World War II
Mistrust around to the max • • • • •
Britain just wants its empire! Soviets are communists! Germany is power hungry! The U.S. is creepin’ on our turf! France is frontin’!
Japan • Imported 80% of oil from U.S. • U.S. pressure pushed Japan to the East Indies • But was U.S. all talk? • Did U.S. Open Door policy cause war by stepping on Japanese turf?
Blitzkrieg • Throw everything you got through front lines, disperse behind lines, and attack from the back. – Air, tanks (Panzers), mobility, infantry, paratroopers, artillery – Shock into retreat
• Poland was no slouch; just used WWI defenses
Poland • Two weeks • 700,000 Pole prisoners, 70,000 killed – 133,000 wounded, 100,000 make it to Britain
• 10,000 Germans killed, 30,000 wounded • Hitler has convinced self that he is a military genius. – “Let’s take France!”
• Advisors convince Hitler to pause and take Norwary and Denmark in order to heal.
Soviets • Into Finland • Crummy show by Soviet army • Hitler and Britain take note
Paris fall in ten days • Brits escape through Dunkirk • Brits make a race through German lines. Hitler believes it a massive counter attack. He pauses attack to consolidate. • 300,000 Brits get home safely. • The Channel is calm; amazing
Air Superiority • Key to WWII • Battle of Britain example – Luftwaffe vs. RAF
• Britain is the last. Without it, the U.S. could not have landed in Normandy. • Britain was pumping out 500 spitfires a month.
Battle of Britain • Hitler believes one last blow will cripple British morale. Take out London! – 43,000 killed, 139,000 wounded civilians
Operation Barbarossa • • • •
1.9 million horses mobilize 3 prong attack Ukrainians welcome Germans, until… Russians move whole factories – 3.2 million Soviets will die from German invasion
• Slow supply line; winter
Battle of the Atlantic • Lend-Lease • Germany focused on Submarines – 39 subs; 18 operational at once – Wolf packs • Downside of wolf packs?
• U.S. ships took “long” route – Out of U-boat reach
1943, Atlantic Victory • Allied radar could pick up periscope. • Atlantic opens. U.S. can get Soviets needed supplies. (TRUCKS!)
Hedgehog weapon
Midway • U.S. can read Japanese operational signals • Japanese caught with pants down – Lose 4 carriers and 3,000 men (many pilots)
• Japanese armor (zeros)
The U.S. Machine • During the war, 2/3 of all world oil shipped by U.S. • Provided 25% of British munitions • By 1945, 300,000 aircraft built • 650,000 jeeps • Over a million 2 ½ ton TRUCKS! • 16 million men and women would serve
“Soft Underbelly” • Stalin’s demands – FDR wanted to keep Soviet promises, in fear of a Soviet separate peace
• Operation Torch (1942) – Practice run for D-Day
• Importance of Africa…Safe Mediterranean
Soft Underbelly • Battle of Sicily and Salerno – (more amphibious assaults)
1944 • The oceans are clear and Soviets are supported • D-Day
The U.S. Machine • Japan built 7 carriers from 1943-44; the U.S. 90 • Could train pilots in months as opposed to 2-3 years for Japan • B-29 Superfortress • By 1943, the U.S. could build 3 Liberty Ships in 1 day!
Operation Torch • Pulled Germans from Stalingrad
Power World War II • Truman Doctrine • Marshall Plan • Nuremberg Trials (22 charged, 12 sentenced to death) • Universal Declaration of Human Rights • NATO/Warsaw Pact • Difference from World War 1?
