The War in Europe

The United States joined Great Britain, France, and 46 other countries to fight against the Axis Powers. These countries became known as the Allies.

President Roosevelt decided to fight the Germans first. He sent a few troops and ships to the Pacific to hold off the Japanese. The Americans captured Italy in April of 1944.

On June 5, 1944 the troops crossed the English Channel. They landed in France. This was the greatest battle of the war. June 6 was called D-Day. The troops landed on Omaha Beach in France. General Eisenhower was in command. In July the troops moved off the beach and fought their way through hedges, fields, and vineyards. They pushed the Germans back across France toward Germany. By September the Allies forced the Germans all the way home. The Russians closed in on the east.

The Germans developed a new rocket called the V-2 bomb. They could fly without pilots. Hundreds landed on British cities. Thousands of civilians were killed.

In April 1945 the Russians pushed the Germans to Berlin. This was the capital of Germany.

On April 12, 1945 President Roosevelt died of a heart attack. Vice President Harry Truman became the new President.

On May 7, 1945 the war in Europe was over. The Germans surrendered. The Americans found hundreds of thousands had been killed in camps. Most were Jews.