Key Battles of WWII

Nazi Blitzkrieg

• September 1939 – WWII starts, starting WWII

• July 1940 – most of Europe has surrendered to Nazi Germany, including France

• July-October 1940 – Battle of Britain• June 1941 – Operation Barbarossa– German invasion of the Soviet Union

Theaters of WWII• 2 major theaters–European–Pacific

• Other theaters–African–Mid-East

Germany’s Two Front War

• West – France, Britain, U.S., and everything else west of Germany

• East – Russia– opened on June 22, 1941– Operation Barbarossa– broke the Non-Aggression Pact– Hitler’s biggest mistake of World War II

Major Battles in the Soviet Union

• 1942-1943 – Battle of Stalingrad– potential last stand of the Soviet Union– huge Soviet victory!!!– results in the complete destruction of

the German 6th Army– turns the war in the Allies’ favor

• 1941-1944 – Siege of Leningrad• 1943 – Battle of Kursk

Turning Points in Europe

• 1940 – Battle of Britain• 1943 – Battle of Stalingrad• 1944 – D-Day (Operation Overlord)– Allied invasion of Normandy, France

• 1945 – Battle of the Bulge

Turning Points in the Pacific

• 1942 – Battle of Coral Sea• 1942 – Battle of Midway• 1945 – Battle of Iwo Jima

WWII Turning Points T-Chart

• Create a T-Chart comparing these major turning points in WWII:– Battle of Stalingrad– Battle of Midway– D-Day– Battle of Britain– Battle of the Bulge

WWII Turning Points T-Chart

• Name• Date (month & year; began & ended)• Location• Who was involved?• Winner• Why was it significant?• DUE ON FRIDAY