Chapter 12:D-Day and Allied Advance in Europe

Review: Different battle strategies

General Dwight D. Eisenhower- Supreme Allied Commander

Get ready

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J_FoO--Z-c

D-Day

• Code-named Operation Overlord• June 6, 1944• Allies invaded Normandy, France• Goal-allow the Allied troops to gain a foothold

in France and Europe• Read article

Video clip

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFQIuF590B4&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DmFQIuF590B4&has_verified=1

Breakthrough• By June 11: 326,000 troops, 54,000 vehicles, and over

100,000 tons of supplies to France• By the end of June 1944: Allied forces broke through

German defenses completely and captured the port city of Cherbourg. Allied troops flow into France.

• Allied troops liberate Paris, France August 1944• American infantry chased the retreating Germans across the

rest of France

• British, Canadian, and U.S troops pushed the Germans from the west and Soviets pushed from the east.

Battle of the Bulge

• December 16, 1944- January 25, 1945• Final German offensive – hoped to split Allies• Germany attacked Allied forces in Ardennes

forest region of France – made “bulge” in line• Bloodiest battle of WWII• 80,000 American casualties• Allied forces held and pushed back the

Germans

Meanwhile in the U.S.

• Roosevelt elected to unprecedented 4th term in 1944

• “The Big Three” (Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin) meet at the Yalta Conference to discuss the actions to be taken after the war was over.

Continued

• Roosevelt died shortly after the conference on April 12, 1945

• Harry S. Truman becomes president

March to Germany

• The Battle of the Bulge leaves German reserves depleted

• The Luftwaffe, Germany’s mighty air force, shattered

• April 25, 1945 American and Soviet troops shake hands at Torgau in east Germany

• April 30, 1945 Hitler commits suicide in Berlin

VE Day

• May 8, 1945 Germany surrenders unconditionally

Important Events in World War II Europe

• July-1942-February 1943-Battle of Stalingrad• June 6-1944-D-Day• August 1944-France is liberated• December 1944-January 1945-Battle of the Bulge• February 1945-Yalta Conference• April 1945-Hitler, Mussolini, Roosevelt die (Harry Truman

takes over for Roosevelt)• VE Day-May 8-1945

• Fighting Continues in Asia

VE (Victory Europe) Day – May 8, 1945

• Interactive websites – on my home page under homework