War in Europe - Allied Offensives and D-Day

Operation Torch

• First major U.S. ground offensive of WWII (1942)

• Allied landings in French North Africa (Morocco & Algeria)

• Goal: trap Axis forces between Allied troops and British forces from Egypt

• Helped remove Axis control of North Africa

General Erwin Rommel (Desert Fox)

• German field marshal and commander of the Afrika Korps

• Known for fast, effective tank warfare

• Respected by enemies for leadership and tactics

• Ultimately defeated due to Allied resource superiority

Battle of El Alamein

• Major Allied victory in North Africa

• Led by British General Bernard Montgomery

• Stopped German advance toward the Suez Canal

• Forced Axis retreat; turning point in Africa

General Dwight D. Eisenhower

• Supreme Allied Commander in Europe

• Coordinated U.S., British, and Allied forces

• Planned and led Operation Torch and D-Day

Operation Husky

• Allied invasion of Sicily (July 1943)

• Forced Axis troops to withdraw

• Led to the removal of Mussolini from power

• Opened the way for the invasion of mainland Italy

Anzio (Operation Shingle)

• Amphibious landing south of Rome

• Intended to bypass German defensive lines

• Initial success stalled due to cautious Allied leadership

• Heavy fighting before breakout toward Rome

Rome

• Liberated by Allied forces in June 1944

• First Axis capital to fall

• Symbolically important but overshadowed by D-Day

Operation Overlord

• Allied plan to invade German-occupied Western Europe

• Targeted Normandy, France

• Established a permanent Western Front

D-Day (June 6, 1944)

• Opening day of Operation Overlord

• Largest amphibious invasion in history

• Over 150,000 Allied troops landed

• Goal: break German defenses and liberate France

Omaha Beach

• One of two U.S. landing beaches

• Strong German defenses and steep cliffs

• Heaviest casualties of all D-Day beaches

• Eventually secured by U.S. forces

Utah Beach

• Westernmost U.S. landing beach

• Troops landed off course but faced lighter resistance

• Secured quickly with fewer casualties

Atlantic Wall

• German system of coastal defenses

• Included bunkers, artillery, mines, and obstacles

• Strongest near Pas-de-Calais

• Breached by Allies on D-Day

Operation Fortitude

• Allied deception plan before D-Day

• Used fake tanks, fake camps, and false radio traffic

• Convinced Germany the invasion would be at Pas-de-Calais

Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery

• Senior British ground commander

• Led Allied ground forces during Normandy campaign

• Played key role in D-Day planning

French Resistance

• Underground civilian fighters in occupied France

• Sabotaged railroads and communications

• Gathered intelligence for the Allies

• Helped disrupt German response to D-Day

Cherbourg

• Major French port captured after D-Day

• Allowed Allies to unload troops and supplies

• Critical for sustaining the invasion