*Key Battles and Turning Points
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*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