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Hitler ordered his army to capture strategic oil fields, factories, and farmlands
in southern Russia and Ukraine. The city of Stalingrad, which controlled the Volga River and was a major railroad junction, was key to the attack. If the German army captured Stalingrad, they would cut off the Soviets from the resources they needed to stay in the war. -
Roosevelt ordered the invasion of Morocco and Algeria
two French territories indirectly under German control. -
German submarines sunk American ships along the East Coast
had sunk about 360 American ships along the East Coast, including many oil tankers. The loss of so many ships convinced the U.S. Navy to set up a convoy system in which cargo ships traveled in groups escorted by warships. The convoy system improved the situation dramatically, making it much more difficult for a submarine to torpedo a cargo ship and escape without being attacked. -
British secured the Suez Canal and forced Rommel to retreat
Roosevelt decided to invade for two reasons. The invasion would give the army some experience without requiring a lot of troops. It would also help the British troops fight the Germans in Egypt. After a 12-day battle at the Egyptian coastal city of El Alamein -
Germans had surrendered
some 91,000 Germans had surrendered. Only 5,000 of them survived the Soviet prison camps. Each side lost nearly half a million soldiers. The Battle of Stalingrad put the Germans on the defensive. -
The last German troops in North Africa surrendered
At the Battle of Kasserine Pass, the Americans were outmaneuvered and outfought. They suffered roughly 7,000 casualties and lost nearly 200 tanks. Eisenhower fired the general who led the attack and put General George Patton in command. The American and British forces finally pushed the Germans back. -
American, British, and Canadian troops landed on Sicily, Italy
General Dwight D. Eisenhower was the overall commander whilst the naval command was led by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew B. Cunningham, RN. The Western Naval Task Force was commanded by Vice Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, USN, landing the U.S. Seventh Army, led by Lieutenant General George S. Patton, USA. The Eastern Naval Task Force was commanded by Vice Admiral Sir Bertram H. Ramsey, RN, landing the British Eighth Army, led by General Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, British Army. -
The king invited the dictator to his palace
“My dear Duce,” the king began, “it’s no longer any good. Italy has gone to bits. Army morale is at rock bottom. The soldiers don’t want to fight anymore. . . . You can certainly be under no illusion as to Italy’s feelings with regard to yourself. At this moment, you are the most hated man in Italy.” The king then arrested Mussolini, and the new Italian government began negotiating a surrender to the Allies. -
Soviet reinforcements arrived and surrounded Stalingrad
trapping almost 250,000 German troops. -
Germans retreated
Less than two weeks later, the Allies captured Rome. Fighting in Italy continued, however, for another year. The Italian campaign was one of the bloodiest in the war, with more than 300,000 Allied casualties.