World War II Breaks OutWorld War II Breaks Out

Allied Powers – U.S., Britain, France, Soviet Union & Axis Powers – Germany, Japan, Italy

War starts December 8, 1941

2 Fronts for the United States—Great Britain convinces United States of a European First Philosophy

Battle of the Atlantic-KEY!

World War II – Eastern FrontWorld War II – Eastern FrontGermany vs. Russia – “brutal”Germany vs. Russia – “brutal”

Battle of Stalingrad – August 1942 to January 1943

Germany attacks Stalingrad (namesake), looks to take the city (90% in Sept. 1942)

Winter of 1942 – Germany is stopped by bitter cold, Soviet Union fights back (worst fighting of the war-brutal)

Germans surrender on January 31, 1943—over one million Soviets die, 200,000 Germans

Stalingrad, Early 1943

World War II in North AfricaWorld War II in North Africa

Operation Torch—Allies invade Axis powered North Africa

Casablanca Conference, 1943 - Unconditional Surrender (FDR, etc.)

Facing - Erwin Rommel “The Desert Fox”---Major German leader

Surrender - May 1943

World War II – Italian FrontWorld War II – Italian Front

HUGE ---- “Soft Underbelly” – Frustrates Stalin – he wants help bad

Capture of Sicily 1943Fall of Mussolini, later

rescuedBattles at Anzio &

Rome against Hitler

Anzio Map – U.S. tries to help Anzio Map – U.S. tries to help those in Southern Italythose in Southern Italy

Eventually Anzio, then Rome falls to Allies…more on this later

The Road to D-DayThe Road to D-Day

1943 – Soviet Union starts to push back Germany

End of 1943 – World Leaders meet in Tehran, Iran to discuss D-Day Plan…Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill