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Turning Points in the European Theater

Explore key turning points in the European theater during World War II, including the Battle of the Atlantic, the North African campaign, strategic bombing, the Battle of Stalingrad, the invasion of Italy, D-Day, the Battle of Kursk, and the Battle of the Bulge.

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Turning Points in the European Theater

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  1. Turning Points in the European Theater

  2. Battle of the Atlantic • US & Britain vs. Germany • German U-Boats tried to sink Allied merchant ships • (US sending supplies to Britain and USSR)

  3. North Africa • US & Britain vs. Germany & Italy • Eisenhower & Montgomery vs. Rommel, “The Desert Fox” • Desert warfare, tanks, seesaw battle • Allies win!

  4. Strategic Bombing • British & American bombers vs. German factories & cities - “Total War” • B-17 “Flying Fortress” • Dresden Fire Bombing

  5. With a Partner Why was Dresden full of refugees? Why will the number of deaths never be known? Which theory is most reasonable as a cause for the bombing of Dresden? Why were the bombs so deadly? Were they conventional bombs? What was the response of the German population in Dresden to the Allied bombing?

  6. Before After

  7. Before After

  8. Before After

  9. The Eastern Front

  10. Battle of Stalingrad • Largest battle in history! • Over 1 million killed • Hitler wanted to take Russia's oil fields • Stalin ordered his army and civilians to defend the city at all costs • Russia “won” - stopped the German advance, captured German army

  11. Invasion of Italy • “The soft underbelly of Europe” • Series of amphibious landings and airborne assaults • Italian army surrendered quickly, Mussolini fled • German troops reinforce Northern Italy; fierce fighting

  12. Invasion of France • June 6, 1944 • “Operation Overlord” • “D-Day” • Largest amphibious assault in history • US, British, and Canadian troops attack 5 beaches in Normandy (France) • Fierce resistance on Omaha Beach (Saving Private Ryan), 6,000 Americans killed

  13. Invasion of France • Allies win, send millions of reinforcements into France • France liberated on August 25th, 1944

  14. Russian Counteroffensive • Battle of Kursk – largest tank battle in history (3000+ tanks) • Ended in a draw, but Germany retreated out of Russia • Red Army slowly pushes Nazis back through Poland and then invades Germany

  15. Battle of the Bulge!

  16. “Hitler's Last Gamble”

  17. Germany in the West • Battle of the Bulge • Allies closing in on Germany from both sides • Hitler's last offensive – all out attack on the American lines • Panzers push Americans back, but lines do not break – they only bulge • Germans run out of gas and retreat

  18. The Defeat of Germany

  19. The Yalta Conference

  20. Yalta The Crimean Peninsula in the Ukraine The Big 3 – Stalin – Soviet Union FDR – US Churchill – Great Britain Purpose - To plan for postwar peace following the defeat of Hitler

  21. Agreements Reached 1. Stalin pledged to declare war on Japan three months after the surrender of Germany 2. All agreed to divide Germany & Berlin following the war 3. Outlined plans for a new international peace organization

  22. Roosevelt Wins 4th Term The war convinced FDR to run for his 4th term Won easily with Harry Truman as his running mate

  23. The Allies Reach Berlin

  24. The Race To Berlin March 1945 The Allies crossed the Rhine River into the heart of Germany The Soviets occupied most of Eastern Europe Gen. Eisenhower allows Russians to take Berlin Hitler orders Berlin defended to last man – fighting street to street

  25. Berlin Falls

  26. April 30, 1945 Hitler commits suicide in his bunker under Berlin May 8, 1945 V-E Day (Victory in Europe)

  27. Quickwrite Look over your notes from today's lesson... • Which event do you think was the biggest “turning point” for the Allies? - Rank the events from most significant to least (1=most, 8=least) • Battle of the Atlantic, North Africa, Strategic bombing, Battle of Stalingrad, Invasion of Italy, D-Day, Battle of Kursk, Battle of the Bulge • Explain the reasoning for your first and last picks

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