End of the war Flashcards
Germany and the Soviet Union
The two countries originally signed a non-aggressive pact with each other.
German invasion of the soviet Union
In the operation Barbarossa on June 22nd, 1941, Hitler broke the nazi-soviet pact when he invaded the Soviet Union. Hitler forced himself into a 2 front war. He believed Blitzkrieg would bring Soviet defeat within a few months and worked at first as the Nazis reached within 39km of Moscow
Scorched earth
Russia used this policy in it’s retreat which involved destroying all resources that could be of use to the enemy, such as livestock, crops and supplies. By winter, Hitler’s troops were badly prepared for the -50 degree temperatures. The soldiers along with their equipment began to freeze.
Battle of Stalingrad
On July 17th, 1942, Germany bombs the soviet union of Stalingrad. The city was quickly turned into rubble due to rapid bombing, but the soviet military and civilians held strong. The nazi army weakens as winter settles in. The soldiers were cold, starving and low on ammunition. By November 1942, the soviets surround the Germans inside the city. Due to being trapped and poorly supplied, the germans are forced to surrender on February 2nd, 1943. This battle was the bloodiest in modern history, ending with more than 2 million casualties. The soviet victory at Stalingrad was a turning point in the war, as it played a key role in the downfall of the Third Reich.
Situation in 1944
Russians defeat the Germans in Russia and advance in the east. The allies are victorious in North Africa and are working mainland Italy from Sicily
D-Day (June 6th, 1944)
Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt both agreed it was time to open a new front in the West through the beaches of France. An obvious landing choice was the Pas de Calais, but the two allies decided to attack in Normandy so the Germans couldn’t predict them easily. They eventually chose Normandy-a peninsula on the French coast-because the Germans believed the attack was to be on the Pas de Calais
D-day Operation Overlord
Five sectors were attacked on D-day: Utah-American, Omaha-American, Gold-British, Juno-Canadian, Sword-British
Operation Overlord
Five sectors were attacked on D-day: Utah-American, Omaha-American, Gold-British, Juno-Canadian, Sword-British
D-day The atlantic wall difficulty
the atlantic wall was a system of coastline fortifications built by the Germans (specifically enslaved occupied citizens) between 1942 and 1944. It was built along the Western coast of Europe to defend against an anticipated Anglo-American led Allied invasion of the Continent from Great Britain.
D-day Atlantic wall part 2
Minefields and antitank obstacles were planted on the beaches and underwater obstacles and mines were planted in the waters, just offshore to destroy the incoming craft. The Germans had laid 6 million mines by the time of the invasion
