Section 2: War in Africa and EuropeSection 2: War in Africa and Europe

What was really tough about WWII What was really tough about WWII was:was:

we were fighting 2 wars at oncewe were fighting 2 wars at once One in Europe One in Europe

(against the (against the Germans and Germans and Italians)Italians)

One in the One in the Pacific (against Pacific (against the Japanese)the Japanese)

When the Japanese attacked When the Japanese attacked

the U.S. had to get ready to fight right awaythe U.S. had to get ready to fight right away.. Any man 18-38 had to register Any man 18-38 had to register

for military service.for military service.

The U.S. forces includedThe U.S. forces included 1,000,000 African Americans 1,000,000 African Americans 300,000 Mexican Americans300,000 Mexican Americans 300,000 women300,000 women 51,438 Puerto Ricans51,438 Puerto Ricans 13,311 Chinese13,311 Chinese 20,080 Japanese20,080 Japanese 1,320 Hawaiians1,320 Hawaiians 19,567 American Indians19,567 American Indians 11,506 Filipinos 11,506 Filipinos

The first place the allies concentrated The first place the allies concentrated on: Europe and Northern Africaon: Europe and Northern Africa

Allies in Europe were Allies in Europe were led by General led by General Eisenhower (9).Eisenhower (9).

Winning back Africa Winning back Africa happened pretty happened pretty quick.quick.

Defeating Italy didn’t Defeating Italy didn’t take too long either take too long either (Italy was mad at (Italy was mad at Mussolini and put him Mussolini and put him in jail).in jail).

The Germans were still fighting all over The Germans were still fighting all over Europe – including the Soviet Union, where…Europe – including the Soviet Union, where…

The Germans had endure the The Germans had endure the horrible Russian winter and horrible Russian winter and were pushed back.were pushed back.

Hitler concentrated on the Hitler concentrated on the rest of Europe, but that rest of Europe, but that eventually started to fall eventually started to fall apart on him, beginning apart on him, beginning when…when…

The propaganda message on this Russian The propaganda message on this Russian postcard is:postcard is:

This is the living space that the German This is the living space that the German soldier found at the Eastern Front. Six soldier found at the Eastern Front. Six feet under the soil and a birch cross on feet under the soil and a birch cross on the ground. Like a shroud the snow the ground. Like a shroud the snow covers the fallen, the wind whistles, the covers the fallen, the wind whistles, the crows can "K-r-r-Kraut, Kraut." Hitler has crows can "K-r-r-Kraut, Kraut." Hitler has lied to you, German soldiers. He has lied to you, German soldiers. He has promised you the capture of Moscow but promised you the capture of Moscow but gave you maiming and death. On gave you maiming and death. On Christmas Eve German women weep for Christmas Eve German women weep for Hitler's victims. You, who are left alive, Hitler's victims. You, who are left alive, finish with Hitler! Finish with the war!finish with Hitler! Finish with the war!

The Allies started a huge invasion of The Allies started a huge invasion of Europe – starting on June 6Europe – starting on June 6thth, 1944 , 1944 (D-Day) (D-Day)

(15)(15) (by the way – D in D-day doesn’t stand for anything – it’s a random army (by the way – D in D-day doesn’t stand for anything – it’s a random army

letter).letter). This was the largest This was the largest

sea invasion in history.sea invasion in history. The Allies ended up The Allies ended up

successfully attacking successfully attacking and moving to Paris, and moving to Paris, but…but…

Total Allied casualties Total Allied casualties on D-Day are on D-Day are estimated at 10,000, estimated at 10,000, The US forces lost The US forces lost 6603 men. 6603 men.

Over 425,000 Allied and German troops were Over 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, wounded or went missing during the Battle killed, wounded or went missing during the Battle of Normandyof Normandy. This figure includes over 209,000 . This figure includes over 209,000 Allied casualties, with nearly 37,000 dead Allied casualties, with nearly 37,000 dead amongst the ground forces and a further 16,714 amongst the ground forces and a further 16,714 deaths amongst the Allied air forces. Of the Allied deaths amongst the Allied air forces. Of the Allied casualties, 83,045 were from 21st Army Group casualties, 83,045 were from 21st Army Group (British, Canadian and Polish ground forces), (British, Canadian and Polish ground forces), 125,847 from the US ground forces. The losses of 125,847 from the US ground forces. The losses of the German forces during the Battle of Normandy the German forces during the Battle of Normandy can only be estimated. Roughly 200,000 German can only be estimated. Roughly 200,000 German troops were killed or wounded. The Allies also troops were killed or wounded. The Allies also captured 200,000 prisoners of war (not included captured 200,000 prisoners of war (not included in the 425,000 total, above). During the fighting in the 425,000 total, above). During the fighting around the Falaise Pocket (August 1944) alone, around the Falaise Pocket (August 1944) alone, the Germans suffered losses of around 90,000, the Germans suffered losses of around 90,000, including prisoners. including prisoners.

There was still more fighting There was still more fighting and many battlesand many battles

One of the last of One of the last of these battles was these battles was the the Battle of the Battle of the Bulge (19).Bulge (19).

120,000 German 120,000 German casualtiescasualties

80,000 Americans 80,000 Americans killed, captured, or killed, captured, or wounded.wounded.

The Germans The Germans had some good skills at fighting had some good skills at fighting

wars.wars. The The LuftwaffeLuftwaffe

(extra page in (extra page in packets) was one packets) was one of the best air of the best air forces in the world.forces in the world.

But these just But these just weren't enoughweren't enough

After more fighting…. By April, After more fighting…. By April, 1945, Hitler knew the end was 1945, Hitler knew the end was

nearnear He was in his bunker in He was in his bunker in

Berlin (with his Berlin (with his girlfriend – Eva Braun).girlfriend – Eva Braun).

They took cyanide, shot They took cyanide, shot themselves, and had themselves, and had his men burn their his men burn their bodies.bodies.

He didn’t want to be He didn’t want to be captured alive and he captured alive and he didn’t want the Allies didn’t want the Allies “showing off” his dead “showing off” his dead body.body.

5 days later – Germany 5 days later – Germany surrendered (V-E Day).surrendered (V-E Day).

This picture was taken on V-E Day (Victory in Europe)

When allied troops reached Berlin they made a When allied troops reached Berlin they made a horrifying discovery – the victims of the horrifying discovery – the victims of the Holocaust Holocaust

(30)(30)

They eventually They eventually captured some of the captured some of the leaders of this atrocity, leaders of this atrocity, put them on trial and put them on trial and several were executed.several were executed.

Hitler called this plan his “final solution” (32)

The top picture is from “Kristallnacht” – extra page in your packets

High altitude High altitude Freezing Freezing Sulfanilamide Sulfanilamide Twins Twins Poison Poison Tuberculosis Tuberculosis Phosgene Phosgene Bone, muscle, and Bone, muscle, and

joint transplantation joint transplantation Sterilization Sterilization Artificial Artificial

insemination insemination Seawater Seawater

High altitude High altitude Freezing Freezing Sulfanilamide Sulfanilamide Twins Twins Poison Poison Tuberculosis Tuberculosis Phosgene Phosgene Bone, muscle, and Bone, muscle, and

joint transplantation joint transplantation Sterilization Sterilization Artificial Artificial

insemination insemination Seawater Seawater