Ø America’s Entry into the War (Maps)

§ “Air raid – Pearl Harbor!”

· 2 air raids attack US PACFLT beginning at 0755

· Aim point: Battle Ship row- Ford Island (Maps)

¨ Also destroy A/C on ground at Hickam AFB

§ Complete tactical surprise & victory achieved

· Many BBs sunk or seriously damaged

· Many other ships & equipment- 2500+ KIA

§ Operational short falls:

· CVs missed (absent)

· Ship repair/Dry Docks not hit

· Oil storage tanks in tact

§ Strategic & Political blunder:

· Started war Japanese can’t possibly win

¨ Potential economic & industrial capacity unmatched

¨ Military strength superior once mobilized

· Unified Americans against Japan=> war

Ø The Tide Turns- Midway, El Alamein, & Stalingrad

§ US initially unprepared for war (interim disarmament)

· Trained men & industrialized war economy absent

· Isolation mentality firm hold on nation’s attitude

§ Japan soon follows-up: Guam, Wake, & PI (Map)

· Established Pacific zone of control (Map)

· From Aleutians to Australia=> Burma to Gilberts

§ European theater: Germans remain just short of Caspian

· Rommel drives Brits back toward Suez to El Alamein

· German subs attack British re-supply convoys

· Allies essentially on the rope at start of 1942

§ When did things start to turn around in favor of Allies?

· Battle of Midway- “scratch” four “flattops”

¨ Role of intelligence & aggressive leadership

Ø And good Timing & a little luck

¨ Japan’s momentum slowed if not stopped

· Allies then conduct Operation “Cartwheel”

¨ Halsey work up Solomons starting w/Guadalcanal

¨ MacArthur’s forces up east coast of New Guinea

¨ Offer model for later dual island hoping strategy

§ Allied Landings in Africa, Sicily, & Italy (Map)

· Montgomery reverses Rommel at El Alamein

· Ike lands to west in French North Africa- pincher

¨ German army crushed between two allied forces

¨ Mediterranean now in allied control

¨ German southern flank (in Balkans) exposed

· Invasion of Sicily: summer 1943=>

¨ Allies launch advance from North Africa (Map)

¨ Cross over straits of Messina and into Italian boot

¨ Mussolini is dismissed & new Italian gov. formed

Ø Declares war on Germany

Ø Germany continues effective ridgeline defense

§ Resist w/fighting ridgeline w/d for rest of war

§ Battle of Stalingrad

· Germans resume eastern offensive in summer 1942

¨ Bitter fighting ensues w/heavy casualties both sides

¨ Stalingrad bombed to rubble but Stalin stands firm

Ø Close in fighting lessens Ger. tactical advantage

Ø Russian snipers effective- hold Germans back

· Battle of ego’s

¨ Stalin refuses to evacuate population- stay & fight

¨ Hitler refuses to allow any retreat from gains made

· Russia’s “best ally” arrives?

¨ Summer uniforms & over extended LOC takes tow

¨ Stalin orders counter attack as winter sets in

¨ German 8^th Army ordered to fight and hold by Hitler

Ø Soon cut off, trapped, & destroyed (Goring’s role)

¨ FM Paulus surrenders into captivity few return from

§ Strategic Bombing

· By 1943 US mobilization starts to take hold

¨ Weapons production & logistics impressive

· Sub threat bought under control=> re-supply lines up

¨ Sonar, convoy, improved AS tactics, & Ultra’s role

· Brit & US strategic bombing campaign (Day/Night)

¨ Gradually improved costs (attrition) vs. benefit

Ø Long range fighters provide bombers protection

¨ By 1945: allies achieve air superiority

Ø Bomb at will- German cities devastated

Ø Defeat of Nazi Germany (Map 32-6))

§ D-Day 6 June 1944: Overlord- the Normandy invasion

· Allies under Ike land on 5 opposed beaches

¨ Utah & Omaha the bloodiest (to Americans)

§ Allies begin advance to north & east

· By Sept France is liberated & Germans on run

§ Allies advance steadily on broad front

· One exception: Monty’s failed Market-Garden thrust

¨ High risk gamble simply a “bridge too far”

§ Dec 1944: Hitler’s last desperate gamble- called?

· Offensive thrust through Ardennes forest surprise allies

§ Mar 1945: Allies (Patton) cross Rhine and advance east

· Russians advance toward Berlin

§ May: Hitler moves imaginary units on his map in a bunker

· Insist Germany fight to bitter end

· Marries his mistress & then commits suicide

· War in Europe is soon over

Ø Fall of Japanese Empire (Map)

§ US production capacity & resources take hold by 1943

§ Pacific forces begin two pronged “island hop” strategy

· General MacArthur drives NW in Southwest Pacific

· Admiral Nimitz drives west in Central Pacific

§ Japan’s resolute defense at Iwo & Oki w/kamikaze tactics

· US planners: invasion of Japan will cost heavy cas.

· Then 6 Aug 1945: Hiroshima & 9 Aug: Nagasaki

¨ World changed forever as result

· 8 Aug: Soviets declare war on Japan (agreed at Yalta)

¨ Reality: afraid to miss opportunity to gain leverage

§ Japan’s war cabinet still deadlocked on response

· Surrender or fight to death

· Emperor breaks tie: “must endure unendurable”

· Japan formally sign surrender 2 Sep 1945

¨ MacArthur presides on ceremony on USS Missouri

Ø Cost of War

§ Military KIA: 15 million (w/15M in “collateral damage”)

· 40 million in indirect link considered

§ Europe & much of Asia devastated- reconstruction heavy

§ Genie let out of bottle- dawn of Atomic Age

· Soon strategic priorities would radically change

· Cold War soon would begin in earnest

¨ Ideological & geo-strategic interest to dominate

¨ Foreign policy for next 45 years set accordingly

v The Domestic Fronts

Ø Besides military=> total war included domestic front

§ Consumer shortages & rationing

§ Propaganda campaigns

§ New political developments evident throughout war

Ø Germany: From Apparent Victory to Defeat

§ German society virtually unaffected 1^st two years

· Failure to defeat Russia quickly would change that

¨ Food became scarce & sacrifices required

· Total war hit Germany

§ 1942-1943: war time economy emerged (Speer)

· Major German industries=> wartime production

¨ Consumer goods became scare

· Men & resources absorbed into army

· Food rationing & economic controls followed

· Great suffering until west Europe shoulders burden

§ By 1943: total mobilization in effect:

· Age for compulsory services for women raised

· Retail consumer businesses closed

· Non-German workers channeled into war industry

· Artists & entertainers moved into military

· Conquered Europeans forced into labor services

§ German propaganda: role of German wives & mothers?

· Protect racial purity

· Support husbands & sons=> win war

§ Allied strategic bombing (May’43-)=> mixed results

· Fear but also resolution to stay the course

§ Nazi power & influence highest throughout war

· No serious challenge or opposition to Hitler

· Only one failed attempt on Hitler’s life (1944)

¨ plotters ruthlessly tortured & executed

§ WWII transformed Germany during & after its end

· Total defeat & destruction had most impact on society

· Invasion & occupation forced complete new paradigm

Ø France: Defeat, Collaboration, & Resistance

§ Vichy collaboration & reasons for it

· Conservative view of liberalism & Nazi sympathizers

· Restoration of Catholic Church influence & values

· Attitudes of majority of French population?

§ Vichy regime advocated chauvinistic Nationalism

· Suspicion toward anyone not thoroughly French

· Extreme prejudice against Jews (not new to French)

· Passive acceptance: German deportation of Jews- 60K

¨ Transported to extermination camps

§ Resistance Movement: less than 5% of French adults

· Some fled France to join De Gaulle’s Free French

· Most simply feared Germans & accepted occupation

· Only in late 1942 signs of viable resistance emerged

§ By late 1944 became apparent Nazis & Vichy doomed

· Result: active resistance finally asserted itself

· Committee of National Liberation (Algiers)

¨ Declared Vichy illegitimate (Aug 1944)

¨ De Gaulle urged active sabotage of Germans

¨ French soldiers soon joined in Paris’ liberation

§ Post-war finger pointing of who did for whom when

· Divided nation for next two decades

Ø Great Britain: Organization for Victory

§ 22 May 1940: Churchill’s Gov. gets emergency powers

· Declares compulsory military service

· Institutes rationing & price/wage controls

· Levies taxes to control inflation (more $ to spend)

§ Churchill mobilized nation quickly for war

· Work day extended & women filled labor force

· Unemployment ended & workers had $, but…

· Savings encouraged & taxes raised (inflation)

§ German strategic bombing & the Blitz

· After initial period of concentration- steady state

· Impact on Brits: 30K killed & much destruction

§ Role of Winston Churchill on British morale

· Instrumental in inspiring people to stay the course

· BBC played key role in communications to people

¨ Promoted resistance against Nazis

¨ Unified Nation & uplift soldiers at the front

¨ Also convey coded messages to agents & resistance

§ Surprisingly=> Britain’s standard of living & health rose

· Specific reason or cause unclear

· Speculation: direct role of government in economy

· May have also contributed to Labour victory in 1945

Ø Soviet Union: Great Patriotic War

§ Russia suffered greatest destruction of war

· 16 million killed & millions taken POW

· Germany extracted food, minerals, & oil

§ Stalin’s role in controlling military & economy

· Pattern already set before war:

¨ 5 year plans & agricultural collectivization

¨ Purges of 1930s

§ Propaganda & “The Great Patriotic War”

· Factored in inherent distrust of citizen’s loyalty

¨ Radios confiscated & replaced by load speakers

· Emphasis on Russian (vice Marxism) patriotism

· Old Russian Novel revived (War and Peace)

· Movies glorified days of old Russian Tsars

· Music evoked heroic emotions: Leningrad symphony

§ Stalin makes temporary peace w/Greek Orthodox Church

· Solidify domestic standing & appeal to East Europeans

§ Soviet supported partisan resistance in occupied areas

· Harass Germans & maintain hold on partisan peasants

¨ Incorporated into Soviet Army as they advanced west

§ Soviet Army & Stalin=> more powerful as result of war

v Preparations for Peace

Ø Alliance of convenience & cooperation against Nazis

§ War’s geo-strategic aims trump ideological differences

§ Post-WWII underlying differences resurface =>

· Once common enemy eliminated

· Ideological differences re-emerge

· Geo-strategic opposing interests surface again

§ Atlantic Charter & its ideological principles

· Echoes of Wilson’s 14 points & self determination

· No territorial gains sought

· No changes without concurrence of people affected

· Freedom from fear- accepted by all allies (+ USSR)

· Basis for future UN charter

§ Foreign Minister pre-conference meeting (Oct’43)

· Reaffirm earlier agreements

¨ Fight to “unconditional surrender”

¨ Cross Channel invasion in north France (May’44)

¨ Continued cooperation following war

Ø Tehran (Nov 1943) & the “Big Three”

§ Role of Stalin, Churchill, and FDR- “The Big Three”

§ Stalin decisively supports FDR’s invasion plan- Overlord

· Also US plan for south France (Anvil) vice Balkans

§ Tehran’s political issues:

· Division of Germany- deferred to study group

· Poland’s boundaries- decision postponed

¨ Stalin insists on friendly buffer states- why?

¨ Stalin rejects plebiscite – why?

¨ Agrees to some representation of western Poles

¨ Stalin signs Declaration of Liberated Europe

Ø Democracy & self determination

· FDR announces two year limit on US occupation

¨ Stalin probably not displeased with news

¨ Tehran was high point of Big Three unity

§ When military strategy accomplished successfully=>

· Political issues unresolved left to fester for next time

· Result: harder issues strained harmony & unity

· Stalin would soon break his agreements on E. Europe

§ Yalta- Crimea (Feb 1945)

· FDR’s goal: enlist Soviet support against who?

¨ FDR’s concerns motivating his aims?

· FDR’s attitude toward “spheres of influence”?

¨ Suspicion toward Churchill & Stalin?

· Ideological views of UN potential peacekeeping role?

Ø Potsdam (July 1945)

§ How had situation change since Yalta?

· Germany’s status?

· Big Three composition?

· New weapon technology breakthrough?

§ Previous (Yalta) agreements reaffirmed

§ Remaining undecided (festering) issues TBD

· Stalin wanted to move Poland’s border-how?<