The War in Europe

Martina visits the beaches of Normandy, France

El Alamein was the first turning point of the European theatre. During this battle, the British defeated a German advancement on Egypt and the Suez Canal. This prevented the Germans from getting to the Middle Eastern oil supplies, and marked the first major offensive action against Germany. The second turning point occurred at Stalingrad in the Soviet Union. In this battle, hundreds of thousands of German soldiers were captured or killed in a long siege of the city. This defeat kept the Germans away from Soviet oil supplies, and signified the switch from Germany acting on the offensive to the defensive. The third turning point was the Normandy Invasion, or D-Day, in France on June 6, 1944. General Dwight Eisenhower led the Allied forces in a successful assault, despite strong German opposition and high Allied casualties. This battle marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. Minorities contributed to the success of the American war efforts in Europe, even though they faced segregation in the military. While most minorities served in support units like the Red Ball Express, some got a chance to fight. When they did fight, like the Tuskegee Airmen and the Nisei Regiment, they demonstrated bravery and courage, while suffering high casualties.