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Battle of the Atlantic
This was the longest continuous military campaign in World War II, running from 1939 to the defeat of Germany in 1945. Britain needed resources and German U-boats were attacking the British Navy and American merchant ships. The U-boats hunted in groups often at night which was known as a wold pack. The British could not defend their convoys well so Allied aircraft protected them from the air. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was when Germany bombed Great Britain in order to try and destroy their air force and prepare for invasion. Germany launched a large bombing attack on the city of London. Although the Germans had more planes and pilots, the British were able to fight them off and win the battle. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Stalingrad was located in Southwest Russia on the Volga River. It was a major industrial and communications center for the Soviet Union in the south. The battle began with the German air force, the Luftwaffe, bombing the Volga River and the then the city of Stalingrad. In November, the Soviets gathered and made a counter attack. Weak from lack of food and freezing from the cold winter, the majority of the German army surrendered. 250,000 Axis soldiers were trapped by Soviet Forces. -
Battle of El Alamein, Egypt
This battle occured near the Egyptian railway hart near El Alamein, Egypt. A powerful British offensive defeated German forces here overwhelmingly. It was perhaps the most decisive battle in North Africa. It revived morale of the Allies and gave access to the oil fields of North Africa. -
Operation Torch
This was British-American invasion of North Africa in which Dwight D. Eisenhower was in charge of. It would give the Allies more control of the Mediterranean Sea and prepare them for an invasion of Southern Europe. The key to this operation was a succesful amphibious landing and the Allies did succeed. General George Patton led the Western task force in this. -
Invasion of Sicily/Italy
Operation Husky, as it was named, called for 2,590 Allied ships to land 180,000 troops, 600 tanks, and 14,000 mechanized vehicles on the Italian island in three days at multiple sites, forming the second largest amphibious operation in the European theater. This would safeguard Allied shipping in the Mediterranean and relieve Malta of Axis air raids. Sicily fell in August of 1943 but Benito Mussolini was able to escape. -
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was appointed commander of the invasion. The coast of Normandy was the site chosen for the invasion. -
Battle of the Bulge
This last German offensive took place in the Ardennes Forest of Belgium. When Germany attacked they used over 200,000 troops and nearly 1,000 tanks to break through the US lines. It was winter and the weather was snowy and cold. The Americans were not ready for the attack. The Germans broke through the line and killed thousands of American troops. They tried to advance quickly. The Americans won and sealed the fate of the Nazis. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
As the Soviet Army approached Berlin, Hitler became apprehensive of being captured and went into his Fuhrerbunker. Only a few of Hitlers staff remained at the bunker and a long time friend Eva Braun, also his wife, remained in the bunker as well. Hitler swallowed a cyanide capsule and shot himself. Eva died of the cyanide pill. -
VE Day!!!
This is Victory Day in Europe to mark the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces. It thus marked the end of World War II in Europe
