3/9 Notes - WWII Allied Strategy (Tehran → Normandy)

Operation Avalanche (1943)

Allied invasion of southern Italy designed to knock Italy out of WWII and open another front against Germany.

Italian Campaign Challenges

Italy’s mountainous terrain made it difficult for Allied troops to move north and defeat German forces.

Italian Political Collapse (1943)

Italy sued for peace and Benito Mussolini was arrested as the Allies advanced.

German Response in Italy

Germany rescued Mussolini and continued fighting Allied forces in Italy.

Fall of Rome (June 4, 1944)

Allied forces captured Rome after a long campaign through Italy.

Tehran Conference (Nov 28–Dec 1, 1943)

Meeting between Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin to coordinate Allied war strategy.

Stalin’s Request at Tehran

Stalin pushed the Allies to open a second front by invading France.

Soviet Promise at Tehran

The Soviet Union agreed to help fight Japan after Germany was defeated.

Atlantic Wall

Germany’s 2,400-mile defensive system along the European coast made of bunkers, artillery, obstacles, and troops to stop an invasion.

Operation Bodyguard

Major Allied deception strategy designed to mislead Germany about where the D-Day invasion would occur.

Operation Fortitude North

Part of the deception plan that convinced Germany the Allies would invade Norway.

Operation Fortitude South

Part of the deception plan suggesting the main invasion would occur at Pas-de-Calais instead of Normandy.

Allied Deception Methods

Fake armies, inflatable tanks, fake radio transmissions, and misleading intelligence reports.

Operation Underworld

U.S. government cooperation with Mafia leader Lucky Luciano to protect New York docks and gather intelligence.

Lucky Luciano’s Role

Provided information and connections to help prevent sabotage and identify potential Axis spies.

Operation Husky

Allied invasion of Sicily intended to weaken Axis control and push Germany out of Italy.

Transportation Plan Before D-Day

Allied bombing of railroads and transportation networks to prevent German reinforcements.

Supreme Allied Commander

Dwight D. Eisenhower led planning and execution of the Normandy invasion.

Weather Delay Before D-Day

Stormy weather forced Eisenhower to delay the invasion briefly before launching the attack.

D-Day (June 6, 1944)

Massive Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France beginning the liberation of Western Europe.

Paratrooper Landings

Allied airborne troops landed behind enemy lines to secure bridges and roads.

Purpose of Paratroopers

Prevent German reinforcements from reaching the invasion beaches.

Normandy Landing Beaches

Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.

Omaha Beach

The most difficult landing zone with extremely heavy German defenses and high casualties.

D-Day Troop Landings

About 200,000 Allied soldiers landed during the initial invasion.

Goal of the Normandy Invasion

Establish a foothold in France and begin pushing German forces out of Western Europe.