The Allies Turn the TideSection 24.1

Objectives Explain why the US decided to

sponsor the "Europe First" campaign

Evaluate the reasons for an invasion of North Africa

Understand the concept of the "Soft Underbelly" of Europe

U-Boats in the Atlantic Groups of U-Boats known as

“Wolfpacks” patrolled the Atlantic• Sinking merchant ships and allied supply

ships

The use of Radar ended the dominance of U-Boats in the Atlantic• Helped allied vessels locate U-boats quickly• US Navy began escorting supply ships and

quickly reduced the threat of U-boat attacks

U.S. and England Attack Germany

Early 1942 Allied bombers began bombing Germany• English bombers flew by night and initiated

saturation bombing on cities Wanted to inflict maximum damage

• American bombers flew by day and targeted political and industrial centers Strategic bombing- Destroy Germany’s capacity

to make war

Tuskegee Airmen All African-American fighter squadron

• Escorted and protected bombers from fighter planes

• Completed over 1,500 missions over enemy territory

• Did not lose a single bomber

This group of pilots helped promote the publics view on African-American soldiers greatly

The Atlantic Wall To help prevent a full-scale invasion

in the west, Hitler created the Atlantic Wall

• Series of blockades on beaches

• Fixed artillery locations

• Standing armies along the Atlantic coast

North Africa Campaign Reasons for entering North Africa

• Stalin desperately wanted a “Second Front” for the war in Europe

• Allies were not ready for an invasion across the English channel

• Occupying North Africa would cut off German fuel supplies

• Would eventually lead to the invasion of Italy

Invasion of North Africa Dwight D.

Eisenhower “Ike”• Supreme Allied

commander• Led invasion of

North Africa Bernard

Montgomery• Leader of British

Forces in Europe

Allies Drive Germans Out October 1942, British won a Major

Victory at El Alamein

November 1942, American troops landed in Morocco and Algeria• Moved Eastward toward German positions

February 1943, American and German forces met at Kasserine Pass in Tunisia

Victory at Kasserine General George S.

Patton• Led forces at

Kasserine Pass• Promoted by “Ike” to

be leader of North Africa forces

German forces surrender 240,000 troops

Casablanca Conference Churchill and Roosevelt met in

Casablanca following the victory in North Africa

Decisions made at Casablanca• Increase bombing of Germany• Invade Italy• Allies would only accept Unconditional

Surrender Giving up completely without any concessions

Invasion of Italy “Soft Underbelly

of Europe”• Invasion of Sicily by

British and American troops

• Forced Benito Mussolini to flee

• Italy surrendered

Invasion of Italy German forces remained in Italy

• Created two lines of defense• Gustav Line • Gothic Line

Italian campaign was not strategically successful

Objectives Explain why the US decided to

sponsor the "Europe First" campaign

Evaluate the reasons for an invasion of North Africa

Understand the concept of the "Soft Underbelly" of Europe