Download World War II Battles

World War II Battles
Theaters
 During a time of war, the military uses the term “_theater_” to refer to a specific
geographical area.
 WWII had two theaters: _European_ and _Pacific_.
 The European Theater was broken up into the _Eastern_ and _Western_ Front
because the European Theater was so big.
*Presentations: Complete the “Date,” “Which Countries were involved,” and “Who Won”
during each presentation. Notes will follow on “What Happened” and “Importance.”*
Germany Invades Poland
*Date: _September 1, 1939____________________________________
*Which countries were involved: __Germany/Soviet Union vs. Poland__
What Happened:
 1st use of “blitzkrieg” - _coordinated air and tank attack__________
 Polish Army was defeated in a matter of _weeks_ by _Germans_ and _Soviets_.
 _Britain_ and _France_ declared war on _Germany_ to honor their agreement to
protect Poland’s borders
*Who Won: _Germany (and Soviet Union)_
Importance: _Beginning of WWII_
Germany invades France
*Date: _May 1940_
*Which countries were involved: _Germany vs. France_
What Happened:
 Days after _Germany_ invades _France_, the German Army captures _Paris_,
 French government agrees to _disband_
*Who Won: _Germany_
Importance:
 _Britain_ is now the only member of the _Allies_ in _Europe_
 The invasion also helped strengthen the _Nazi_ hold over Europe
Battle of Britain
*Date: _July 1940_
*Which countries were involved: _Germany vs. Great Britain_
What Happened:
 Air Raids by _Germans_ against _London_ & other major cities
 _Germany_ wanted to destroy the Royal Air Force (_RAF_) & force _Germany_
_Great Britain_ to surrender.
 _Germany_ believed they couldn’t carry out an invasion of _Great Britain_ until
the RAF was taken down
*Who Won: _Great Britain_
Importance:
 _First defeat of Hitler’s military_
Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941
•
See your notes on p.159
•
The U.S. cut off shipments of _oil_ after Japan continued to invade China.
Japanese American Internment
•
See your notes on p.160
•
There was a heightened Anti-Japanese fear in the United States as a result of the
bombing of _Pearl harbor_
Battle of Midway
*Date: _June 1942_
*Which countries were involved: _U.S. vs. Japan_
What Happened:
 _Japan_ sent all of their military to _Midway_ to launch a surprise attack on the
_U.S. Fleet_
 _U.S._ Fleet was waiting for the _Japanese_ to show up because of _code
breakers_ success
 _U.S._ defeated the _Japanese_ in battle
*Who Won: _U.S._
Importance:
 Turning point of war in the _Pacific_
 _U.S._ begins to push _Japan_ back
Battle of Stalingrad
*Date: _late 1942 – early 1943_
*Which countries were involved: _Germany vs. Soviet Union_
What Happened:
 _Germany_ invaded the _Soviet Union_ and moved into the city of _Stalingrad_
 _Soviet Union_ sent 1 million well supplied soldiers to surround the city as
winter approached.
 The _Germans_ were unable to receive food and supplies and were forced to
_surrender_
*Who Won: _Soviet Untion_
Importance:
 Turning point of the _Eastern_ Front of the war.
 _Soviet Union_ begins to push _Germany_ back
D-Day
*Date: _June 6, 1944_
*Which countries were involved: _The Allies vs. Germany_
What Happened:
 _Paratroopers_ were dropped into Normandy, _France_ to cut off supplies to
the _German_ army.
 Huge multinational coordinated _sea_ to _land_ invasion
 After sustaining heavy losses, _Allied_ forces gained control of the coast
*Who Won: _The Allies_
Importance:
 Turning point of the _Western_ Front of the war
 _Great Britain_ and _U.S._ began to push _Germany_ back
Reflection Question: Which battle do you think was the most important? Why?