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