World War IIWorld War II

Lic. Laura FloresLic. Laura Flores

The Allies launched a drive to The Allies launched a drive to victoryvictory

President Roosevelt President Roosevelt described December 7-- described December 7-- the day on which Pearl the day on which Pearl Harbor had been Harbor had been bombed – as “a date bombed – as “a date which will live in which will live in infamy” infamy”

To Prime Minister To Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Winston Churchill of Great Britain, it marked Great Britain, it marked the beginning of an the beginning of an alliance between Great alliance between Great Britain and the United Britain and the United States States

Allied forces trapped the Desert Allied forces trapped the Desert Fox.Fox.

In October 1942, British and American forces In October 1942, British and American forces began their first major campaign together in began their first major campaign together in North Africa.North Africa.

Since 1939 Great Britain and Germany both Since 1939 Great Britain and Germany both were trying to control North Africa; and in were trying to control North Africa; and in 1942 German General Erwin Rommel began a 1942 German General Erwin Rommel began a massive offensive in the region, Rommel was massive offensive in the region, Rommel was known as “The Desert Fox”, who had slowly known as “The Desert Fox”, who had slowly pushed British forces.pushed British forces.

In August 1942 British General Bernard In August 1942 British General Bernard Montgomery arrived in the North African Montgomery arrived in the North African DesertDesert

planning not to defend but to attack.planning not to defend but to attack.

The Battle of El AlameinThe Battle of El Alamein Marked a turning point in the North African Marked a turning point in the North African

War and a major shift in the war as a whole. It War and a major shift in the war as a whole. It was the beginning of the Allied drive to was the beginning of the Allied drive to control the North African coast control the North African coast

At the same time the American General At the same time the American General Dwight D. Eisenhower led Allied troops Dwight D. Eisenhower led Allied troops through Morocco and Algeria and in May 1943 through Morocco and Algeria and in May 1943 the two forces came together in Tunisia, the two forces came together in Tunisia, trapping 250,000 Germans and Italians. The trapping 250,000 Germans and Italians. The coast of North Africa was in Allied hands.coast of North Africa was in Allied hands.

Soviet forces took the Soviet forces took the offensiveoffensive

For Hitler the news from the North African For Hitler the news from the North African desert were bad but the news from the desert were bad but the news from the Soviet Union were worst . The Germans Soviet Union were worst . The Germans had been fighting in the soviet Union for had been fighting in the soviet Union for two years, since 1941, the cold winter had two years, since 1941, the cold winter had stopped them in their tracks outside stopped them in their tracks outside Leningrad and Moscow. When spring came Leningrad and Moscow. When spring came the German tanks were ready to roll again.the German tanks were ready to roll again.

Hitler hoped to capture the Soviet oil fields Hitler hoped to capture the Soviet oil fields and he also wanted to control the city of and he also wanted to control the city of Stalingrad (Volgograd)Stalingrad (Volgograd)

The Battle of StalingradThe Battle of Stalingrad Turning point in the Soviet Union War. In August 1942 Stalin sent Turning point in the Soviet Union War. In August 1942 Stalin sent

the order to defend Stalingrad at all cost. Soviet defenders fought the order to defend Stalingrad at all cost. Soviet defenders fought the Germans with knives, guns, bayonets and even clubs, the Germans with knives, guns, bayonets and even clubs, eventhough the Germans appeared to be in control but then eventhough the Germans appeared to be in control but then another winter came.another winter came.

Soviet commander Georgi Zhukov saw the cold as an opportunity Soviet commander Georgi Zhukov saw the cold as an opportunity and began a counterattack.and began a counterattack.

Zhukov army closed around Stalingrad, trapping the Germans in Zhukov army closed around Stalingrad, trapping the Germans in the city and cutting off their supplies. The Germans situation was the city and cutting off their supplies. The Germans situation was hopeless, but Hitler’s orders were: “Stay and Fight”…hopeless, but Hitler’s orders were: “Stay and Fight”…

The Germans did their best, but finally surrendered on January 31, The Germans did their best, but finally surrendered on January 31, 1943. After Stalingrad it was the Germans who were now on the 1943. After Stalingrad it was the Germans who were now on the defensive. defensive.

By now many German military leaders realized what Hitler refused By now many German military leaders realized what Hitler refused to admit----THAT THE NAZI EMPIRE WAS COLLAPSING. THE THIRD to admit----THAT THE NAZI EMPIRE WAS COLLAPSING. THE THIRD REICH’S DAYS WERE NUMBERED.REICH’S DAYS WERE NUMBERED.

Fascist rule crumbled in ItalyFascist rule crumbled in Italy On July 9 1943, an Allied invasion forced On July 9 1943, an Allied invasion forced

soldiers and marines crossed the soldiers and marines crossed the Mediterranean and approached the shore of Mediterranean and approached the shore of Sicily, which fell to the Allies in August after a Sicily, which fell to the Allies in August after a bloody but brief stuggle lasting only 39 days.bloody but brief stuggle lasting only 39 days.

Stunned by their army’s collapse in Sicily, Stunned by their army’s collapse in Sicily, the Italian people forced the dictator the Italian people forced the dictator Mussolini to resign. On July 25, 1943, he was Mussolini to resign. On July 25, 1943, he was placed under arrest. Italy renounced his placed under arrest. Italy renounced his country’s pact with Hitler and urged the country’s pact with Hitler and urged the Italian people to fight the Germans. Italy’s Italian people to fight the Germans. Italy’s sudden change of loyalties did not save it sudden change of loyalties did not save it from invasion.from invasion.

The Allies invaded FranceThe Allies invaded France The enormous task of commanding the invasion The enormous task of commanding the invasion

fell to the American General Dwight Eisenhower. fell to the American General Dwight Eisenhower. Under his direction the allies gathered a force of 2 Under his direction the allies gathered a force of 2 million British, American and Canadian troops, million British, American and Canadian troops, together with military equipment and supplies.together with military equipment and supplies.

The Allies planned to attack Normandy in The Allies planned to attack Normandy in northern France.northern France.

The Allied invasion code-named D-Day began on The Allied invasion code-named D-Day began on June 6, 1944. at night an immense fleet of 5,300June 6, 1944. at night an immense fleet of 5,300

ships sailed for their target, the beaches of ships sailed for their target, the beaches of Normandy. After midnight, 13,000 airborne troops Normandy. After midnight, 13,000 airborne troops parachuted into France, followed early in the parachuted into France, followed early in the morning by thousands of seaborne soldiers. After morning by thousands of seaborne soldiers. After 5 days of fighting the allies held a strip of France.5 days of fighting the allies held a strip of France.

By the beginning of August 1944, By the beginning of August 1944, German troops were pulling out of German troops were pulling out of France to escape the Allied France to escape the Allied onslaught. Free French units led by onslaught. Free French units led by Charles de Gaulle joined the Allies, Charles de Gaulle joined the Allies, who entered the city in victory on who entered the city in victory on August 24, 1944.August 24, 1944.

The German Reich collapsedThe German Reich collapsed Hitler now faced the old German nightmare—war Hitler now faced the old German nightmare—war

on two fronts. on two fronts. The end was near for Hitler’s Reich, but Hitler The end was near for Hitler’s Reich, but Hitler

refused to recognize it. On April 30, 1945, Hitler refused to recognize it. On April 30, 1945, Hitler killed himself. Mussolini was dead too, he had killed himself. Mussolini was dead too, he had been assassinated on April 28.been assassinated on April 28.

The Allies also lost a great leader on April 12, The Allies also lost a great leader on April 12, 1945, Franklin Roosevelt1945, Franklin Roosevelt

Roosevelt successor , Harry Truman. On May 2, Roosevelt successor , Harry Truman. On May 2, 1945 Berlin formally surrendered to the Soviet 1945 Berlin formally surrendered to the Soviet army. On May 7, commanders of the German army. On May 7, commanders of the German army and navy signed papers declaring the army and navy signed papers declaring the unconditional surrender of their forces. “The War unconditional surrender of their forces. “The War in Europe was over.”in Europe was over.”

World War II in Europe and North World War II in Europe and North Africa, 1939-1945Africa, 1939-1945

A final horror ended the Pacific A final horror ended the Pacific warwar

Allied forces in the Pacific were closing in on Japan. Allied forces in the Pacific were closing in on Japan. By 1945 the Allies had recovered most of the By 1945 the Allies had recovered most of the Pacific.Pacific.

Japan still had a large army that would defend its Japan still had a large army that would defend its homeland. “Kamikazes”.homeland. “Kamikazes”.

President Truman saw only one way to avoid an President Truman saw only one way to avoid an invasion of Japan. “Atom bomb”.invasion of Japan. “Atom bomb”.

From the German city of Potsdam where Truman From the German city of Potsdam where Truman was meeting with Churchill and Stalin, was meeting with Churchill and Stalin, Truman warned the Japanese telling them: “ you Truman warned the Japanese telling them: “ you will faced prompt and utter destruction” unless will faced prompt and utter destruction” unless they surrendered at once. The Japanese did not they surrendered at once. The Japanese did not reply.reply.

On the morning of August 6, 1945, the On the morning of August 6, 1945, the Americans bombed the Japanese city Americans bombed the Japanese city of “Hiroshima”of “Hiroshima”

Three days later, August 9, 1945, Three days later, August 9, 1945, Nagasaki. Japan’s Emperor Hirohito, Nagasaki. Japan’s Emperor Hirohito, surrendered saying: “I cannot bear to surrendered saying: “I cannot bear to see my innocent people suffer any see my innocent people suffer any longer.”longer.”

The formal surrender took place on The formal surrender took place on September 2, 1945September 2, 1945