WINNING THE WAR

The Big Three - Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill

The Soviets were busy with Germany on the Eastern Front.

U.S. troops needed more experience. Patton led attack on Erwin Rommel (Desert Fox) in North Africa.

THE BIG THREE

The Big Three were

A. Roosevelt, Truman and Churchill B. Roosevelt, Stalin and Hitler C. Mussolini, Stalin and Hitler D. Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill

The Allies attacked and captured the Italian island of Sicily.

The King and high ranking military officers decided it was time for Mussolini to go.

He was arrested, and Italy began negotiations for surrender.

Germany continued to defend Italy for five months, until the Allies finally took over.

The Allies suffered 300,000 casualties to take Italy.

Mussolini was eventually executed.

What happened to Mussolini after he was arrested

A. He was allowed to leave the country B. He was executed C. He worked out peace negotiations with

the Allies D. None of the above

The Big Three began planning Operation Overlord – the invasion of Normandy.

1.5 million soldiers12,000 airplanes5 million tons of equipment from the U.S.7,000 ships23,000 paratroopers

D Day set for June 6, 1944

D-DAYOPERATION OVERLORDNORMANDY INVASION

D Day is also known as

A. The Invasion of Normandy B. Operation Overlord C. The Miracle at Dunkirk D. A and B

The Allies named the beaches Utah, Omaha, Gold, Sword and Juno.

Fierce fighting took place on Omaha Beach.

2500 Americans were killed. Allies advance to liberate Paris.

As American and British forces fought to liberate France, the USSR began a massive attack on Germany.

Allies moved in from both directions toward Berlin. Hitler committed suicide in his bunker and Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945.

V-E Day – Victory in Europe

V-E Day stands for

A. Victory over Evil B. Victory over the Enemy C. Victory in Europe D. Victory over Everything

The plan to defeat Japan was called island-hopping.

Captured islands would be used as bases for B-29 Superfortresses. They could fly farther than any other plane in the world.

Battle of Iwo Jima was to capture an island closer to Japan.

Okinawa was invaded to prepare for a land invasion of the Japanese mainland.

Two of the most famous island battles during World War II were

A. Iwo Jima and Okinawa B. Cuba and Puerto Rico C. Hawaii and Philippines D. Iwo Jima and Hawaii

Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945 – Harry Truman took over.

The Manhattan Project - developed the atomic bomb by splitting uranium atom

July 16, 1945 the U.S. detonated the first atomic bomb in Alamogordo, NM.

There was debate over whether to use the bomb. Scientists and leaders did not fully understand the lingering effects of the bomb, but knew it would mean casualties on a massive scale.

Warned Japan of “prompt and utter destruction” if they did not surrender.

Scientists and leaders knew the full effects of the bomb, including the radiation poisoning, and decided to use the bomb anyway.

True or False

Aug. 6, 1945 the bomber Enola Gay dropped “Little Boy” on Hiroshima.

80,000-120,000 were killed instantly.

Aug. 9, 1945 – USSR declared war on Japan

Later that day “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki killing around 70,000.

Aug. 15, 1945 – Japan surrendered – VJ Day

1944 – meetings held to organize the United Nations.

April 25, 1945 representatives from over 50 countries met to organize the UN charter.

The United Nations is most similar to what earlier organization

A. Tamany Hall B. The Temperance League C. The League of Nations D. All of the above

The United Nations Security Council consists of 11 nations – 5 are permanent : Britain, France, China, United States and Soviet Union.

Their job was to enforce international peace and security.

Nuremburg Trials – Nazi leaders were tried for war crimes. This led to 36 executions and 114 were imprisoned.

Similar trials were held for Japanese leaders.