WWII's+European+Theater+3rd+Period

__**WWII's European Theater**__

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**Intro**
The European Theater held the most deaths from WWII. The reason for this is because the Nazi party was trying to take more and more land. The European countries were the first to be attacked and thus they were the first to be brought into the war. Most of the action took place in Europe. A lot of the major battles were fought in Europe. For example, D day, one of the most well known attacks in war history. Europe was in the spotlight for a long time because it was the birthplace of WWII. Yes the war did expand to the pacific, but the beginning of the war was in Europe. Some very well known Generals fought with their men on the European theater. Not only were the Generals famous, but the battle techniques that were used on the European battle field. Europe was also home to Germany, which was the birthplace of the infamous Nazi party. Without Hitlar and his crazy thoughts of making the world a so called better place, there would have not been another world wide war. This is the European theater.

**Operation Overlord**
Operation Overlord was the code name for the **Battle of Normandy**, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied westurn Euorope during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landing (commonly known as **D-Day** ). A 12,000-plane airborne assault preceded an amphibious assault a involving almost 7,000 vessels. Allied land forces that saw combat in Normandy on D-Day itself came from Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.The German forces in France reported losses of 158,930 men between D-Day and 14 August. From D-Day to 21 August, the Allies had landed 2,052,299 men in northern France. The battle for Normandy continued for more than two months, with campaigns to expand the foothold on France, and concluded with the closing of the Falaise pocket on 24 August, the Liberation of Paris on 25 August, and the German retreat across the Seine which was completed on 30 August 1944. D day was kind of the start of amphibious machines. The German defenses used an interlocking firing style, so they could protect areas that were receiving heavy fire. The Pathfinders of the 101st Airborne Division led the way on D-Day in the night drop prior to the invasion.

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Strategic bombing campaign


Strategic bombing was a bombing strategy that involved employing bombers to strike directly at key industrial, economic or political targets in an enemy's country, rather than attacking their armed forces. Instead of attacking a nations land and naval forces, the main focus was on economic destruction. This strategy was used when the U.S. attacked Germany during WWII. During this attack, a lot of precision bombing was used. The main bomber model used was the B-17. Some models could hold up to 8 thousand pounds of bombs while flying up to 100 mph. Bombers would drop bombs at a specific-designated area such as an oilfield or railway yard. The United States knew that without resources, Germany would lose all economic power. Another target specifically laid out was over the civilians of Germany. Dropping bombs over cities and towns terrorized the people causing them to lose hope, and stop supporting and having hope in their soldiers. Because of strategic bombing Germany lost all the economic stability they once had, and without their resources, land, and countries support they were doomed.

**WWII Generals**
There were some amazing Generals who fought in WWII that changed the very battlefields that they were playing on. One of those Generals was a man named Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower was a five star General for the American Military. Not only that but he was 34th president of the United States of America. In 1942 he was appointed the General over the European theater. He then served as chief military aide to General Douglas McArther, Army Chief of Staff, until 1935. His career as a General was widely known in WWII. General Patton was also a very well known General in WWII. He fought with his men mainly in southern Europe. He was well know for his accomplishments in the North African front. Also another very well known General was General Montgomery. He was very well known in WWII for leading his men to victory in the desert of tunisia. All of these men brought their men to victory multiple times.



**The Battle of the Bulge**
The Battle of the Bulge occurred in Ardennes Mountains region of Wallonia in Belgium toward the end of World War II. This was the last major German offensive attack. The reason the English language refers to it as a "bulge" (rather than Ardennes Offensive) is because of the dent the German's put in the allies line of defense. The German Offensive was supported by operations that were meant to split the British and American allied line in half, to capture Antwerp, Belgium, and finally destroy four allied armies, forcing the Western allies to make a peace treaty. This would allow Hitler to fully concentrate on the war in the east. The offensive was planned as a huge secret, decreasing radio traffic and moving their equipment and troops under the cover of night. Although the 3rd US Army's staff predicted a German attack, the allies were still taken by surprise. This was because of overconfidence of the allies, being preoccupied with their own offensive plans, and poor aerial reconnaissance. Almost complete surprise against a poorly defended section of the allied line was achieved under the cover of heavy overcast weather, which forced the allies superior air forces to be grounded. Impressive resistance and terrain favoring the defenders threw the German timetable behind schedule. Allied reinforcements and improvements in the weather, permitting air attacks on the Germans, made sure the offensive was a failure.





North America, Sicily, and Italy
In North Africa the Germans and their Italian allies controlled a small narrow strip along the Mediterranean coast between Tunisia and Egypt with an army with around 100,000 men. French forces in North Africa had around 100,000 men and a very strong Navy. Their position was complicated, since the French forces weren't loyal and had become split following their defeat in 1940. The need to stay quiet and in secrecy in order to have their strategies be a surprise complicated an Allied attempt to get French support before the landings. A decision to invade Sicily was made at an allied conference at Casablanca that happened on January 14,1943 and lasted until January 23,1943. By that time it had become visible that across channeled invasion would be almost impossible to do during 1943. The allied victory in Sicily resulted in the Mussolini's government being overthrown, and the document of Italy surrendering was only a matter of compliance and time. An agreement to not fight was announced on September 8. The Italian surrendering resulted in the Germans leaving the islands of Sardinia and Corsica. It gave the Allies the Italian Navy, and made them strong.

Conclusion
Many factors contributed to the ending of WWII, but the European Theater, which was a huge area of fighting across Europe, was the place that Germany surrendered. With the outbreak of war in Europe, German assumes dominance in the north (North Africa, Sicily, and Italy). After overrunning Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg, Germany attacked France, coming through the line at a spot almost completely unguarded. This was in the Ardennes mountain area, where the terrain was assumed to be impassable. After taking control of France, Germany massed their air force in northern France for a possible invasion. Finally, there was a long-awaited invasion of France. Operation Overlord put 3 million troops on the shores of Normandy and the German forces were eventually worn down. When the breakout finally did come, the Americans forced their way across the France-German border and cornered them in the Falaise Pocket. By September of 1944, three Allied Army groups were in line against German forces in the west. Germany mounted a major counteroffensive, also called the Battle of the Bulge, but the Allied forces were successful in driving Germany back. This was the last battle and after Mussolini's capture soon after, the war was ended. The US Military wasn't completely effective in ending the war as soon as possible because they were in more of a defensive position, rather than offensive, throughout most of the war. If there had been more offense on the US Military's part, the war may have ended sooner and without as many battles.