1) The document summarizes major events of World War 2 from 1939 to 1945, including Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, key battles like Stalingrad and Midway that marked turning points, the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day 1944, and Hitler's suicide in 1945 as Nazi Germany fell. 2) It describes Germany's early successes against the Soviet Union before getting stopped outside Moscow in late 1941. Fighting was brutal as Germans often killed Soviet prisoners and civilians on both sides were targeted. 3) Major Allied operations that turned the tide included the invasion of Italy in 1943, D-Day in 1944, and the Battle of the Bulge where Germany launched its last major offensive in late 1944

1. The German invasion of the Soviet Union Hitler’s Big Mistake

2. June 1941 Operation Barbarossa

3. Over 3 MILLION German soldiers (more than 130 Divisions) and over 3,000 tanks blitz into the Soviet Union

4. Germans Blitzkrieg the Soviet front line forces Soviets cut off Hundreds of thousands surrender Germans advance on Leningrad, Moscow and the Southern Caucasus Region

5. “The Cauldron Battles:

6. 665,000 Red Army soldiers surrender on 25 August at Kiev

7. The Opening Phases Stalin was so surprised he was paralyzed by fear. Cant make a decision Stalin finally announces a scorched earth policy If it can be moved east - move it. If it can’t – burn it. Just like Russians did against Napoleon Soviets move entire factories to the east to keep them from getting captured Then reassemble them and start churning out equipment even before the walls are in place or the roof is on

8. A Brutal War Soviets never signed Geneva Convention Germans often shot Soviet prisoners In return, Soviets shoot German prisoners Civilians targeted Massacres on both sides

10. Enemy At The Gates Germans reach the outskirts of Moscow. Leningrad is surrounded and under siege Stalin brings in Marshal Zhukov from Siberia One of the few generals to survive the Great Purge

11. Citizens of Moscow prepare to defend the city Will the Germans capture Moscow?

13. Then the first snows of winter begin to fall Germans still have summer uniforms!

14. Soviets are nice and warm in their winter uniforms Germans can not take Moscow. Barely hold on during the winter But they will try again in the spring

15. Under German Control at end of 1941

16. Meanwhile: In the Pacific Japan taking over much of China Many atrocities “ Rape of Nanking” US cuts off exports to Japan Oil, scrap metal. Japan looks to Southeast Asia to get the resources it needs But first it must make sure the US navy can not intervene to stop them.

17. Tojo – if you don’t stop killing Chinese, we will cut off your oil Do not threaten us! That’s it, no oil for you Then we will have to take it from somewhere else

19. Dec 7 th , 1941 US Fleet at Pearl Harbor Hawaii bombed By Japanese

21. US Enters the War Dec 8 th 1941, US declares war on Japan Dec 9 th 1941 – Germany declares war on US

22. The Limits of Japanese Expansion (Spring 1942)

24. 1942 – The Year the War Changed US is now in the war Germans stopped at Stalingrad by Soviets Germans stopped at El Alamein in North Africa by British Americans land in North Africa to help Brits Japanese stopped by the US at the Battle of Midway in the Pacific

26. 1942 Germans finally halted at Stalingrad Tried for 4 months to take city House to house, even room to room fighting January of 1943 Russians counterattack. 330,000 German troops killed or captured

27. Africa and Italy Continued 1942 – 1943 US and British seize Sicily and then invade Italy Italy surrenders in 1943. Mussolini overthrown and executed by Italian mob Germans continue to occupy and fight in Italy

28. Under German Control

30. 1943 - Allies invade Italy Mussolini arrested by King of Italy Germans occupy Italy and continue to fight

33. The Return to France Build up to D-Day

39. D-Day June 6, 1944

40. The Normandy Invasion “Operation Overlord” D-Day, June 6 th , 1944. US, British, Canadian and Free French forces land in Normandy (Northwest coast of France) Allied Troops under command of Gen. Dwight D Eisenhower.

43. OOOPS!!

46. August 1944 – The Breakout Allies fight hard in Normandy during summer. Then break out and race across France. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/launch_ani_overlord_campaign.shtml Germany seems about to surrender

51. September 1944 Allies outrun their supply capability Run out of gas “ A Bridge Too Far” Germans regroup. Plan for counteroffensive in the winter

52. December 1944 Battle of the Bulge German Counteroffensive Attack through Ardennes Forrest. Same as in 1940 Germany’s Last Great Roll of the Dice Initially very successful, then allies counterattack and defeat the Germans. 101 st Airborne holds Bastogne Germany has lost its last shot at the war.

56. The End for Hitler and the Nazis May 1945 – Hitler kills himself

58. To Review Sept. 1 1939 – Germany invades Poland, kicking off WWII May 1940 – Fall of France June 1940 – Battle of Britain Spring 1941 – Germany invades Balkans, Greece, Crete and moves into North Africa Late June 1941 – Germany invades Soviet Union Enjoys great success, until they are stopped just outside Moscow by Zhukov. German drive stops for winter

59. To Review Dec 7, 1941 – Japan bombs Pearl Harbor Hawaii US declares war on Japan. Germany declares war on US Between Dec 1941 and June 1942 -Japanese capture the Philippines, many islands in the Pacific, Singapore, Southeast Asia, and threaten Australia June 1942 – Battle of Midway Turning point in the Pacific Summer1942 – Germany launches new offensive in Russia – Target: Stalingrad Nov 1942 – Americans land on West Coast of North Africa – Trap Rommel between the British and the US forces Dec 1942 – Germans surrounded at Stalingrad Turning point on the Russian Front

60. To Review July 1943 – US / British invade Sicily Sep 1943 – US / British finish off Sicily and invade Italy Italy surrenders but Germans in Italy keep fighting Nov 1943 – Soviets drive Germans back to Kiev (in the Ukraine) June 6, 1944 – D-Day – The invasion of Normandy in France Beginning of the end for Germans Dec 1944 – Battle of the Bulge Germans last offensive Counterattack US forces through the Ardennes May 1944 – Soviets assault Berlin. VE Day.