17.2 The War for Europe and North Africa: US History
Battle of Stalingrad
(1942) World War II battle between invading German forces and Soviet defenders for control of Stalingrad; each side sustained hundreds of thousands of casualties; Germany's defeat marked turning point in the war Unsuccessful German attack on the city of Stalingrad during World War II from 1942 to 1943, that was the furthest extent of German advance into the Soviet Union.
D-Day
(FDR) , June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which "we will accept nothing less than full victory." More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day's end on June 6, the Allies gained a foot- hold in Normandy.
Battle of the Atlantic
1940-1943 pitted German submarines against British and American naval and air forces in a struggle for control of the North Atlantic. Germany's naval attempt to cut off British supply ships by using u-boats. Caused Britain and the US to officially join the war after their ships were sunk. After this battle, the Allies won control of the seas, allowing them to control supply transfer, which ultimately determined the war. 1939-1945
Tuskegee Airmen
332 Fighter Group famous for shooting down over 200 enemy planes. African American pilots who trained at the Tuskegee flying school., all black unit of fighter pilots. trained in Tuskegee Alabama. won many awards for bravery and never lost a single pilot
Battle of the Bulge
A 1944-1945 battle in which Allied forces turned back the last major German offensive of World War II. -German tanks broke through weak American defenses--allies eventually pushed them back December, 1944-January, 1945 - After recapturing France, the Allied advance became stalled along the German border. In the winter of 1944, Germany staged a massive counterattack in Belgium and Luxembourg which pushed a 30 mile "bulge" into the Allied lines. The Allies stopped the German advance and threw them back across the Rhine with heavy losses.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
American General who began in North Africa and became the Commander of Allied forces in Europe. leader of the Allied forces in Europe then was elected to be Pres. of the USA
Omar Bradley
American general who led the ground forces at D Day A general of the twentieth century. Bradley commanded the United States ground forces in the liberation of France and the invasion of Germany in World War II.
Audie Murphy
American soldier who killed or wounded 50 enemy troops in Europe; later became famous movie star; buried in Arlington Cemetery
Harry S. Truman
Became president when FDR died; gave the order to drop the atomic bomb 1945-1953 In office as President of the U.S.
Operation Torch
Codename for allied invasion of North Africa from Novermber 1942 to September 1943 Allied forces lead by General Dwight D. Eisenhower landed within Morocco and Algeria. Thus Rommel's troops were finally forced out of Africa on May 1943. begun Nov 1942, American forces landed in Morocco and Algeria, and pressing eastward trapped the German and Italian armies being driven westward by the British, forcing German and Italian troops to surrender, despite Hitler's orders to fight to the death.
George Patton
Famous American General who fought in North Africa and Europe. Allied Commander of the Third Army. Was instrumental in winning the Battle of the Bulge. Considered one of the best military commanders in American history.
V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day)
May 8th, 1945 Germany Surrenders
Aachen
The first German city reached by the Allies
Majdanek
This death camp, located in Poland, was the first liberated by the Allies.
Operation Overlord
the code name for the Allied invasion of Europe at Normandy on June 6, 1944; also known as D-Day
