*Key Battles and Turning Points

27-4

*Trouble for the Allies

*Soviet Union was in big trouble

*Germany had control of most of Europe

*There were 5 key turning point battles of WWII

*Leningrad*During 900 day siege of Leningrad, more

than ONE million Russian’s died, mostly of starvation

*Greatest destruction and largest loss of life in a modern city ever in history.

*The Tide Turns*Allies realize

that they must focus on “Beating Hitler First” in order to maximize their efforts.

*U.S. did not want to fight a “TWO-FRONT WAR”

*Allies began to push back the German advance in Eastern Europe.

*Key Players for U.S.

*General Patton

*General Eisenhower

*General MacArthur

*General George Patton

*General George Patton- Famous U.S. general

*Known for his extremely tough attitude

*Demanded a great deal from his men

*Helped lead men in Northern Africa

*General Eisenhower*Led troops in Northern Africa

*Helped Britain push German military out of Northern Africa and up through the “soft underbelly” of Europe…Italy

*Eventually went on to lead the invasion of Normandy aka D-Day in 1944

*General MacArthur*General MacArthur commanded

forces in the Pacific.

*Japan was able to hold off American attack early on.

*MacArthur had to withdraw

*After that, Japan claimed more territory in the Pacific

*Stop and Think

*Why did the U.S. want to focus on Hitler first and not fight a ‘two-front war’?

*Who were the 3 most famous U.S. generals?

*The Shift Begins

*Key Battles that help shape the turning of the tide

*Battle of Midway

*Battle of Stalingrad

*Battle of El Alamein

*Invasion of Italy

*D-Day, Invasion of Normandy

*Battle of Midway*Battle of Midway- May 1942, U.S. sank 4

Japanese aircraft carriers and destroyed hundreds of planes.

*Germany Advances into Soviet Union

*Stalingrad*The Nazis pushed deep into Russian territory by the

summer of 1942

*Despite the fact that they were devastating the Soviet troops, Stalin’s men would not give in.

*By the winter of 1943, the Soviets were able to surround the Germans killing more than half of Hitler’s troops.

*El Alamein

*Allied forces push back the Germans in Northern Africa at El Alamein in Egypt

*Led by General Eisenhower and General Patton, Allied troops would overpower General Rommel and the Germans

*Forced them out of Northern Africa

*The Invasion of Italy in 1943

*The Invasion of Italy in 1943*Patton leads Operation Torch from

Southern Italy

*Germans brought Mussolini to Germany to protect him

*Italian King takes over for Mussolini and signs an armistice with the Allies

*Created a second front for Germany.

*June 6, 1944- landed in Normandy France through the English Channel.

*More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion

*More than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded

*More than 100,000 Soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler.

D-Day Invasion aka Operation Overlord

http://cdn.history.com/sites/2/2014/06/D-Day-infographic-revised-6-3.png

*Stop and Think*What were the 5 turning points of WWII?

*Which battle is the most well known and largest amphibious landing of all time?

*The Battle of the Bulge*German victory in Western

Europe in 1944 which caused a bulge in the Allied line

*The Allies sent in many men to steam roll the German forces back to the East

D-Day: June 6, 1944

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8JOC061Hes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqfN3kWjGtk

INVASION OF NORMANDY

GENERAL EISENHOWER GIVES FAMOUS SPEECH

STORMING THE BEACH

Higgins Boat

Higgins Boat

German Position

German Position