A War on Many Fronts Flashcards
Axis control-
1941
america faced a two front war -
- in Europe and in the Pacific
December 7, 1941-
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor
December 11, 1941-
Germany and Italy declared war on the US
President Roosevelt faced a global war
Europe:
Germans invaded the Soviet Union in 1941
German forces threatened British control of the Suez Canal in North Africa
In the Pacific:
Japanese forces held much of Southeast Asia and the East Indies
Did not look good for the Allies
Axis Powers
Germany
Italy
Japan
Allied Powers
Great Britain
Soviet Union
United States
China
France…
Roosevelt and Churchill’s Strategy
August 1941- leaders met and signed the Atlantic Charter, which was:
set of principles that would define the alliance
Soon after Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt and Churchill met in Washington, DC
- discussed the challenges of fighting in two different theaters, or areas where operations of war occur.
Europe First
Germany was the larger threat
German forces still threatened the survival of Great Britain and the Soviet Union
US planned to send the majority its resources to the European theater.
some members of the US military opposed this strategy
(Douglas)
Attacking in the European Theater (1942)
Churchill and Roosevelt made plans to invade North Africa
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1869)
Chosen to lead US forces in Europe
supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force
North Africa was invaded in the fall of 1942
British forces defeated Erwin Rommel’s Africa Korps at the battle of EL Alamein in Egypt
The Allies launched Operation Torch
American and British forces landed in Morocco
They attacked from the west
The Battle of Kasserine Pass
US Forces were defeated in their first battle
Field Marshal Rommel won at Kasserine Pass in Tunisia
Americans retreated but quickly recovered
Eisenhower placed Gen. George S. Patton in command
Improved US forces abilities
Victory in North America
by spring of 1943-
Allied armies had advanced from the east and the west
The German and Italian forces had retreated to the northern tip of Tunisia
Axis forces in North Africa surrendered in May 1943
Allied leaders set their sights on Sicily
In December 1941,
Japan attacked several American and British territories, including Hong Kong Malay Peninsula Philippines Guam and Wake Island
-A force commanded by Douglas MacArthur slowed the Japans advance
the troops retreated to the Bataan Peninsula
MacArthur was ordered to escape to Australia in March 1942
Bataan fell in April
Corregidor fell in may
—-Japanes forces captured all of the Philippines
