The document summarizes key events of World War 2 in Europe. It describes how in May 1940, Germany launched a surprise attack on France and quickly defeated French forces, occupying Paris by June. Over 300,000 French troops were then evacuated from Dunkirk in June 1940. France officially surrendered later that month. The Battle of Britain and subsequent German bombing campaign, known as the Blitz, are also mentioned. Major battles and turning points discussed include Stalingrad, North Africa, Monte Cassino, and the Allied invasion of Italy. D-Day and the massive Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944 by Allied forces from the US, Britain, and Canada is summarized, with over 150,000 troops storming the beaches in northern

1. World War II Begins!

2. France Falls!
In May 1940, the
Germans attacked
France. the French army
was caught off guard.
Although both armies
were about equal in
strength in terms of
troops and tanks, the
Germans had superior
numbers of aircraft and
an invasion plan.
The blitzkrieg sent
French forces into a
confused retreat, and as
the Germans marched
into Paris on June 14,
the French government
collapsed.

3. Dunkirk Evacuated
June 4, 1940
Over 300,000 French Troops were successfully evacuated out of France.
Navy ships were hastily gathered and sent to the port of Dunkirk.
Troops waited their turn to be evacuated.
At the port, ships and beaches came under increasing aerial attack,
civilian small boats were sent across to help take men.

4. Dunkirk Evacuated
June 4, 1940

5. France
Surrenders
June, 1940
France LinkFrance Link

6. Royal Air Force SceneRoyal Air Force Scene

7. Battle of Britain:
The “Blitz”

8. Battle of Britain:
The “Blitz”

9. The London “Tube”:
Air Raid Shelters during the Blitz

10. The Royal Air Force

11. British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill

13. Operation Barbarossa:
Hitler’s Biggest Mistake

14. Turning Point:
Stalingrad
During the fall and early winter of
1941, German armored divisions had
advanced toward Moscow at a rapid
pace, capturing hundreds of thousands
of Soviet troops in the process.
But by the first week of December,
snow began falling, and temperatures
plunged to -40° F. The German
soldiers, not dressed for winter
weather, were freezing and losing their
will to fight. Their equipment also
froze, becoming useless. The Russian
winter finally accomplished what its
military had failed to do: It halted the
German offensive.
Results: 90% of City was in ruins. German army on defensive, 90,000
soldiers surrendered (only 5,000 later returned.)

15. Enemy at the Gates
Watch film clip about the Battle of
Stalingrad.

16. Axis Powers in 1942

18. Pearl Harbor - Dec. 7,
1941
A date which will live in infamy!

19. Japanese Admiral Isoroku
Yamamoto

20. Pearl Harbor from the Cockpit
of a Japanese Pilot

21. President Roosevelt
Signs the US
Declaration of War

22. Sinking of
the USS
Arizona

23. Pearl Harbor Memorial
2,887 Americans2,887 Americans
Dead!Dead!

24. Pacific Theater of Operations
- Seized Hong- Seized Hong
Kong and MalayaKong and Malaya
--
ConqueredConquered
Singapore and theSingapore and the
Dutch East IndiesDutch East Indies
(islands of Java,(islands of Java,
Sumatra, Borneo,Sumatra, Borneo,
and Celebes)and Celebes)
- Took Burma- Took Burma
(between China(between China
and India)and India)
- Captured the- Captured the
PhilippinesPhilippines
Japan had conquered more than 1 million square
miles of land with about 150 million people.

25. Turning Points: Africa and ItalyTurning Points: Africa and Italy
Operation Torch,
1942-43 El Alamein,
1942-43
Invasion of Sicily
and Italy, 1943
Operation Overlord
(D-Day), 1944

26. Invasion of AfricaInvasion of Africa
German Forces had been moving across
the North African desert under the
command of _____________________
(nicknamed the “Desert Fox”). North
Africa was considered the gateway to
Italy.
Erwin Rommel

27. Invasion of AfricaInvasion of Africa
1. Allies launch “_________________” - a surprise attack on German troops.
2. Led by American General_____________________________
3. Results: ___________________________________________Rommel’s troops defeated and pushed out of
Northern Africa
Operation Torch
Dwight D. Eisenhower

28. Invasion of ItalyInvasion of Italy
At the Casablanca Conference
held in January 1943, Winston
Churchill and Franklin D.
Roosevelt decided to launch an
invasion of Sicily and Italy. It
was led by General Patton.

29. Battle of Monte CassinoBattle of Monte Cassino
In 1943, twenty Allied divisions attacked a twenty-mile front in Italy known as Monte
Cassino. The German defenders held the high ground but were finally driven from
their positions. Allied victory came at a high cost, resulting in 55,000 Allied
casualties and around 20,000 German killed or wounded.
In 1943, twenty Allied divisions attacked a twenty-mile front in Italy known as Monte
Cassino. The German defenders held the high ground but were finally driven from
their positions. Allied victory came at a high cost, resulting in 55,000 Allied
casualties and around 20,000 German killed or wounded.

30. The Allies Liberate Rome:
June 5, 1944

31. By September 1943, Allied forces defeated Italian forces who withdrew from the
war. In 1945, Mussolini attempted to escape to Switzerland, only to be captured
and executed by Communist Italians. His body and his mistress, were taken to
Milan where it was hung upside down at a petrol station for public viewing.
By September 1943, Allied forces defeated Italian forces who withdrew from the
war. In 1945, Mussolini attempted to escape to Switzerland, only to be captured
and executed by Communist Italians. His body and his mistress, were taken to
Milan where it was hung upside down at a petrol station for public viewing.

32. These obstacles were specially designed to rip out the bottoms of landing craft or
blow them up before they reached the shore.
These obstacles were specially designed to rip out the bottoms of landing craft or
blow them up before they reached the shore.
The Atlantic WallThe Atlantic Wall

33. More than 150,000 men, a fleet of 5,000 ships and landing craft,
50,000 vehicles, and 11,000 planes were ready to secretly cross
the English Channel. This force was the largest armada in history!
More than 150,000 men, a fleet of 5,000 ships and landing craft,
50,000 vehicles, and 11,000 planes were ready to secretly cross
the English Channel. This force was the largest armada in history!

34. D-Day:D-Day: Operation OverlordOperation Overlord
On June 6, 1944, a force of about 152,000 Allied soldiers from theOn June 6, 1944, a force of about 152,000 Allied soldiers from the
United States, Britain, and Canada stormed the beaches ofUnited States, Britain, and Canada stormed the beaches of
Normandy in northern France, where they were supported by aboutNormandy in northern France, where they were supported by about
On June 6, 1944, a force of about 152,000 Allied soldiers from theOn June 6, 1944, a force of about 152,000 Allied soldiers from the
United States, Britain, and Canada stormed the beaches ofUnited States, Britain, and Canada stormed the beaches of
Normandy in northern France, where they were supported by aboutNormandy in northern France, where they were supported by about

35. Normandy
Landing
(June 6, 1944)
Higgins LandingHiggins Landing

36. "In wartime, truth is so precious that she must always be"In wartime, truth is so precious that she must always be
attended by a bodyguard of lies."attended by a bodyguard of lies."
Winston Churchill, 1943Winston Churchill, 1943
This 25-pound gun and
its carriage were made
from plywood
This 25-pound gun and
its carriage were made
from plywood

37. Military Decoy

38. Result: The Allied forces were successful in gaining a
foothold in Northern France. On August 25th
, 1944 the
Allied forces had liberated France and began pushing
German forces back.

39. Results of D-Day
Paris is liberated from German control
on August 25, 1944.
De Gaulle in Triumph!De Gaulle in Triumph!

40. D-Day was the largest seaborne invasion in history. The invasion at Normandy took
the Germans by surprise, because they expected an invasion from the narrowest part
of the English Channel. The Germans fought the invasion fiercely, but by the end of
the day, all five beaches were secured by the Allies.
D-Day was the largest seaborne invasion in history. The invasion at Normandy took
the Germans by surprise, because they expected an invasion from the narrowest part
of the English Channel. The Germans fought the invasion fiercely, but by the end of
the day, all five beaches were secured by the Allies.

41. European Theater of Operations