The Allied Victory in Europe

The Allied Victory in The Allied Victory in EuropeEurope

THE DEFEAT OF HITLERTHE DEFEAT OF HITLER

WHO SHOULD WE GO AFTER WHO SHOULD WE GO AFTER FIRST?FIRST?

OR

Why take on Germany first?Why take on Germany first?

• Better technology than Japan Better technology than Japan (rockets, jet airplanes, etc)(rockets, jet airplanes, etc)

• Germany was a threat to the Soviet Germany was a threat to the Soviet Union, our ally for the time beingUnion, our ally for the time being

• Germany could win without Japan – Germany could win without Japan – Japan could NOT win without Japan could NOT win without GermanyGermany

THIS WAS CALLED THE THIS WAS CALLED THE ““EUROPE FIRSTEUROPE FIRST”” STRATEGY STRATEGY

(very creative name)(very creative name)

The Allies Invade North AfricaThe Allies Invade North Africain Operation Torchin Operation Torch

• Despite Stalin begging for an attack in Despite Stalin begging for an attack in France to take pressure off of the USSR, France to take pressure off of the USSR, the Allies decide to head to North Africathe Allies decide to head to North Africa

• Churchill feared the Allies were not yet Churchill feared the Allies were not yet ready to attack Franceready to attack France

• FDR was the man who made the final FDR was the man who made the final decision, but it still made Stalin angrydecision, but it still made Stalin angry

Rommel vs. Rommel vs. Patton/EisenhowerPatton/Eisenhower

VS

D-DAYD-DAY

Operation OverlordOperation Overlord

June 6June 6thth, 1944, 1944

The Invasion of FranceThe Invasion of France

• Takes place on Normandy BeachTakes place on Normandy Beach• 1.5 million Allied troops (5,000 ships – 1.5 million Allied troops (5,000 ships –

thatthat’’s a lot of boats)s a lot of boats)• Germans thought that Allies would not Germans thought that Allies would not

attempt to land there due to tidal attempt to land there due to tidal currents and Hitlercurrents and Hitler’’s Atlantic Wall s Atlantic Wall (defense system)(defense system)

• By August France is liberated from By August France is liberated from Nazi controlNazi control

The Soviets defeat the NazisThe Soviets defeat the Nazis

• At Stalingrad, the Soviets capture a At Stalingrad, the Soviets capture a large portion of the German army (2 large portion of the German army (2 million casualties from both sides million casualties from both sides combined)combined)

• Worst defeat for the NazisWorst defeat for the Nazis• At Kursk the Soviets destroyed the At Kursk the Soviets destroyed the

Nazis ability to wage an offensive war, Nazis ability to wage an offensive war, and they begin to push the Nazis back and they begin to push the Nazis back into Poland and then Germanyinto Poland and then Germany

YALTA CONFERENCEYALTA CONFERENCE

• Churchill, Stalin, and FDR meet to Churchill, Stalin, and FDR meet to discuss what will be done after the discuss what will be done after the war endswar ends

• Churchill wants all nations to be FREEChurchill wants all nations to be FREE• Stalin wants the USSR to be able to Stalin wants the USSR to be able to

control Eastern Europe and Polandcontrol Eastern Europe and Poland• FDR wants Soviet help in fighting FDR wants Soviet help in fighting

against Japan, since we had been against Japan, since we had been fighting them alonefighting them alone

Churchill, FDR, and Uncle Joe…

Why was he called Uncle Joe?!?!?!?

THE RESULTSTHE RESULTS

• Soviets agree to help fight Japan Soviets agree to help fight Japan three months after whenever three months after whenever Germany finally surrendersGermany finally surrenders

• Soviets get to keep control of Eastern Soviets get to keep control of Eastern Europe and PolandEurope and Poland

• Many people feel FDR Many people feel FDR ““sold outsold out”” to to Stalin in order to gain his help vs Stalin in order to gain his help vs Japan… hatred of communism Japan… hatred of communism continues to risecontinues to rise

VE DAY: Victory in EuropeVE DAY: Victory in Europe

• In the Battle of the Bulge the Americans hold In the Battle of the Bulge the Americans hold off one last desperate attempt by Hitler to off one last desperate attempt by Hitler to succeedsucceed

• By March of 1945 the Nazis were being pushed By March of 1945 the Nazis were being pushed all the way back into Berlin (The US and all the way back into Berlin (The US and England from the west, the Soviets from the England from the west, the Soviets from the east)east)

• April 12 – FDR dies unexpectedly – Harry April 12 – FDR dies unexpectedly – Harry Truman takes overTruman takes over

• April 30 – Hitler commits suicideApril 30 – Hitler commits suicide• May 8 – Germany surrenders unconditionallyMay 8 – Germany surrenders unconditionally