. Battle of the Bulge Outcome The Luftwaffe had been broken The Luftwaffe had been broken The German Army in the West was being pushed back. The German Army in the West was being pushed back. Most importantly, the German Army was unable to halt the Soviets Most importantly, the German Army was unable to halt the Soviets

22. The Final Days In April 1945, the battle is coming to a close. In April 1945, the battle is coming to a close. On the 30th April, Hitler commits suicide together with his mistress Eva Braun hours after they were married. On the 30th April, Hitler commits suicide together with his mistress Eva Braun hours after they were married. In Italy Mussolini was murdered. In Italy Mussolini was murdered.

23. The Soviets Arrive – Berlin Falls By 2 May, the Reichstag, the old German parliament falls and Berlin surrenders to Marshall Zukhov, By 2 May, the Reichstag, the old German parliament falls and Berlin surrenders to Marshall Zukhov, The battle for Berlin cost the Soviets over 70,000 dead. The battle for Berlin cost the Soviets over 70,000 dead.

24. VE-Day The major Allied ground offensive against German territory began on 8 February 1945 The major Allied ground offensive against German territory began on 8 February 1945 In April, Canadian troops liberated most of the Netherlands In April, Canadian troops liberated most of the Netherlands The Germans formally surrendered on 8 May 1945, known as Victory- in-Europe, or ‘V-E’ Day The Germans formally surrendered on 8 May 1945, known as Victory- in-Europe, or ‘V-E’ Day

25. Hiroshima and Nagasaki Harry Truman becomes President of the United States Harry Truman becomes President of the United States Truman decided to use the bomb on Japan because he believed that it was the only way to get the Japanese to surrender and save American lives Truman decided to use the bomb on Japan because he believed that it was the only way to get the Japanese to surrender and save American lives

26. Fat Man and Little Boy At 8:15am the atomic bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” was dropped on Hiroshima At 8:15am the atomic bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” was dropped on Hiroshima In few seconds two thirds of the city was flattened and thousands were dead In few seconds two thirds of the city was flattened and thousands were dead On August 11, a bomb called “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki at 11:02 am On August 11, a bomb called “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki at 11:02 am At noon, August 15 th, 1945 – Emperor Hirohito spoke directly to his people At noon, August 15 th, 1945 – Emperor Hirohito spoke directly to his people to tell them Japan had surrendered

27. Why Did the Allies Win? Because they had complete material superiority – weapons etc. Because they had complete material superiority – weapons etc. They had more soldiers a better strategy They had more soldiers a better strategy and new technology They had material and financial resources They had material and financial resources