Pushing Back the Axis

1. Pushing Back the Axis Ch. 21 Section 4

2. Striking Germany and Italy • Casablanca Conference – Idea was to attack the “soft underbelly” of Europe. • Italy will quit if Allies invade their homeland. • Germans eventually retreated, but with a high Allied cost. (300,000) Eisenhower: Commander of the European Theatre

3. Operation Overlord (D-Day) • Allied troops land at Normandy, begin liberation of France. • The largest amphibious operation in history succeeds.

4. Battle of the Bulge • Last large German counter attack against American and British troops is halted. • Goal was to stop Allied supplies coming in thru Belgium. • Germans eventually retreat, left with little resources to prevent Germany from Allied attack.

5. The War Ends in Europe V-E Day • Germany is assaulted on 2 fronts. • Allied forces West • Soviet forces East • German defenses crumble • Hitler kills himself (appoints Karl Doenitz as successor) • Eisenhower insists on unconditional surrender • V-E Day May 8, 1945

6. Truman Becomes President • FDR died just before V-E day, Truman becomes pres. • Truman will have to make critical decisions in the coming months

7. The Battle of Iwo Jima • Victory in the Battle of Leyte Gulf enables MacArthur to return to the Philippines (Oct. 1944) • US Marines land on Iwo Jima, over 6,800 marines are killed before the island is captured. • Why Iwo Jima?

8. Firebombing Japan • Gen. LeMay ordered the use of firebombs on Japanese targets • Use of napalm was controversial. • 80,000 deaths • ½ of the urban area was destroyed.

9. The Invasion of Okinawa • Despite widespread destruction, Japan showed few signs of surrender • US officials prepared for a Japanese invasion • Okinawa was chosen for its geographic importance. • Okinawa was captured in June 1945