Normandy Invasion (D-Day)Normandy Invasion (D-Day)

► June 6, 1944June 6, 1944

► During this time, Soviet Union was pushing into Poland During this time, Soviet Union was pushing into Poland and Allies were pushing North in Italyand Allies were pushing North in Italy

  ► Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and George Patton Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and George Patton

influential in leading attackinfluential in leading attack  ► 3 million ally troops to attack3 million ally troops to attack

Normandy Invasion cont.Normandy Invasion cont.

D – DayD – Day              60 mile stretch of beach60 mile stretch of beach              156,000 troops156,000 troops              4,000 landing craft4,000 landing craft              600 warships600 warships              11,000 planes11,000 planes              Largest land-sea-air operation in historyLargest land-sea-air operation in history              Omaha beach known as one of the most Omaha beach known as one of the most brutal areasbrutal areas

► The D-Day Museum in Portsmouth, England claims a The D-Day Museum in Portsmouth, England claims a total of 2,500 Allied troops died, while German forces total of 2,500 Allied troops died, while German forces suffered between 4,000 and 9,000 total casualties on suffered between 4,000 and 9,000 total casualties on D-Day. D-Day.

► The Heritage Foundation in the U.S. claims 4,900 U.S. The Heritage Foundation in the U.S. claims 4,900 U.S. dead on D-Daydead on D-Day

► The U.S. Army Center of Military History cites a total The U.S. Army Center of Military History cites a total casualty figure for U.S. forces at 6,036. This number casualty figure for U.S. forces at 6,036. This number combines dead and wounded in the D-Day battlescombines dead and wounded in the D-Day battles

► John Keegan, American Historian and Author believes John Keegan, American Historian and Author believes that 2,500 Americans died along with 3,000 British and that 2,500 Americans died along with 3,000 British and Canadian troops on D-DayCanadian troops on D-Day

► By the end of the of the entire Normandy Campaign, By the end of the of the entire Normandy Campaign, nearly 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, nearly 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, wounded, or missing.wounded, or missing.

Normandy Invasion cont.Normandy Invasion cont.

The battle continuesThe battle continues

►   W/in 1 month, a million more troopsW/in 1 month, a million more troops

►   September 1944, France was freed from September 1944, France was freed from

Nazi controlNazi control

Battle of the BulgeBattle of the Bulge

► December 16, 1944December 16, 1944

► German tanks broke through American lines (80 mile German tanks broke through American lines (80 mile front)front)

    

Battle of the Bulge Cont.Battle of the Bulge Cont.

►Germans were winning in the beginningGermans were winning in the beginning

►120,000 Germans died (also lost 600 tanks and 120,000 Germans died (also lost 600 tanks and guns and 1,600 planes – leading to defeat))guns and 1,600 planes – leading to defeat))

  ►80,000 Americans died80,000 Americans died  ►Americans won, but were close to losingAmericans won, but were close to losing

Yalta ConferenceYalta Conference

►Took place February 1945 before WWII Took place February 1945 before WWII was overwas over

►Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill met in Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill met in Yalta in the Soviet Union to discuss Yalta in the Soviet Union to discuss post WWIIpost WWII

►Set up United NationsSet up United Nations

Yalta – “The Big 3”Yalta – “The Big 3”

April 12, 1945April 12, 1945

►At the beginning of his 4At the beginning of his 4thth Term, Term, President Franklin D. Roosevelt passes President Franklin D. Roosevelt passes awayaway

►The U.S. went through a major grieving The U.S. went through a major grieving periodperiod

►Harry S. Truman, as Vice-President, Harry S. Truman, as Vice-President, takes the role as Presidenttakes the role as President

The end of HitlerThe end of Hitler

► April 30, 1945 Hitler April 30, 1945 Hitler and Eva Braun commit and Eva Braun commit suicide (gun shot and suicide (gun shot and cyanide)cyanide)

► Bodies burned in Bodies burned in streetstreet

► Cover of Time Cover of Time magazine May 7, 1945magazine May 7, 1945

V-E DayV-E Day

► May 8, 1945May 8, 1945

► General Eisenhower accepted a surrender by the Third General Eisenhower accepted a surrender by the Third ReichReich

  ► V-E day = Victory in Europe dayV-E day = Victory in Europe day  ► 11stst part of War was over part of War was over  

PotsdamPotsdam► July – August 1945July – August 1945

►Truman, Churchill (Attlee), and Stalin Truman, Churchill (Attlee), and Stalin met in Potsdam, Germanymet in Potsdam, Germany

►Drew up a blueprint to disarm Drew up a blueprint to disarm Germany and eliminate the Nazi Germany and eliminate the Nazi regimeregime

Potsdam ContinuedPotsdam Continued

►Divided Germany into 4 sections (occupied by Divided Germany into 4 sections (occupied by France, Britain, U.S. and Soviet Union)France, Britain, U.S. and Soviet Union)

► Berlin to be divided up in East (or Soviet Berlin to be divided up in East (or Soviet Germany)Germany)

► Set up the Nuremberg Trials to persecute Nazi Set up the Nuremberg Trials to persecute Nazi leaders leaders

► Japan must “unconditionally surrender”Japan must “unconditionally surrender”

Potsdam, GermanyPotsdam, Germany

Nuremberg TrialsNuremberg Trials

► International tribunal court tried Nazi International tribunal court tried Nazi officialsofficials

►Over 23 nations tried Nazi war Over 23 nations tried Nazi war criminals in Nuremberg, Germanycriminals in Nuremberg, Germany

►12 of the 22 defendants were 12 of the 22 defendants were sentenced to deathsentenced to death

►200 other officials were found guilty, 200 other officials were found guilty, but give lesser sentencesbut give lesser sentences

Battle of the Coral SeaBattle of the Coral Sea

► Prior to this battle, the Japanese were winning every Prior to this battle, the Japanese were winning every battle and taking over the Pacificbattle and taking over the Pacific

  ► May 1942 –Philippines – Bataan Death March – May 1942 –Philippines – Bataan Death March –

MacArthurMacArthur “I shall return” “I shall return”  ► U.S. was beginning to use the U.S. was beginning to use the Island Hopping Island Hopping technique technique

to weaken Japan’s forcesto weaken Japan’s forces

Battle of MidwayBattle of Midway

► June 1942June 1942

► Admiral Chester Nimitz intercepted Japanese Admiral Chester Nimitz intercepted Japanese codecode

► U.S. launched surprise attack on Japan at U.S. launched surprise attack on Japan at Pacific island called MidwayPacific island called Midway

► U.S. was successful in the Battle of Midway - U.S. was successful in the Battle of Midway - Turning point Turning point

Battle of MidwayBattle of Midway

►The Japanese lost 4 carriers, a heavy The Japanese lost 4 carriers, a heavy cruiser, 3 destroyers, some 275 cruiser, 3 destroyers, some 275 planes, at least 4,800 men, and planes, at least 4,800 men, and suffered heavy damage among the suffered heavy damage among the remaining vessels of their fleet. remaining vessels of their fleet.

►American losses included 1 carrier, the American losses included 1 carrier, the YorktownYorktown, a destroyer, about 150 , a destroyer, about 150 planes, and 307 men planes, and 307 men

Iwo JimaIwo Jima

► Island in the Pacific that was critical Island in the Pacific that was critical for U.S. winfor U.S. win

►March 1945March 1945►27,000 Japanese held Iwo Jima27,000 Japanese held Iwo Jima►U.S. wonU.S. won

26,800 Japanese troops died26,800 Japanese troops died 6,000 U.S. Marines died6,000 U.S. Marines died

Battle of OkinawaBattle of Okinawa

► June 22, 1945June 22, 1945

► Japan’s last defensive strongholdJapan’s last defensive stronghold

► Japan used 1,900 Kamikaze attacksJapan used 1,900 Kamikaze attacks

► 110,000 Japanese troops died110,000 Japanese troops died

► 7,600 - 12,500 U.S troops died7,600 - 12,500 U.S troops died

► U.S. wonU.S. won

Manhattan ProjectManhattan Project

► 200,000 Japanese died due to the Atomic 200,000 Japanese died due to the Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

► HiroshimaHiroshima August 6, 1945August 6, 1945 ““Little Boy”Little Boy” In 43 seconds, the city collapsed to dustIn 43 seconds, the city collapsed to dust

► NagasakiNagasaki August 9, 1945August 9, 1945 ““Fat Man”Fat Man” Leveled half of the cityLeveled half of the city

V-J DayV-J Day

►August 15, 1945: Japan offers August 15, 1945: Japan offers unconditional surrenderunconditional surrender

►September 2, 1945: V-J Day = Victory September 2, 1945: V-J Day = Victory in Japan Day (Formal surrender)in Japan Day (Formal surrender)