Download Hitler`s Strategy and the Allies Big Decisions

Hitler’s Strategy and the Allies
Big Decisions
US 2 AP/IB
Shape of the World in 1942
• “A Unity…never before witnessed in this
country.” ~ member of Congress after
Pearl harbor
• War going badly
– France taken over
– Britain about to collapse
– Soviet Union staggering
– Japanese taking Allied strongholds in Pacific
Europe or Pacific?
Although the US were fighting on both fronts, they had to
decide where to concentrate the most resources
Europe
Pacific
Allies tied up in Europe
US want to avenge Pearl Harbor
Hitler more dangerous
Japan advancing into other US/Ally
territory
Hitler developing Nuclear
Weapons
US’s Pacific fleet needs approx. 1
year to rebuild
Evidence of Persecution of Jews
and others
Allies have very little resources to
give to Pacific offensive
FDR/Allies choose to
concentrate on Europe
Hitler’s Strategy
• Goals
– Take more Eastern Europe for natural
resources
– Take Middle East for Oil
– Maintain possessions in West
Hitler’s Strategy
• Move east  take
Moscow and
Stalingrad to take
out Russia
• Continue south
from Stalingrad to
Middle East
• Attack from Coast
North Africa 
Egypt  Middle
East
German Movement
• Connect two
forces in Middle
East
German Desired
Path
British Movement
US Movement
France vs. Africa
• US had less control over European operations because
in conjunction w/ GB, exiled French forces, and Soviets
• US supported a plan for invasion of France via English
Channel in Spring 1943, but faced challenges
– Soviets facing brunt of the war, wanted invasion as early as
possible
– GB wanted series of offensives around Nazi Empire (N. Africa, S.
Europe) first
• FDR torn
– Didn’t want to upset Soviets
– BUT Knew Invasion would take a long time to prepare
What would you do?
FDR chose to side with Great Britain,
wanted to maintain close relationship
with Churchill – US went to Africa
Leaders in the North African Front
North African Offensive
•
German Goal: Oil in
Middle East, wanted
to go through Eastern
Europe and N. Africa
and unite in middle
east to get oil
•
October 1942, GB
opened offensive in
North Africa
•
Germany threatened
the Suez Canal, but
was forced to retreat
from Egypt by GB
•
German Movement
US joins allies in
North Africa via
Morocco
Battle
British Movement
US Movement
North African Offensive
•
US moves east toward
Rommel, British pushed
west from Egypt
•
Rommel chose to push
against inexperienced
American forces, forcing
American defeat at the
Kasserine Pass in
Tunisia
•
Patton regrouped
American troops and
began an effective
counter offensive.
•
Finally drove Germans
out of Africa, May 1943,
many Germans captured
We
surrender
German Movement
Battle
British Movement
US Movement
Allies Press Into Italy
•
July ‘43 - Allies land in Sicily
•
Sept ‘43 – Italy surrenders
•
Sept ’43 – Allies land at
Salerno
•
Oct ‘43 - Allies enter Naples
•
10/13/43 - Italy declares war on
Germany
•
Jan ‘44 - Allies land at Anzio
•
May ‘44 - Germans retreat
from Anzio.
•
6/5/44 - Allies enter Rome.