Lesson 10.03: Victory in Europe

• Introduction
• D-Day
• US Enters Paris
• The Battle of the Bulge
• Surrender
• World War II Video
• Practice
• Task

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to: Trace the invasion of D-Day from the planning stage through the liberation of Paris. Understand the events surrounding the Battle of the Bulge. Explain how Germany surrendered and victory in Europe was declared. The above objectives correspond with the following Alabama Course of Study Objectives: ACOS 9.1Locating on a map or globe the major battles of World War II and the extent of the Allied and Axis territorial expansion and ACOS 9.2Describing military strategies of World War II, including blitzkrieg, island-hopping, and amphibious landings.

 

	Eisenhower before the D-Day invasion of Normandy
Eisenhower before the D-Day invasion of Normandy. IRC. 2005. Discovery Education. 13 January 2010 <http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/>

The Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, U.S. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, talking to paratroopers in June 1944 just before the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

 

Overview

Following the successful Allied invasion of Italy, the Allied leaders (Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin) met in Iran to discuss future war strategy. After much discussion, it was decided that the Allies would invade France in 1944, and thereby begin their path to Germany. The invasion was dubbed "Operation Overlord" and eventually became the largest military operation in history, amassing forces from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Poland, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. After facing tough fighting during the June 1944 landing, the Allies pressed ahead and by August 1944, were able to liberate Paris. From there, the two branches of the Allied forces raced towards Germany; the largely British and American forces marched from the West, while the Soviet army marched from the East.

Meanwhile, Hitler was busy devising plans for a "last stand" that he hoped would turn the tide of the war in Germany's favor. Ignoring his officers' advice, Hitler made the risky decision to pour all of his remaining resources into an offensive in Belgium. The resulting battle, later known as "Battle of the Bulge", was a hard fight under grueling winter conditions. After suffering numerous casualties, the American and British forces persevered and continued again on their path to Berlin. Stalin's Red Army took Berlin and on May 8, 1945 General Eisenhower accepted the German surrender on a day remembered as Victory in Europe Day.