The Allies Liberate EuropeThe Allies Liberate Europe

France and EisenhowerFrance and Eisenhower

D-Day. June 6D-Day. June 6thth 1944 1944

D-DayD-Day

3 million U.S., Brit, 3 million U.S., Brit, and Canadians.and Canadians.

Normandy, France.Normandy, France.

Phony ArmyPhony Army

Fake tanks, Fake tanks, equipment and equipment and buildings.buildings.

Fake messages Fake messages saying attack was saying attack was at Calais.at Calais.

D-Day – Operation OverlordD-Day – Operation Overlord

Midnight – 3 Midnight – 3 divisions parachute divisions parachute behind enemy behind enemy lines.lines.

Then thousands of Then thousands of sea-borne soldiers.sea-borne soldiers.

Largest invasion in Largest invasion in history.history.

Omaha beach-bloody Omaha beach-bloody fighting.fighting.

The Allies gain ground.The Allies gain ground.

The Allies had heavy The Allies had heavy casualties.casualties.

Gaining ground…Gaining ground…

In 7 days, the Allies In 7 days, the Allies had moved 80 had moved 80 miles inland.miles inland.

In a month:In a month: 1 million troops1 million troops 567,000 tons of 567,000 tons of

equipment.equipment. 170,000 vehicles.170,000 vehicles.

General Omar BradleyGeneral Omar Bradley

Provided a massive Provided a massive bombardment at bombardment at St. Lo.St. Lo.

This broke open a This broke open a hole in the German hole in the German defenses.defenses.

St. LoSt. Lo

General George PattonGeneral George Patton

Third Army Third Army punches through punches through the hole in St. Lo.the hole in St. Lo.

August 25August 25thth, 1944, , 1944, they reach Paris.they reach Paris.

““Dear Ike, today I Dear Ike, today I spat in the Seine.”spat in the Seine.”

By September, 1944, France By September, 1944, France was free!was free!

Roosevelt would be re-Roosevelt would be re-elected.elected.

The Battle of the BulgeThe Battle of the Bulge

The Battle of the Bulge, The Battle of the Bulge, October 1944.October 1944.

Americans capture their first Americans capture their first German town: Aachen.German town: Aachen.

Hitler made a desperate Hitler made a desperate move.move.

Break through!Break through!

Germans wanted to Germans wanted to break though the break though the American lines to American lines to get to Antwerp, get to Antwerp, Belgium.Belgium.

German tanks make their German tanks make their move…move…

December 16, December 16, 1944.1944.

Dense fog.Dense fog. 80 mile front.80 mile front.

The Germans moved The Germans moved in 60miles, creating in 60miles, creating a “bulge” in the a “bulge” in the German lines.German lines.

German crimes.German crimes.

German S.S. soldiers German S.S. soldiers captured 120 captured 120 American troops.American troops.

Took them to a field Took them to a field and shot them.and shot them.

Malmedy, France.Malmedy, France.

The Battle of the Bulge.The Battle of the Bulge.

Germans lost Germans lost 120,000 troops.120,000 troops.

600 tanks.600 tanks. 1,600 planes.1,600 planes.

These could not be These could not be replaced.replaced.

Liberation of Death CampLiberation of Death Camp

Allied troops press East.Allied troops press East.

The Soviets are pushing The Soviets are pushing West.West.

The Soviets found the first Nazi The Soviets found the first Nazi death camps.death camps.

July, 1944. Majdanek.July, 1944. Majdanek.

S.S. Guards tried to S.S. Guards tried to bury evidence.bury evidence.

They ran out of They ran out of time…time…

MajdanekMajdanek

Thousands of Thousands of starving, barefoot starving, barefoot prisoners.prisoners.

800,000 shoes.800,000 shoes. Worlds largest Worlds largest

crematorium.crematorium.

The soldiers were The soldiers were horrified.horrified.

Hitler is at the end of the Hitler is at the end of the line.line.