Turning points of world war 2

1. Turning points of world war 2 The events that led to the end Canadian History

2. The tides turn The Italian situation • In 1942 the war strength began to turn in favour of the allies • British and American troops began to push back successfully against the German and Italian armies in North Africa • Marshall Rommel, aka the “Desert Fox” led these axis forces • The Russians fought against the Germans in the Battle of Stalingrad– the winter was too harsh for the Germans • In February 1943, the once proud German Battalion (6th Army) surrendered • The Russians took 90 000 prisoners and now the Soviet’s who were betrayed by Germany sought revenge • Together, these two armies, strong and determined, turned their efforts to Berlin

3. The United States advances The US recovered quickly after Pearl Harbour and set their sights on Japan They defeated the Japanese Navy at Midway Island China was also trying to fight off the Japanese with their army British and Commonwealth (New Zealand etc) were approaching from the south

4. The Italian defeat • Canadian soldiers hadn’t been involved in any large attacks since Dieppe • Under the leadership of General Montgomery “the battle of Sicily” began • This battle was fought over 38 days (July) • Mussolini’s dream of an Italian empire was crumbling as he realized the allied forces were coming for mainland Italy • His own people rebelled against him and threw him out of power in 1943 • Hitler moves his troops into Italy to defend it— • Not to help Mussolini but to defend an open bridge to Germany Sicily

5. The liberation of Italy 91000 Canadians fought in Italy, it was a long and hard battle– more than 30 000 were wounded or killed. The Germans did try hard too with snipers hiding in the mountains. • Along the way, the Italians who supported to allied forces helped them along the way • In the Battle of Ortona, 1375 Canadians died • The Germans went door to door fighting in this town • It took a month to capture this town– Canadians were very good at street fighting • They developed “the mouse holing technique” • They used explosives to blast a hole in the attic through houses that were connected to gain access to houses in a row • They would clear the house and then move to the next

6. Is the name given to the long awaited Invasion of France • Canadians, Americans, New Zealanders, Indian, South African, French and Polish armies marched towards France after conquering Italy D –Day

7. D-day continued… • D-day was code named Operation Overlord • Everything was set and in place the only concern was the weather– high winds meant that the ships couldn’t dock • June 6th became the final date for D-day (a day after it was planned) • Germans were set up in a port town in France called Calais– they used the natural coast line to guard the take back of France • The Allied forces set up a MOCK/FAKE camp to trick the Germans into thinking that they were setting up camp in another place • They set up fake tents, inflatable tanks and dummy ships etc

8. The Battle of Normandy- D-day • The Allied forces having tricked the Germans that they were located elsewhere, they attacked on the beaches of Normandy • Bombers pounded the German base • They learnt from Dieppe and knew they couldn’t invade from the port== they had to be dropped behind them

9. Normandy Connection today

10. D-day Plan Strategy • The allied planned 5 points of invasion • Utah and Omaha for the Americans • Gold and Sword for the British • Juno for the Canadians • For Canadians, it was a long day of battle– 340 were killed, 574 wounded– 13 000 in total Canadians wounded in the battles to follow • Canadians advanced the farthest inland

11. Juno Beach There were a few complications with Juno, the ground troops really succeeded in this storm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6QvsHkIRgg The documentary is rated PG-13– there is a “bad” word said

12. Key Moments • The A-Bomb (Atomic bomb) or Mushroom Cloud in Hiroshima • On August 6th 1945 an American bomber dropped the first Atomic bomb in history • The bomb was dropped by an American plane and drifted to ground • Your body melted from the heat of the blast • 173 000 people died and hundreds were poisoned from the remnants • The Americans demanded the Japanese surrender--- they did not • Another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki • They finally surrendered on August 15th 1945 • Known as V-J day • Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwkyPvlWPM0

13. Key Moments • Berlin • 11 months before D-day, Soviet troops now fighting against Germany met in Berlin and fought in Central Germany • Canadians were given the duty of capturing and clearing ports along the way to Berlin to allow allied ships to dock • On Sept. 8th 1944 Canadian forces entered Dieppe again on foot and were victors! • Holland • 1945 saw the freeing of Holland by the Canadian troops • Canadians stormed German troops in the Dutch land and were received by locals with much appreciation and warmth

14. The end of Dictatorships On April 25 1945 Mussolini was captured and shot by his own people They strung his body by a hook and displayed it in a major city (Milan)

15. Then…. In an underground bunker, Hitler listens to the advancing troops (Soviets) in Berlin (April 28th ) • He shot himself with a revolver and ordered his body burned, so he could not be publicly displayed or humiliated • On May 8th 1945- Germany surrendered • This was known as V-E Day • Victory in Europe Day

16. The Result of all of this? Exhausted countries, anger, bitterness, confusion The Atomic bomb opened a whole new RACE to arms The league of Nations were now replaced by the United Nations Could peace be kept? Is there a New World Order? Power?