Pushing Back the Axis

Ch. 21 Section 4

Striking Germany and Italy

Casablanca Conference – Idea was to attack the “soft underbelly” of Europe.

Italy will quit if Allies invade their homeland.

Germans eventually retreated, but with a high Allied cost. (300,000)

Eisenhower: Commander of the European Theatre

Operation Overlord (D-Day)

Allied troops land at Normandy, begin liberation of France.

The largest amphibious operation in history succeeds.

Battle of the Bulge

Last large German counter attack against American and British troops is halted.

Goal was to stop Allied supplies coming in thru Belgium.

Germans eventually retreat, left with little resources to prevent Germany from Allied attack.

The War Ends in Europe V-E Day

Germany is assaulted on 2 fronts. Allied forces West Soviet forces East

German defenses crumble

Hitler kills himself (appoints Karl Doenitz as successor)

Eisenhower insists on unconditional surrender

V-E Day May 8, 1945

Truman Becomes President

FDR died just before V-E day, Truman becomes pres.

Truman will have to make critical decisions in the coming months

The Battle of Iwo Jima

Victory in the Battle of Leyte Gulf enables MacArthur to return to the Philippines (Oct. 1944)

US Marines land on Iwo Jima, over 6,800 marines are killed before the island is captured.

Why Iwo Jima?

Firebombing Japan

Gen. LeMay ordered the use of firebombs on Japanese targets

Use of napalm was controversial.

80,000 deaths ½ of the urban area

was destroyed.

The Invasion of Okinawa

Despite widespread destruction, Japan showed few signs of surrender

US officials prepared for a Japanese invasion

Okinawa was chosen for its geographic importance.

Okinawa was captured in June 1945