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Battle of Atlantic
The sea was a key part in defeating the Axis Powers because America could only deliver soldiers and supplies to the Allies by sea. Germany, however, had a navy powerful enough to challenge for control over the seas. After Germany's most prized ship, the Bismarck, was sunk by Great Britain in 1941, Germany relied on U-boats, which hunted in groups and often attacked at night in wolf packs. During 1940-1941, Germany hundreds of ships and tons of supplies into the bottom of the sea. -
Battle of Atlantic
After sinking 360 American merchant ships, America started fighitng Germany. By using convoys and aircraft to protect ships that used radar and other techonology to find and destroy U-boats, and breaking the German coding system, Enigma, in 1941, helping gain information about the locaiton and plan of U-boats, America won the war. By war's end (1945) some 70% of Germans who served on submarines were dead. The Atlantic belonged to the Allies. -
Battle of Britain
German and British air forces clashed in the skies over the United Kingdom in the largest bombing campaign to that date. The Battle of Britain ended when Germany’s Luftwaffe failed to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force despite months of targeting Britain’s air bases, military posts, and civilian population. Britain’s victory saved the country from a ground invasion and possible occupation by German forces while proving that air power alone could be used to win a major battle. -
Battle of Britain
The casualties suffered in this war on Britain's side were 544 aircrew (RAF Fighter Command), 718 (RAF Bomber Command), and 280 (RAF Coastal Command) killed, totaling up to 1,542 British soldiers killed in total. The casualties on Germany's side was 2,698 aircrew killed. -
Battle of Stalingrad
A major industrial center on the Volga River, Stalingrad became a target for the Germans. In some of the bloodiest fighting in the history of warfare, the Soviets refused to let Stalingrad be taken over. Aside from failing to obtain Stalingrad, Germans exposed themselves to a Soviet counterattack. 250,000 Axis soldiers were trapped by Soviet forces. Surviving Axis troops were forced to surrender in early 1943. Hitler had suffered a stunning defeat. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Soviets recovered 250,000 German and Romanian corpses in and around Stalingrad, and total Axis casualties (Germans, Romanians, Italians, and Hungarians) are believed to have been more than 800,000 dead, wounded, missing, or captured. Major turning point in war. -
Battle of El Alamein, Egypt
Marked the climax of the World War II North African campaign between Britain and the German-Italian army. Deploying a far larger contingent of soldiers and tanks, British commander Bernard Law Montgomery launched an infantry attack at El Alamein. German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel tried to halt the tide, but the British advantage in personnel and artillery proved too overwhelming. After Hitler blocked an initial retreat in early November, Rommel managed to escape death by withdrawing to Tunisa. -
Battle of El Alamein
Casualties on the Axis side included 36,939 to 59,000 men (9,000 killed or missing, 15,000 wounded, 35,000 prisoners), while casualties on the Allies side included 13,560 men (4,810 killed or missing, 8,950 wounded). Major turning point in war. Allies defeated Afrika Korps (German Africa Corps). -
Operation Torch
Eager to contribute, President Franklin Roosevelt sent American forces to invade the North African countries of Morocco and Algeria. Vichy leaders, French officials who cooperted with Hitler, were installed there after the fall of France, who used to control this territory. Hoping that the French in the territory would not resist the Allies, the Allies soon landed in the area, where French forces soon joined them. -
Operation Torch
After landing, Allies soon fought with Germans, gaining valuable combat experience in places like Kasserine Pass. Some 20,000 Americans were killed or wounded, but by May 1943, they had defeated Rommel's forces. -
Invasion of Sicily/Italy
Soon after the attack on the island of Sicily began, Roosevelt and Churchhill asked if "they wanted to die for Mussolini and Hitler or live for Italy and civilization". The Italians chose the latter, and by the end of the month, they had turned against Mussolini, forcing him from power. A few weeks later Sicily was taken by the Allies. German forces tried to stop the Allies before they could reach the Italian Peninsula, but the Allies made steady progress. George S. Patton was US General. -
Invasion of Sicily/Italy
The Tuskegee Airmen, the first ever unit of African Americans to receive training as pilots in the U.S. military, took place in this fight. The Allies' success slowed as it approached Rome, and so they planned a large force at Anzio. 100,000 Allied soldiers went to Anzio, fighitng for four months before they were finally freed from other Allies, after 25,000-30,000 of them had been killed or wounded. The battle continued for nearly a year, and some 300,000 Allied troops were killed or wounded. -
Operation Overlord
The fighting in Italy was slow and difficult partly because the Allies couldn't place all their fighting resources to the battle. Many of these resurces were being saved for the planned invasion of France, Operation Overlord, which was supposed to end the war as quickly as possible. The beaches of Normandy, France were to be the location. Eisenhower commanded the mission and chose General Omar Bradley to lead the American troops. The top British commander was Bernard Montegomery. -
Operation Overlord
Also known as D-Day, when some 156,000 Allied forces landed on five beaches along the coast of France’s Normandy region. One of the largest military assaults in history, it required complex planning. Before D-Day, the Allies conducted a deception campaign designed to mislead the Germans about the intended invasion target. The following spring, the Allies had defeated Germany. Has been called the beginning of the end of war in Europe. About 425,000 casualties for both sides. -
Battle of the Bulge
Referred to the bulge in the Allied battle line created by German advance. Hitler's forces threatened to win back vital ground. The Belgian city of Bastogne was an important crossroads, making the Germans determined to take it, but not as determined as the Americans. On December 26, Liteutenant General George S. Patton led troops that provided relief for the American force. The victory at Bastogne helped blunt German offensive, and became a symbol for American strength and determination. -
Battle of the Bulge
By the end of January 1945, the bulge created by German offensive had been rolled back. The Allies set their sights on Germany and the defeat of Hitler. The Allies' victory was close. The Americans suffered some 75,000 casualties, but the Germans lost 80,000 to l00,000. It was Hitler's last defense, and he lost. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
In the final weeks of April 1945, the steady destruction of German resistance continued. One by one, Soviet Union's units met up with other Allied forces. At the same time, Berlin was under heavy bombardment. After realizing all hope was lost, Hitler committed suicide in his Berlin bunker on April 30, 1945, bringing fighting to a halt. Berlin surrendered on May 2. -
V-E Day
After news of Hitler's death spread, fighting came to a halt, and on May 2, Berlin surrendered. Other German armies also gave up, and Karl Donitz, who had taken over as Germany's leader following Hitler's death, agreed to surrender on May 7. The surrender was to take effect on May 8. America proclaimed this day as Victory in Europe Day, or V-E Day. The Allies had won, with only over 60 million people killed in the war.
