Turning Points in Europe

Question 1

The Eastern Front -

Answer 1

German armies invaded the Soviet Union in 1941

Question 2

Hitler’s Fortress :

Answer 2

-Hitlers armies occupied much of Europe

Built fortifications along the French coast to defend against invasion

Question 3

Americans and British forces landed in

Answer 3

Sicily on July 10,1943
Bernard Montgomery led British troops
George Patton and Omar Bradley led US troops
As Allied forces moved across Sicily, Mussolini was removed from power

Alled armies controlled the entire island by mid August
Alllied Fortes moved into Italy

Question 4

George Patton (1885- 1945)

Answer 4

Commanded US the Army in the Allied conquest of Sicily
Followed his successful campaign in North Africa
Was criticized for slapping a soldier in a hospital
Led the US Third Army in a rapid drive across Germany and France

Question 5

Battle of Stalingrad

July 1942- February 1943

Answer 5

German and Soviet forces fought for control of Stalingrad

Germany captured most of the city by October 1942
They were surrounded by Soviet counteroffensives (North and South)
By february 1943, German forces were defeated
800,000 Axis troops lost
The Soviet victory at Stalingrad turned the tide on the eastern front

Question 6

Allied Advances in 1943

Answer 6

Soviet Army - moving west towards Germany
American and British forces in Italy-
American, British and Canadian forces in England

the most important turning point in the European theater of World War II in 1943- the Battle of Stalingrad

Question 7

Invasion at Normandy————-

Answer 7

——–Winning the battle at sea and in the air

Question 8

the battle of the Atlantic

Answer 8

Allied forces

Lost many supply ships to to U-boats patrolling the Atlantic
Reduced ship losses with improved antisubmarine tactics and technology

By 1944, Allied naval forces controlled the Atlantic

Allowed the invasion of France to proceed

Question 9

The Air War-

Answer 9

British and American aircraft bombed German cities, factories and military targets.
The Allies gained air superiority over Europe
Reduced Germany factories and cities to rubble

Question 10

Operation Overlord -

Answer 10

On June 6, 1944, (D-Day)
the Allies invaded France in Operation Overlord

Planners chose Normandy as the location for the invasion
Invasion force included 3,000 ships, 3,000 landing craft, and 13,000 planes
It was the largest amphibious attack in history, as 156,000 troops were put ashore on D-Day
Allied forces had the element of surprise

Hitting the Beaches of Normandy
The invasion force landed at five different beaches in Normandy
American troops landing at Omaha Beach faced heavy resistance
There were about 12,000 deaths on D-Day
One Million Allied soldiers landed in France in the Normandy campaign

German casualties/death 320,000
Allied casualties/deaths 220,000

Question 11

Omar Bradley

Answer 11

(1893-1981)
Helped plan and execute the Normandy invasion
Commanded II Corps during campaigns in Tunisia and Sicily
Led the 12th Army Group across France and into Germany
Commanded the largest military force in US history
Normandy Invasion was victory for the Allied forces

Question 12

Battle of the Bulge-

Answer 12

(Dec 1944- Jan 1945)

Germany launched a major counterattack in dec 1944
Ardennes Forest in France
Allied forces struck back
Forced germans to retreat
Called the Battle of the Bulge
Ended Hitlers hope of avoiding losing the war
Casualties were heavy- 19,000 Americans killed

Final Turning point in the war

Victory in Europe

January 1945, the Soviet laughed and offensive on the eastern front
Soviet troops and tanks advanced wast into Germany
Red army captured the German capital of Berlin on May 2
Hitler committed suicide
By May 8, 1945, all German units had surrendered