The Allies Turn the Tide

Chapter 14Section 3

Total WarTo defeat the Axis powers in WWII, the Allies devoted all their resources to the war effort – called total warGovernments took a greater role in the economyFor example: governments ordered factories to make tanks instead of cars and refrigeratorsFactories closed during the Great Depression roared back to life putting people back to workConsumer goods were rationed, and wages and prices were regulatedA positive result of the war was that people went back to work which caused an increase in production that ended the Great Depression

Total War

However, governments also limited citizens’ rights, censored the press, and resorted to propagandaAt the same time, women, symbolized by “Rosie the Riveter”, replaced men in factoriesWomen also played a more direct role in some military operations

Rosie the Riveter

Women and World War II

Pacific BattlesThe years 1942 and 1943 marked the turning point of the war for the AmericansIn the Pacific, Allied forces won the battles of the Coral Sea and MidwayIn both battles, attacks were launched from enormous aircraft carriersFor the first time in naval history, enemy ships never saw each other

Aircraft Carriers

Pacific Battles

Midway Island Fought entirely from the air. The Americans destroyed four Japanese carriers and 250 planes.

Named Midway Island, it is about half-way between Asia and the United States.

Battle of Midway and Coral Sea

Battle of Midway and Coral Sea

U.S.S. Yorktown (Aircraft Carrier)

U.S.S. Enterprise (Aircraft Carrier)

North Africa

In North Africa, British and American forces, led by General Dwight Eisenhower, soon trapped Rommel’s armyRommel surrendered in May, 1943With North Africa under their control, the Allies crossed the Mediterranean and landed in SicilyAllied victories in Italy led to the overthrow of Mussolini, but fighting continued for another 18 months

General Dwight D. EisenhowerSupreme Commander—Allied Forces

Desert Tank Warfare—North Africa

German Panzer Tank

Map of Italy

After defeating Rommel in North Africa, the American crossed the Mediterranean, landed in Sicily, then launched an invasion of Italy.

Eastern FrontOn the Eastern Front, a key turning point was the Battle of StalingradAfter a German advance on the city and brutal house-to-house fighting, the Soviet army encircled the German troopsWithout food or ammunition, the Germans finally surrendered

Battle of Stalingrad

Battle of Stalingrad

D-Day

On June 6, 1944, the Allies launched the D-Day invasion of Normandy, FranceStalin was pleased that the Allies finally opened a second front in Western EuropeAllied troops faced many obstacles as they fought their way into France, but the Germans finally retreated inlandThe Allies entered Paris on August 25, 1944Within a month, all of France was liberated from Nazi occupation

D-Day

D-Day Beach

Beaches of Normandy

The five beaches at Normandy were named:

•Omaha

•Utah

•Gold

•Sword

•Juno

Invasion Beaches on D-Day(June 6, 1944)

D-Day (June 6, 1944)

Landing Craft Approaching Normandy

Bombing of Germany

As the Allies advanced, Germany reeled from the incessant, around-the-clock bombingThe Allies targeted military and industrial centers in Germany including Hamburg and Dresden40,000 people died in HamburgUp to 135,000 people died in DresdenGoal – cripple Germany’s industries and destroy civilian morale

Bombing of Hamburg and Dresden

Battle of the BulgeA German

counterattack against the Allies in bitterly cold December 1944, the Battle of the Bulge, resulted in terrible losses on both sides. The Americans won but the battle delayed the Allied advance for six weeks.

Battle of the Bulge

Battle of the Bulge

Yalta ConferenceHowever, with Germany’s defeat seeming inevitable, the “Big Three”—Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin—met to plan the end of the warStalin insisted that the USSR needed to control E. Europe to protect itself from future aggressionRoosevelt and Churchill favored self-determination for E. Europe – the people’s right to choose their form of governmentKey features at this Yalta Conference were the 1) Soviet agreement to enter the war against Japan and 2) the division of Germany into four zones of occupation (British, French, American, and Soviet)However, growing mistrust at Yalta foreshadowed a split among the Allies that would lead to the Cold War

Yalta ConferenceChurchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin

The “Big Three” – Winston Churchill, President Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin (L to R).

Germany Zones of Occupation

Powerpoint Questions (17 points)1. How do you define total war?2. Who symbolized the war efforts of women as

men went off to fight the battles?3. What happened for the first time in naval

history with the launching of planes from aircraft carriers?

4. What American commander defeated Rommel, the “Desert Fox” in North Africa?

5. After Rommel’s defeat, where did the Allies go?6. What is the name of the German tanks?

Powerpoint Questions (17 points)

7. What battle was the key turning point on the Eastern Front?

8. What did the Allies launch on June 6, 1944?9. What two German cities did the Allies destroy

to cripple German industries? (2 points)10. Which battle was a German counteroffensive

against the Allies in December, 1944?11. Who were the leaders called the “Big Three”

(3 points)

Powerpoint Questions (17 points)

12. Identify the conference where the “Big Three” met (city and country).

13. What were the two key features of the conference? (2 points)

The End