U.S. HistoryMr. Coonen
Chapter 24 The United States in World War II
24.1The War in Europe and North Africa
THE INSIDE STORY: THE SINKING OF THE REUBEN JAMES
What two factors made rescuing Reuben James survivors difficult?
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BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
Why would the Axis powers win the war if the Allies lost the Battle of the Atlantic?
U-boat Attacks
Why didn’t the U.S. and Great Britain use the convoy system early on in the war to stop U-boat attacks?
Describe how a “wolf pack” operated:
What was the “happy time” for German u-boats?
Describe American versus German losses in shipping during the early days of the war:
The Allies Fight Back
Describe three factors that gave the Allies an advantage over German U-boats.
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Why were u-boats eventually referred to as “iron coffins”?
THE WAR IN THE SOVIET UNION
When did Hitler break his non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union?
What natural factor greatly helped the Russians against the Germans?
Describe the hardships of the citizens of Leningrad.
The Battle of Stalingrad
When did the battle for Stalingrad begin?
Why did the Germans want to capture Stalingrad?
When were the Germans forced to surrender?
In what way was the battle at Stalingrad a turning point in the war?
Describe the losses at Stalingrad for both the Soviets and the Germans:
AMERICAN FORCES IN NORTH AFRICA AND ITALY
Why was North Africa so vital to the Allies?
When did the British and Italian start fighting against each other in North Africa?
Why was Hitler forced to send his troops to North Africa in early 1941?
Who was the “Desert Fox”?
What happened at El Alamein?
Operation Torch
Upon U.S. entry into the war, why did Stalin want the Allies to invade Europe?
Why do you think Allied leaders decided that North Africa was the “logical” place to start their invasion?
Operation Torch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike):
When did U.S. and Allied forces finally defeat Rommel’s forces?
On To Italy
What did the Italian people decide by the end of 1943?
Tuskegee Airmen:
Based on the reading, why did Anzio get the nickname, “Bloody Anzio”?
D-DAY: THE INVASION OF FRANCE
Planning Operation Overlord
Where are the beaches of Normandy located?
Who was the commander of Operation Overlord?
Who was to lead the American troops?
The Landing at Normandy
When did D-Day finally arrive?
Who were the first to enter enemy territory?
What was one of the jobs of ships off shore?
Why were the Germans so slow in responding to the Allied invasion?
When did the Allies finally land almost a million soldiers in France?
What event took place by the end of August, 1944?
The Battle of the Bulge
When did this occur?
How did it get its name?
When did the “bulge” flatten out?