World War II

War in Europe

Allied Strategy

Allies (Great Britain, United States, and Soviet Union)

“Defeat Hitler First” strategy Most American military forces were

targeted for Europe

Axis Strategy

Germany hoped to defeat the Soviet Union quickly and gain control of Soviet oil fields

Hoped to force Britain out of the war through a bombing campaign and submarine warfare

Do all of this before America’s industrial strength could turn the tide

World War II in Europe

September 3, 1939 – Great Britain and France declared war on Germany

April 1940 – Hitler conquered Denmark and Norway

May 1940 – Hitler conquered Netherlands and Belgium

Map of Hitler’s Invasion of Europe

World War II in Europe

June 1940 – France fell to Germany

Hitler's invasion of France

August 12, 1940 – Battle of Britain Began Bombing of

England London Blitz (57

nights) Germany ended the

bombing in June 1941

Bombing of Britain

London Blitz

June 1941 – Operation Barbarossa Germany’s invasion

of Russia to gain more land (living space) and natural resources

1942 - Stalingrad

Hundreds of thousands of German soldiers were killed or captured in a months-long siege of the Russian city of Stalingrad

This defeat prevented Germany from seizing the Soviet oil fields and turned the tide against Germany in the East

Battle of Stalingrad

1942 – El Alamein

German forces threaten to seize Egypt and the Suez Canal were defeated by the British.

This defeat prevented Hitler from gaining access to Middle Eastern oil supplies and potentially attacking the Soviet Union from the South

June 6, 1944 – D-Day

Allied invasion of France Led by Eisenhower Liberation of Western Europe from Hitler

began D-Day Invasion

D Day

D Day

D Day

December 1944• Battle of the Bulge Germany's last attempt to defeat the allies1.Slowed the Allied advance2.Hitler's last success3.Opened way to allied invasion of Germany

May 7, 1945 – V-E Day

V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) Germany surrendered

V-E Day