1. The Pendulum Swings 4/26/2017 9:18 AM
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2. The Tide Begins to Turn After:
Allies gained US military strength once US entered the conflict December 1941 (after attack on Pearl Harbour)
Allies began to win Battle of the Atlantic
Allies cleared North Africa of Axis forces and could focus on invasion of Europe

3. The Invasion of Italy
Italy and Sicily seen as “soft underbelly”: best way to recapture Europe
July 1943: Canadians participated in successful Allied invasion of Sicily
September 1943: moved to Italy’s mainland

4. The Invasion of Italy continued
Canadians fought for a month in Ortona; lost 1372 soldiers before Germans withdrew
Fighting continued in Italy until spring 1945

5. Operation Overlord (D-day)
D-Day, June 6, 1944: biggest Allied invasion in WWII
full-scale Allied invasion of Europe called “Operation Overlord”
After Dieppe failure, this invasion carefully planned

6. Operation Overlord (D-day) continued
Five landings along Normandy beach: “Sword,” “Gold,” (GB) “Omaha,” “Utah,” (USA) “Juno” (Canada)
Attacked via air first, then paratroopers sent behind German lines
Morning of June 6, 1944: 30,000+ Canadians arrived at “Juno” beach

7. Operation Overlord (D-day) continued
Allies had two advantages: massive air and naval support, and fact that Germans don’t expect attack until later
Allies successfully advance through Europe and eventually attack Germany March 1945

8. Liberation
April 1945: Canadians sent to liberate the Netherlands where people starving to death
Over 6300 Canadian casualties in Holland
May 4, 1945: German troops surrender in the Netherlands
Canadians hailed as heroes

9. Germany Surrenders Hitler commits suicide in Berlin
May 7, while being attacked from west by Allies and east by Soviet Union, Germany surrenders

10. In the Pacific theater…
Bombing of Pearl Harbor brought United States into war. Previously, were following an isolationist policy.
Allied victory at Battle of Midway put Japan on their heels and forced them to fight a defensive war now
Battle of Leyte Gulf was to cut of Japan from oil supply and other resources

11. Kamikaze tactics were employed on the last day of the losing battle…
the first time the Allies witnessed this suicidal force

12. Iwo Jima & Okinawa Iwo Jima – Worst of the war for the Marines
Battle won by Allies - March 16th
US injured, dead
Japanese defenders all died, many committing ritual suicide
Okinawa - some Japanese surrendered, but all officers committed ritual suicide.
Of the POWs – 7400 were too wounded to commit suicide, but soldiers refused to surrender and died.
American gains proved costly – leaders looked to different “tactics”

13. Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Atomic bombs dropped on 2 Japanese cities (6 Aug 1945 & 9 Aug 1945) effectively ended the Pacific War
Many felt that this act demoralized the Japanese leaders into surrender, while saving more lives than it cost ( did die directly or indirectly)
Others believed that naval blockade and traditional aerial bombing would have forced Japan to surrender