【英语拓展阅读】 Module 6 War and Peace 【佳文共赏】.docVIP

【英语拓展阅读】 Module 6 War and Peace 【佳文共赏】 在人类历史长河中，战争始终蔓延不断，从地球上出现文明以来，有几十亿人在战争中丧生。第二次世界大战(1939—1945)是人类历史上规模最大、损失最惨重的一次战争。而D-Day登陆（即诺曼底登陆）是二战的转折点。 Introduction On 1st September 1939 Germany invaded Poland. They used a new type of warfare called ‘Blitzkrieg’ or ‘Lightening War’. This is a war when tanks and planes are used to knock out the defenses so that the defending country is easier to conquer. Two days after this happened, Britain and France declared war on Germany and the other Axis powers. It wasn’t until 7th December 1941, after a surprise attack by Japan, which destroyed most of America’s navy whilst it was still at Pearl Harbour that America joined the war to help Britain and France. Also in the war was the Soviet Union under the control of Stalin. On 6th June 1944 the Allies Invaded France in a massive attack and by 2nd September 1945 the Allies had won the war. D-Day On 6th June 6,500 vessels landed over 130,000 men on five Normandy beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. 12,000 aircraft ensured air superiority. They bombed German defenses and provided cover. On Utah beach 23,000 troops were landed at a cost of 197 casualties. However, on Omaha beach the landing was significantly harder, meeting with fierce German resistance, there were 4,649 American casualties. Overall, however, the landings caught the Germans by surprise and they were unable to counter-attack with the necessary speed and strength. Once the allied troops had destroyed the German defenses they were free to bring new troops, machines and supplies over the channel and into Normandy. By the end of June, Eisenhower had 850,000 men and 150,000 vehicles ashore in Normandy. Fuel would have been a major problem for the allies, but thanks to the idea of piping oil straight from America, a pipeline had been built under the Atlantic Ocean. This was hard to destroy and so it was a success. In the weeks following the landings however, the narrow lanes and thick hedgerows of the French countrysid