Longest campaign in WWII: German U-boats against American warships (1939-1945)

U.S. used convoy system to protect cargo ships Cities on the East Coast had to dim lights at

night to protect U.S. ship positions In the end U.S. produced more ships than

Germany could sink!

Stalin desperate for a 2nd front in Europe Churchill decides it is better to attack the

periphery of Germany◦ Invasion of North Africa will be next stage of

European war◦ troops would then move into Sicily and up through

Italy 1942 FDR orders invasion of Morocco and

Algeria—both French territories◦ troops under command of Dwight D. Eisenhower◦ invasion would give experience to U.S. troops◦ would help British troops in Egypt

The North Africa Campaign:

The Battle of El Alamein, 1942

The North Africa Campaign:

The Battle of El Alamein, 1942 Gen. Ernst

Rommel,The “Desert Fox”

Gen. Ernst Rommel,

The “Desert Fox”

Gen. Bernard Law

Montgomery(“Monty”)

Gen. Bernard Law

Montgomery(“Monty”)

Operation Torch◦ General Patton able to take control of Casablanca in

November 1942◦ Jan-Feb 1943: Battle of Kasserine Pass

Amateurs vs. professionals Loss for the U.S.—7,000 deaths, lost 200 tanks Poor leadership blamed for loss and officers let go,

replaced by Patton◦ Victory in North Africa

Germans surrender on May 13, 1943 150,000 taken prisoner

Hitler decides to target Soviet economy◦ Wants to launch attacks on industrial, economic and

military locations Key location: Stalingrad

◦ Major RR junction, would cut off supplies to the Soviet Union

Hitler forbade retreat, didn’t realize USSR would be hit with coldest winter in 30 years

Nov. 23, 1942 Soviet troops get reinforcements◦ 250,000 Germans trapped—91,000 surrender—

5,000 survive POW camps Turning point in European war, Germany

would now be on the defensive

Battle of Stalingrad:Winter of 1942-1943

Battle of Stalingrad:Winter of 1942-1943

German Army Russian Army1,011,500 men 1,000,500 men

10,290 artillery guns

13,541 artillery guns

675 tanks 894 tanks

1,216 planes 1,115 planes

The Italian Campaign [“Operation Torch”] :

Europe’s “Soft Underbelly”

The Italian Campaign [“Operation Torch”] :

Europe’s “Soft Underbelly”

Invasion of Sicily-June 1943◦ Allied Commander: D. Eisenhower◦ Ground troops Commanders: Patton and British

Commander Montgomery Allied troops forced German evacuation of

island in August 1943 Fearful of Allied invasion Italian King puts

Mussolini under arrest◦ September 8, 1943, the Italian government

announced Italy’s surrender. Angered by surrender Hitler moves German

troops into N. Italy◦ Places Mussolini back in power

Germans retreat from Italy—May 1944

German stronghold finally falls after three month siege

Few weeks later troops trapped at Anzio beach break through German lines

Audie Murphy – most decorated American soldier in WW II

The Allies Liberate Rome:June 5, 1944

The Allies Liberate Rome:June 5, 1944

Rome is 1st Axis capital to be taken American commander of the 5th Army,

Lieutenant General Mark Clark, chose to strike for Rome from the Anzio beachhead◦ rather than chase after the retreating German forces

as he had been ordered After the fall of Rome German forces fell back

to Gothic Line of defense—just north of Florence.

Allied campaign in Italy not a decisive blow to German troops

Code name for Allied invasion of France Eisenhower commander of invasion Allies needed the element of surprise

◦ made it look like attack would come at Pas-de-Calais

Invasion had to have almost perfect weather to be successful◦ Had to be at night to hide ships◦ Ships had to come in at low tide◦ Moonlight had to be bright enough for

paratroopers to land◦ Bad weather halted invasion for a day until June

6, 1944

U.S. landing at Utah Beach◦ Weak German defenses, took 3hrs to seize beach

and move inland◦ Less than 200 U.S. deaths

U.S. landing at Omaha Beach◦ Troops led by Omar Bradley◦ Heavy fire causes Bradley to consider retreat◦ Troops finally break German lines and move

inland

The total number of troops landed on D-Day was around 130,000-156,000

By the end of 11 June (D + 5), 326,547 troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies.

By June 30th (D+24) over 850,000 men, 148,000 vehicles, and 570,000 tons of supplies.

By July 4th one million men had been landed.

About 2,300 deaths/wounded (U.S., British, Canadian)

French capital had been occupied for 4 years

Vichy government had helped send thousands of Jews to concentration camps

Hitler ordered the city be destroyed◦ Allied powers moved in before mass demolition

Paris relatively untouched by war Frenchwomen suspected of sleeping with

Germans are dragged into the streets to have their heads shaved

Montgomery has a plan to drive quickly to the Rhine. Capture bridgeheads with paratroopers and glider rangers. Largest airborne assault in history.

Fails – too ambitious

Hitler’s last desperate offensive◦ Goal to cut off Allied supplies through port of

Antwerp, Belgium December 16, 1944—battle begins

◦ Germans catch Americans by surprise◦ Advancing German troops in West made their lines

bulge “Battle of the Bulge” Germans surround Allies at Bastogone

◦ Germans call for American surrender American general’s response “Nuts”

◦ Patton’s troops race to Bastogone and slam German lines

Fighting lasts for 3 weeks◦ Jan. 8 German troops withdraw, suffering 100,000

deaths

Yalta: February, 1945Yalta: February, 1945 FDR wants quick Soviet entry into FDR wants quick Soviet entry into

Pacific war.Pacific war. FDR & Churchill concede Stalin FDR & Churchill concede Stalin

needs buffer, FDR & Stalin want needs buffer, FDR & Stalin want spheres of influence and a weak spheres of influence and a weak Germany.Germany.

Churchill wants Churchill wants strong Germany strong Germany as buffer as bufferagainst Stalin.against Stalin.

FDR argues FDR argues for a ‘United for a ‘United Nations’.Nations’.

April 12, 1945◦ FDR suffers

massive cerebral hemorrhage

◦ VP Harry Truman is sworn in as President

Mussolini & His Mistress, Claretta Petacci Are Hung in Milan, 1945

Hitler and his wife (married the day before) commit suicide using cyanide and pistols

May 7th Germans formally surrender to General Eisenhower at Rheims, France & to Soviets at Berlin◦ Unconditional surrender of Nazi Regime

Truman announces victory on May 8th

June 5th—U.S., Russia, England & France agree to split occupied Germany into E. and W. Germany◦ Also agree to divide up Berlin (in E. part)