European Theater of Operations 1941-1945

Soviet Union: Operation Barbarossa Germany invades Underestimation of Soviet war abilities Failure of Blitzkrieg Scorched-Earth Policy (remember Napoleon?) War in the east 1941-1945 Beginning of End for Germany

Germany invades

Underestimation of Soviet war abilities

Failure of Blitzkrieg

Scorched-Earth Policy (remember Napoleon?)

War in the east 1941-1945

Beginning of End for Germany

Dec 7th 1941 US enters the War Japanese attack US at Pearl Harbor Hawaii US declares war on Japan Germany and Italy declare war on US US joins Allies (USSR & Britain)

Japanese attack US at Pearl Harbor Hawaii

US declares war on Japan

Germany and Italy declare war on US

US joins Allies (USSR & Britain)

North Africa 1941-1943 Germans invade North Africa 1941 US and British win by 1943 Importance of this region: Suez Canal Access to oil fields of the Middle East Staging base to invade Europe from South Manipulating nationalism, avenging failed promises of post-WWI Protectorates

Germans invade North Africa 1941

US and British win by 1943

Importance of this region:

Suez Canal

Access to oil fields of the Middle East

Staging base to invade Europe from South

Manipulating nationalism, avenging failed promises of post-WWI Protectorates

Allies Invade Italy 1943 1943 US & British invade Italy Itlay surrenders but Germans are sent in by Hitler to rescue Mussolini Fighting continues up the Italian Penninsula until the end of the war

1943 US & British invade Italy

Itlay surrenders but Germans are sent in by Hitler to rescue Mussolini

Fighting continues up the Italian Penninsula until the end of the war

D-Day: June 1944 Allies invade Normandy France Nazies slowly give up land as British and American troops press inland.

Allies invade Normandy France

Nazies slowly give up land as British and American troops press inland.

Allied Break Through: July 1944

Germans fight a Strategic Withdrawal Great Britain and US attack from the West Soviets attack and press in from the East

Great Britain and US attack from the West

Soviets attack and press in from the East

Some German Army Officers try to take control July 20 th 1944 Assassination attempt on Hitler fails Many high ranking army officers are implicated and killed.

July 20 th 1944 Assassination attempt on Hitler fails

Many high ranking army officers are implicated and killed.

Paris is Liberated US troops enter Paris on August 25, 1944

US troops enter Paris on August 25, 1944

A Chain of Allied Victories Sept 1944 Belgium is liberated Oct 1944 Allies enter Germany Allies believe the War will be over by Christmas

Sept 1944 Belgium is liberated

Oct 1944 Allies enter Germany

Allies believe the War will be over by Christmas

The Battle of the Bulge Allies underestimated Germany’s ability to still fight Dec 16-27 1944 Germans smash through allied lines in the Ardennes Forest but are soon out gunned and out of gas!

Allies underestimated Germany’s ability to still fight

Dec 16-27 1944 Germans smash through allied lines in the Ardennes Forest but are soon out gunned and out of gas!

Germans Retreat into Germany January – February 1945 the German Army retreats into Germany itself. Allies follow

January – February 1945 the German Army retreats into Germany itself.

Allies follow

The Eastern Juggernaut Soviet Red Army presses in from the east and enters Poland in Jan 1945. By March 1945 the Red Army enters Germany itself. Revenge is taken.

Soviet Red Army presses in from the east and enters Poland in Jan 1945.

By March 1945 the Red Army enters Germany itself.

Revenge is taken.

The End in sight April 21, 1945 the Red Army reaches Berlin and encircles the city April 25 US and Soviet forces meet up April 30 Hitler commits suicide May 7 th 1945 Germany surrenders unconditionally to the Allies

April 21, 1945 the Red Army reaches Berlin and encircles the city

April 25 US and Soviet forces meet up

April 30 Hitler commits suicide

May 7 th 1945 Germany surrenders unconditionally to the Allies

May 8 th 1945 VE DAY