Bell Quiz: PagesBell Quiz: Pages 576 – 577576 – 5771. 1. Hitler used 8 Panzer tank divisions in the Hitler used 8 Panzer tank divisions in the

Battle of the Bulge. There were 75 Battle of the Bulge. There were 75 tanks per division. How many tanks tanks per division. How many tanks were used in all? were used in all?

2. What did the Germans do to the 1202. What did the Germans do to the 120 captured American soldiers at Malmedy?captured American soldiers at Malmedy?3. How did Hitler’s life end on April 30, 3. How did Hitler’s life end on April 30,

1945?1945?4. What country captured Berlin in April 4. What country captured Berlin in April

1945?1945?5. Why was FDR not able to see the end of5. Why was FDR not able to see the end of WWII?WWII?

AnswersAnswers

1. 1. 6006002. Massacred the captured GI’s.2. Massacred the captured GI’s.3. Hitler shot himself in the head. 3. Hitler shot himself in the head. 4. Soviet Union4. Soviet Union5. FDR died of a stroke on April 12, 5. FDR died of a stroke on April 12,

1945 during his 41945 during his 4thth term in office. term in office.

Objectives:Objectives: Identify the events in the war in Identify the events in the war in

Europe that led to the liberation Europe that led to the liberation of Europe and the defeat of Nazi of Europe and the defeat of Nazi Germany.Germany.

The Allies Gain GroundThe Allies Gain Ground Seven days after D-day the allies held Seven days after D-day the allies held

an 80-mile strip of France.an 80-mile strip of France. Within a month 1,000,000 allied troops Within a month 1,000,000 allied troops

had landed in France.had landed in France. On July 25, 1944, General Omar On July 25, 1944, General Omar

Bradley launched a massive air and Bradley launched a massive air and land bombardment against the land bombardment against the Germans.Germans.

Bradley’s attack provided a gap in the Bradley’s attack provided a gap in the German line of defense. German line of defense.

General George PattonGeneral George Patton General George Patton General George Patton

and the Third Army and the Third Army took advantage of his took advantage of his gap.gap.

On August 23, Patton On August 23, Patton and the Third Army and the Third Army reached the Seine reached the Seine River south of Paris.River south of Paris.

August 25, Patton August 25, Patton liberated Parisliberated Paris..• Paris had been under Paris had been under

German occupation for German occupation for four years.four years.

The AlliesThe Allies By September By September

1944, the allies 1944, the allies had also freed had also freed Belgium and Belgium and Luxembourg.Luxembourg.

This news led to This news led to the election FDR the election FDR for a fourth term.for a fourth term.

The Battle of the BulgeThe Battle of the Bulge

NONO YESYES

The Battle of the BulgeThe Battle of the Bulge: : 12/44-1/4512/44-1/45 In October 1944 Hitler launched an In October 1944 Hitler launched an

offensive in a desperate attempt to offensive in a desperate attempt to recapture the Belgian port of Antwerp.recapture the Belgian port of Antwerp.

Hitler ordered his troops to break through Hitler ordered his troops to break through Allied lines and take Antwerp.Allied lines and take Antwerp.

Hitler hoped this move would disrupt the Hitler hoped this move would disrupt the enemy’s supply lines and demoralize the enemy’s supply lines and demoralize the Allies.Allies.

December 16, 8 German tank divisions December 16, 8 German tank divisions broke through American defenses.broke through American defenses.

This assault created an 80 mile long 60 mile This assault created an 80 mile long 60 mile deep “bulge” into allied territory.deep “bulge” into allied territory.

This last-ditch offensive was named the This last-ditch offensive was named the Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes Offensive).Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes Offensive).

German SS troops captured and killed 120 German SS troops captured and killed 120 American soldiers (Malmedy Massacre) .American soldiers (Malmedy Massacre) .

Results of The BattleResults of The Battle The Sixth Panzer Army, was The Sixth Panzer Army, was

to lead the attack and to to lead the attack and to capture Antwerp.capture Antwerp.

The Fifth Panzer Army was The Fifth Panzer Army was to attack the centre of the to attack the centre of the American forces, capture American forces, capture the  strategic road and rail the  strategic road and rail centre of St Vith and then centre of St Vith and then drive on to Brussels.drive on to Brussels.

The Seventh Army was to The Seventh Army was to attack in the southern attack in the southern flank, as designated by flank, as designated by Hitler, and  to create a Hitler, and  to create a buffer zone to prevent buffer zone to prevent American reinforcements American reinforcements from attacking the Fifth from attacking the Fifth Panzer Army.Panzer Army.

The Fifteenth Army was to The Fifteenth Army was to be held in reserve to be held in reserve to counter any Allied attack counter any Allied attack when they took place.when they took place.

The Battle of the BulgeThe Battle of the Bulge The Allies were surprised by the attack. They had received The Allies were surprised by the attack. They had received

little intelligence that such an attack would take place.little intelligence that such an attack would take place. Before the attack started, English speaking German soldiers Before the attack started, English speaking German soldiers

dressed in American uniforms went behind the lines of the dressed in American uniforms went behind the lines of the Allies and caused havoc by spreading misinformation, Allies and caused havoc by spreading misinformation, changing road signs and cutting telephone lines. Those who changing road signs and cutting telephone lines. Those who were caught were shot after a court martial.were caught were shot after a court martial.

The weather was also in Hitler’s favor. Low cloud and fog The weather was also in Hitler’s favor. Low cloud and fog meant that the superior air force of the Allies could not be meant that the superior air force of the Allies could not be used – especially the tank-busting Typhoons of the RAF or used – especially the tank-busting Typhoons of the RAF or Mustang fighters from the USAAF which would have been Mustang fighters from the USAAF which would have been used against the German tanks. Though the weather was used against the German tanks. Though the weather was typical for the Ardennes in winter, the ground was hard typical for the Ardennes in winter, the ground was hard enough for military vehicles to cross and this suited the enough for military vehicles to cross and this suited the armored attack Hitler envisaged.armored attack Hitler envisaged.

The Battle of the BulgeThe Battle of the Bulge The U.S. was outnumbered 10 to 1 but The U.S. was outnumbered 10 to 1 but

after a month of fighting the Germans after a month of fighting the Germans had been pushed back.had been pushed back.

The Germans lost 120,000 troops, 600 The Germans lost 120,000 troops, 600 tanks, 1,600 planes in the Battle of the tanks, 1,600 planes in the Battle of the Bulge.Bulge.

The German offensive had failed: the The German offensive had failed: the German Air Force had been destroyed; German Air Force had been destroyed; and the German Army in the West was and the German Army in the West was being pushed back.being pushed back.

The Americans lost 81,000 men of the The Americans lost 81,000 men of the 600,000 used in the battle.600,000 used in the battle.

Video ClipVideo Clip ““The War” By Ken BurnsThe War” By Ken Burns 8:50-24:30 and 35:22-42:008:50-24:30 and 35:22-42:00

Liberation of Concentration CampsLiberation of Concentration Camps As the Allied troops pressed eastward, the As the Allied troops pressed eastward, the

Soviet army pushed westward across Soviet army pushed westward across Poland.Poland.

Soviet troops were the first to come across Soviet troops were the first to come across the Nazi death camps.the Nazi death camps.

July 1944, the Soviets liberated a camp July 1944, the Soviets liberated a camp near Majdanek Poland.near Majdanek Poland.

Within the camp, the Soviets found Within the camp, the Soviets found thousands of starving prisoners and the thousands of starving prisoners and the world’s largest crematorium, where SS world’s largest crematorium, where SS troops were attempting to burn all the troops were attempting to burn all the evidence of their crimes.evidence of their crimes.

American soldiers later liberated more Nazi American soldiers later liberated more Nazi death camps in Germany.death camps in Germany.

Unconditional SurrenderUnconditional Surrender April 25, 1945, the April 25, 1945, the

Soviet army captured Soviet army captured Berlin.Berlin.

April 30, 1945 Hitler, April 30, 1945 Hitler, in his underground in his underground headquarters, shot headquarters, shot himself while his wife himself while his wife Eva Braun swallowed Eva Braun swallowed poison.poison.

May 7, 1945 General May 7, 1945 General Eisenhower accepted Eisenhower accepted the unconditional the unconditional surrender of the Third surrender of the Third Reich.Reich.

May 8 1945, the Allies May 8 1945, the Allies celebrated V-E Day celebrated V-E Day (Victory in Europe).(Victory in Europe).

Roosevelt’s DeathRoosevelt’s Death

President Roosevelt President Roosevelt did not live to see V-did not live to see V-E Day.E Day.

April 12, 1945 April 12, 1945 Roosevelt had a Roosevelt had a stroke and died.stroke and died.

Vice President Harry Vice President Harry S. Truman became S. Truman became the nations 33rd the nations 33rd presidentpresident. .