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The Battle of the Atlantic
For the US and the Allies, defeating the Axis Powers depended largely on control of the seas. The purpose of this battle was to gain control of the waters. Germany had a powerful navy, and when Great Britain finally sank the Bismark, the pride of the German fleet, Germany began to rely on the U-boats. They used the "wolf pack" tactic, sending U-boats in groups mostly at night to attack the Allies' ships. There was a period where the U-boats ruled called "happy time." -
The Battle of the Atlantic
During this time, U-boats sank hundreds of ships and tons of supplies, while Germany only lost a few dozen U-boats. America's entry into the war would turn the tides because of their energized shipyards, producing ships at amazing rates for better-equipped convoys to defend against the U-boats. Also, the Allies cracked Germany's code system, Enigma. Now they can gain vital information and plans of U-boat information. with their U-boat defense and new information, the Allies eventually won. -
The Battle of the Atlantic
The US Navy lost about 30,000 men while Germany lost about 28,000 sailors. This adds up to about 58,000 casualties total. -
Battle of Britain
Britain’s decisive 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
In the summer and fall of 1940, German and British air forces clashed in the skies over the United Kingdom, locked in the largest sustained bombing campaign to that date. A significant turning point of World War II, 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, ultimately, its civilian population. -
The Battle of Stalingrad
Stalingrad was a major industrial center on the Volga River, and Germany had plans to conquer it. The Germans began their assault in August of 1942, but the Soviets refused to let their city fall. When the Germans failed they left themselves vulnerable. With surviving Aixis troops surrendering, Hitler suffered a stunning defeat. Stalingrad marked Germany's collapes in the Soviet Union. Soviets began pushing Germany back, but at high costs. -
The Battle of Stalingrad
Germany lost nearly 2 million soldiers and the Soviest lost about 12 million soldiers. There were about 14 million casualties not including civilians. At a tremendous price though, the Soviets had won. -
Battle of El Alamein, Egypt
Throughout 1941 and 1942, Erwin Rommel's forces and the British fought back-and-forth battle for control of North Africa. Though Rommel led brilliantly-- it was here he earned his nickname Desert Fox-- the British ultimately gained control. At the battle of El Alamein, fought about the same time as the Battle of Stalingrad, the British handed the Germans a major defeat. -
Operation Torch
The commander of what came to be called Operation Torch was a US lieutenant general named Dwight D. Eisenhower. The plan called for American forces to invade the North African countries of Morocco and Algeria in November 1942. France had controlled this territory before 1940. After the fall of France, Vichy leaders were installed there. Stille, the Allies hoped that the French in Notth Africa would side with themin battle. Indeed, the Allies met little resistance upon landing, French joined them -
Operation Torch
After landing, Allied forces turned east to fight the Germans. In battles at places such as Kasserine Pass, Americans gained valuable combat experience. Some 20,000 Americans were killed or wounded in six months of North Africa fighting. But by May 1943, they had helped defeat Rommel's forces. -
Invasion of Sicily / Italy
Hitler, however, was not going to let the Allies simply march through Italy and into Europe. German forces rushed to stop them. Despite German resistance, the Allies made steady progress at first. Taking part in the fighting were the Tuskegee Airmen. This was a segregated unit of African Americans, the first ever to receive training as pilots in the US military. -
Invasion of Sicily / Italy
After its early success, the Allied invasion slowed as it approached Rome. To keep it moving, the Allies planned to land a large force behind enemy lines. The site they chose for this landing was a seafront resort called Anzio. In late January, the first of some 100,000 Allied soldiers went ashore at Anzio. Fighting raged for the next four months as the Allies were unable to break out of their snall coastal beachland. -
Invasion of Sicily / Italy
Finally, Allied forces from the south fought their way to Anzio and freed the trappe soldiers. By then, from 25,000 to 30,000 Allied soldiers had been killed or wounded. The end of the battle at Anzio, however, did not end the fighting in Italy. It continued for nearly a year. Some 300,000 Allied troops were killed or wounded there. -
Invasion of Sicily / Italy
The first major step in this assault was the July 1943 invasion of the island of Sicily. Soon after the attack began, Roosevelt and Churchill issued a message to the Italian people asking them "whether they want to die for Mussolini and Hitler or live for Italy and civilization." The Italians chose life. By the end of the month, they had turned against dictator Benito Mussolini and forced him frim power. The Allies took Sicily a few weeks later. The planned nect to occupy the Italian Peninsula. -
Operation Overlord
To end the was as quickly as possible, the Allies wanted to launch a large invasion of mainland Europe. Eisenhower commanded the mission and chose General Omar Bradley to lead Ameican troops. The US were introduced the new German weapons, the V1 flying bomb, and the V2 rocket. In early June 1944, the Allied forces set out to meet German forces in Normandy. There was a 2 day delay from bad weather... The D-Day finally arrived. Little went according to plan. Still, soldiers stuck to the plan. -
Operation Overlord
The Allies won with and estimated 10,000 casualties. D-Day had been a success. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Germans launched a suprise offensive. The name reffered to the bulge in the Allied battle lines created by the German advance, threatening to win back ground. A key moment came at Bastogne, an important crossroads defended by a small American force. Lieutenant General George S Patton provided relief for the American force there, and they won the battle. The battle became a symbol of American strenght and determination. The bulge created by the Germans had been rolled back. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
In the final weeks of April 1945, the steady destruction of the German resistance continued. Berlin was under heavy bombardment. On April 30 Hitler saw that all hope was lost and committed suicide in his Berlin bunker. As news of his death spread, fighting came to a halt. -
VE Day
News of Hitler's death spread and fighting came to a halt. Berlin surrendered on May 2. The German armies scattered elsewhere gave up the fight. Finally, Karl Donitz, who had taken over as Germany's leader, agreed to surrender on May 7. The surrender was to take effect on may 8, known as V-E Day, Victory in Europe Day.