Section 6-4 US enters the Fight (WWII)

Mr. Klein Spring 2013

Prologue

War at Sea Battle of the Atlantic Sept. 1941 1945

(Before Pearl Harbor)

Battle of the Atlantic

Longest battle of war (1940-1945) Wolfpacks of subs vs. Allied convoys

US enters before Pearl Harbor (Sept. 1941)

Neutrality Patrols and Shoot on Sight

Allies win but heavy losses

3,500 Allied ships vs. 771 Nazi Submarines

Where to Fight?
First question for US is whether to fight against Nazis or Japanese first? Which do you think FDR prefers? Why?

Arcadia Conference (Dec. 1941)

FDR and Churchill meet in D.C. to strategize Dec. 22, 1941 Jan. 14, 1942 Determine that defeating Hitler must be first priority
Called Europe First Strategy

Arcadia Conference
Produces Declaration of United Nations
Signed by 26 allied nations

Nations agree to principles of Atlantic Charter

Earlier (1941) agreement between US and GB Use all resources to defeat Axis No separate peace Occupied nations decide own futures once freed

Basis for United Nations of today (1945)

But Where to Attack in Europe?

Europe 1941-1943

England wanted to attack Italy from Northern Africa in 1942

The U.S. wanted to attack across Nazi-controlled France by 1943

To win the European campaign, 2 different plans were proposed

Second Washington Conference

FDR and Churchill reconvene June 20, 1942
Where attack in European Theater?

FDR wants to invade France ASAP

Start second front which will please USSR

Churchill favors North Africa

Hitler has reinforced Italys armies Hitler Wants to take Egypt (Suez Canal) and cut off oil to Allies

Second Washington Conference

FDR and Churchill reconvene June 20, 1942
Where attack in European Theater?

FDR wants to invade France ASAP

Start second front which will please USSR

Churchill favors North Africa

Hitler has reinforced Italys armies Wants to take Egypt (Suez) and cut off oil to Allies Believes not feasible to invade FR at present N. Africa gives launching point to invade Italy
Soft Underbelly of Europe

Who is Allied Military Commander?

Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower

Commanding General, European Theater of Operations

North African Campaign

Nov 8, 1942 May 13,1943

N. Africa before US Arrives

IT trying to expand East from Libya into GB controlled Egypt After IT fails in 1940, Hitler sends armored Afrika Corps (tanks) to assist in Feb 1941 Take Egypt = own Suez Canal and cut off oil supply Rommel pushes 100 miles into Egypt
Gen. Erwin Rommel The Desert Fox

Battle of El Alamein
GB must stop Rommel AND Rommel is short of supplies Montgomery gets intercepted battle plan of Rommel to attack to the South in Fall of 1942 GB resists tank assault and bombers destroy large number of GER tanks GER must retreat Montgomery does not pursue (waiting for US Sherman Tanks)
Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery (GB)

M-4 Sherman Tank

Battle of El Alamein
TURNING POINT in N. Africa!!!!!
Montgomery tricks Rommel fakes attack to south.

Attacks to North instead!

Wins long bloody battle Afrika Corps largely destroyed Hitler orders to fight to last man BUT Rommel refuses and retreats further into Libya on Nov 2, 1942
Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery (GB)

U.S. Lands in N. Africa

U.S. armored troops arrive in WESTERN N. Africa on Nov 8, 1942
Operation Torch

With GB in EAST, goal is to catch Axis in pincers of 2 armies U.S. lands in Algeria, and Morocco (Vichy French)

Lt. Gen George Patton Old Blood and Guts Commander Western Task Force

U.S. Lands in N. Africa

U.S. armored troops arrive in WESTERN N. Africa on Nov 8, 1942
Operation Torch

With GB in EAST, goal is to catch Axis in pincers of 2 armies

U.S. lands in Algeria, and Morocco (Vichy French)

Vichy mount armed opposition to US forces in Morocco and Oran NOT in Algiers French Resistance overthrows Vichy Government

Hitler occupies ALL of France

Lt. Gen George Patton Old Blood and Guts Commander Western Task Force

Results of Operation Torch

Rommel forced to retreat all the way to Tunisia cannot retreat further West

Tries to convince Hitler that holding N. Africa not possible

Hitler replaces Rommel

GER fight in Tunisia for 2 more months - forced to surrender 230,000 men on May 13,1943 Allies Control North Africa!!

What will Allies do next?????

Casablanca Conference
(January 1943)

Henri Giraud (Free French Forces), FDR, Charles de Gaulle (FFF), Churchill

Casablanca Conference (January 1943)

US, GB and French Resistance leaders in Morocco Determine next steps in War
FDR still pushing for crosschannel invasion
Churchill wins day Italy first

Agreement that Allies will fight to Unconditional Surrender of Axis

Charles de Gaulle

Invasion of Sicily and Italy

July 1943

Invasion of Sicily
US and GB (plus Canadian) forces will make amphibious landing on island of Sicily

US forces commanded by Patton

Operation Torch begins night of July 8-9, 1943
Paratroopers dropped onto island to seize strategic bridges and roads
Seaborne landing next day (surprise due to bad weather) VERY smooth landing (Italians not prepared to resist on beaches)

Sicily Falls
Sicily was occupied by both IT and GER forces Allied forces take Sicily in 38 days All Axis forces evacuated back to Italy

HUGE repercussions in Italy

July 24, 1943 : Mussolini DEPOSED as dictator
King restored to power Fascist party DESOLVED Mussolini imprisoned (but in mountain resort)

So Now What in Italy???

Non-Fascist Italian govt wants to negotiate peace with Allies

Come to agreement that Italy will surrender

Agreement reached September 3, 1943

Italian forces will surrender to Allies upon invasion

Try to keep agreement SECRET from Germany (Will not announce surrender until Sept. 8)

Sounds Easy.BUT.

Italy Still Must be Conquered

GER Troops had been invited to Italy
Occupy much of the country (esp. north)
Germany hears about Italian surrender:
Immediately prepares to capture positions held by Italian troops NO INTENTION OF SURRENDER

Invasion of Italy (Sept 3, 1943)

Landing easy because Italians planning to surrender

Allies land on toe of book and mid-shin

Hope to draw Germans south and trap them

Invasion of Italy (Sept 3, 1943)

Landing easy because Italians planning to surrender

Allies land on toe of boot and mid-shin

Hope to draw Germans south and trap them

Germany does not fall for plan

Captures Italian troops and positions Moves North outside of Allied net Resistance is FIERCE

Fighting will last until 1945

190,000 Allied casualties 500,000 Axis

What happens to Mussolini?

Hitler IRATE that Italians betray him Breaks Mussolini out of captivity and sets him up as King of a Northern Italian Socialist Nation Mussolini later captured by Italians trying to flee Allied advance Executed on April 28, 1945 with 7 other Fascist leaders Bodies hung on public display at gas station
Shot, spat upon, beaten, etc.