US Military History Second Exam IDs

Benito Mussolini

Fascist dictator of Italy (1922-1943). He led Italy to conquer Ethiopia (1935), joined Germany in the Axis Pact (1936), and allied Italy with Germany in World War II. He was overthrown in 1943 when the Allies invaded Italy. Killed by Italian Partisans on 28 April 1945 with a MAS-38 french submachine gun.

Francisco Franco

Spanish general whose armies took control of Spain in 1939 and who ruled as a dictator until his death (1892-1975).

Adolf Hitler

Austrian-born founder of the German Nazi Party and chancellor of the Third Reich (1933-1945). His fascist philosophy, embodied in Mein Kampf (1925-1927), attracted widespread support, and after 1934 he ruled as an absolute dictator. Hitler's pursuit of aggressive nationalist policies resulted in the invasion of Poland (1939) and the subsequent outbreak of World War II. His regime was infamous for the extermination of millions of people, especially European Jews. He committed suicide when the collapse of the Third Reich was imminent (1945).

Operation Judgement

A British operation carried out at the end of World War II in Northern Norway on 4 May 1945. Carried out by the Royal Navy, the goal of the operation was the cripple German U-boat operations in the Atlantic. It lasted seven minutes.

Destroyers for Bases

A deal struck between the U.S. and Great Britain during World War I. In exchange for being given vital WWI era U.S. destroyers, Great Britain would allow the U.S. to establish military bases on Newfoundland, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad, Antigua, and British Guiana, under a 99-year lease.

Burke-Wadsworth Act of 1940

created the first peacetime draft in United States history. Both the Congress and the president were concerned with the military expansion of Germany, Japan, and Italy. By implementing a draft, the United States government would be better prepared if the nation became involved in the military conflicts raging in other parts of the world.

General George Marshall

Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army during WWII. He oversaw all the military operations in the War in Europe. After the war, he was responsible for the Marshall Plan to help rebuild war-ravished Europe after WWII.

RAINBOW plans

A series of color-coded war plans developed by the U.S. Military in case of war with a variety of countries. The RAINBOW 5 assumed that the U.S. would be at war with Japan and allied with Great Britian and France.

Harold Stark

U.S. Navy admiral who developed the War Plan Dog Memo which influenced the U.S.'s strategic plan for World War II. The Plan Dog memo, written in 1940 by Harold Stark, outlined the U.S. Navy's strategic priorities for a two-ocean war, emphasizing allied cooperation and resource allocation for a long-term conflict, which ultimately shaped U.S. military strategy during World War II. It set the basis for the Allies Germany First Policy and highlighted the necessity of defeating Germany before focusing fully on Japan.

Atlantic Charter

The Atlantic Charter was a joint declaration issued by the United States and Great Britain in August 1941, outlining their shared goals for the post-war world, emphasizing principles like self-determination, freedom, and cooperation, and serving as a foundation for the United Nations.

Doolittle Raid

A raid conducted by the USAAF against Japan on 18 Apr. 1942. Led by LtCol Jimmy Doolittle, 16 B-25 'Mitchells' struck Tokyo in an air raid. Though the damages inflicted were minimal, the raid served as a morale boost for the American public who were still reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Port Moresby

Port Moresby was a critical strategic target in Papua New Guinea that was vital for the Japanese offensive in the Pacific. If the Japanese successfully captured the port town, Australia would be in striking distance from Japanese bombers.

Task Force 16 & 17

Task Force 16 & 17 were two U.S. Naval Task Forces that served a vital role in the Pacific Theater. ADM William 'Bull' Halsey led Task Force 16, while RADM Frank Jack Fletcher led Task Force 17.

USS Yorktown

American carrier involved in the Battle of the Coral Sea; heavily damaged; repaired for the Battle of Midway but sunk there.

Erich Raeder

Grand Admiral of the Kriegsmarine who was a firm believer in decisive naval battles and didn't want to rely solely on U-boats to win the Battle of the Atlantic.

Karl Donitz

Supreme Commander of U-boat operations. He put his full faith into the U-boat operations, believing that through Guerre de Course, sheer willpower, and determination, the Kriegsmarine could cripple the Allied fleet and shipping. While successful during the starting years of the war, his inability to use technology its full advantage, a belief that the Enigma code couldn't be cracked and Allied adoption of anti-U-boat tactics and technology such as escort vessels and new explosives led to U-boat success rates to plummet and casualties to rise exponentially.

JCS 287

Plans that derived from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, plan 287 dealt with the war against Japan. Strategic Plan for the Defeat of Japan. It outlined the proposed military strategy to achieve victory in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, emphasizing joint operations and coordination among the armed services.

CCS 242/6

a crucial document from World War II, played a significant role in shaping Allied strategy, particularly in the Pacific theater. It outlined key decisions made by the Combined Chiefs of Staff, ensuring a unified approach to the war effort. The document influenced operational planning, troop deployments, and resource allocation, contributing to the successful coordination of Allied forces. CCS 242/6 exemplified the collaboration between U.S. and British military leaders, highlighting the importance of joint operations and unified command. Its impact extended beyond the immediate strategic decisions, as it set the stage for subsequent high-level meetings and decisions, ultimately contributing to the Allied victory in World War II. Pacific Theater would be dominated by the US Navy and Marine Corps forces.

CCS 417

Japan will be taken from the Central Pacific, and Manchukuo will be relegated to a secondary target. This plan, developed during World War II, outlines the strategic prioritization of military operations in the Pacific theater, emphasizing the importance of capturing key islands and territories to weaken Japanese forces.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower

Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. He played a crucial role in planning and executing the D-Day invasion during World War II, later serving as the 34th President of the United States. Eisenhower oversaw the Allied forces' strategies and operations, contributing significantly to the defeat of Nazi Germany.

First Battle of El Alamein

1-27 July 1942. In this battle, the British halted a second advance by the Axis forces into Egypt. Axis positions near El Alamein, only 106 km (66 mi) from Alexandria, were dangerously close to the ports and cities of Egypt, the base facilities of the Commonwealth forces, and the Suez Canal. However, the Axis forces were too far from their base at Tripoli in Libya to remain at El Alamein indefinitely, which led both sides to accumulate supplies for more offensives, against time and distance constraints. This battle marked a significant turning point in the Western Desert Campaign during World War II, demonstrating the resilience of British forces against Axis advances.

Operation Torch

Starting in Nov 1942, American forces landed in Morocco and Algeria, and pressing eastward trapped the German and Italian armies being driven westward by the British, forcing German and Italian troops to surrender, despite Hitler's orders to fight to the death. It consisted of three allied landings to push towards Algier, forcing Rommel out of North Africa, preventing the capture of the Suez Canal, and stopping Germany from entering the Levant. Operation Torch was the first major Allied offensive in World War II, aimed at gaining control over North Africa, which ultimately led to the expulsion of Axis powers from the region.

Operation Fortitude

Allied counterintelligence operation launched to cover up the Normandy invasion and misdirect the Germans.

Utah and Omaha Beaches

the two beaches US forces fought at during the D-Day invasion

Mulberry Harbors

The nickname of false harbors built by the Americans and British in the invasion of Normandy.

General Erwin Rommel

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, Afrika Corps, Ghost Division, Desert Fox, is considered one of the best WW2 German generals.

General Gerd von Rundstedt

German Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt was one of Adolf Hitler's ablest leaders during World War II. He held commands on both the Eastern and Western fronts, played a major role in defeating France in 1940, and led much of the opposition to the Allied offensive in the West in 1944-45.

General Omar Bradley

Significant WWII leader who commanded the 12th Army Group and played a key role in the Normandy invasion and the Battle of the Bulge.

General George S. Patton

Commander of the 3rd Army, known as 'Old Blood and Guts.' He played a crucial role in the Allied victory in Europe during World War II, particularly in the battles of Normandy and the liberation of France.

Operation Market Garden

Allies paratroopers attempt a daring plan from September 17-25 1944 to size strategic bridges and then rush grounds forces up and across them. In the end the paratroopers only ended up capturing 1 out of 5 bridges and were forced to retreat.

Operation Autumn Mist

A planned German attack on Allied positions in Belgium and Luxembourg in late 1944.

Battle of the Bulge

December, 1944-January, 1945 - After recapturing France, the Allied advance became stalled along the German border. In the winter of 1944, Germany staged a massive counterattack in Belgium and Luxembourg which pushed a 30-mile "bulge" into the Allied lines. The Allies stopped the German advance and threw them back across the Rhine with heavy losses.

Operation Greif

An espionage operation where German soldiers used captured American uniforms and equipment to disrupt Allied operations.

Operation Gomorrah

The Allied bombing of Hamburg during World War II included numerous strategic bombing missions and diversion/nuisance raids. As a large port and industrial center, Hamburg's shipyards, U-boat pens, and the Hamburg-Harburg area oil refineries were attacked throughout the war. Apt name given incendiary bombs were primarily used.

AWPD/1 (Air War Plan D/1)

Emphasized precision bombing targeting key German industries and economies, including ball-bearing factories and munitions plants.

Henry H. Arnold

The commanding general of the US Army Air Force. He played a crucial role in the development of air power during World War II and is known as the "Father of the U.S. Air Force."

Operation Clarion

An Allied strategic bombing operation of Germany in February 1945. It aimed to disrupt German transport and communications to support the advance of Allied forces.

Dresden Raid

A series of joint British and American bombing attacks on Dresden from 13 to 15 February 1945, targeting both military and civilian sites. The raids resulted in significant destruction of the city and massive civilian casualties, and remains controversial regarding their strategic necessity.

Battle of Iwo Jima

A battle in February and March 1945 in which U.S. forces took Iwo Jima, a small but strategically important island off the Japanese coast. During the battle, an Associated Press photographer took a world-famous photograph of U.S. Marines raising the American flag on the summit of Mt. Suribachi.

Battle of Okinawa

First Japanese Home island (only 340 miles from mainland Japan) to be invaded. Island of immense strategic value. Involving over 500,000 troops and over 1,200 ships. The battle showed the Japanese determination to resist invasion.

Operation Downfall

The planned invasion of Japan was put off due to the estimated high casualty rates and the use of atomic bombs.

Manhattan Project

The code name for the secret United States project set up in 1942 to develop atomic bombs for use in World War II

Overwhelming air power

A key theme in the American Way of War by 1945, emphasizing air superiority.

Overwhelming production and logistics

A significant change in the American military strategy by 1945, focusing on mass production and efficient supply chains.

Intelligence

A crucial factor in the American military strategy by 1945, involving the gathering and use of information.

Projection of force

The ability to deploy military power effectively, a change in American military strategy by 1945.

Total war

A strategy adopted by the Allies, targeting not just military but also civilian infrastructure to hasten enemy surrender.

Broad front to single thrust strategy

A shift in American military strategy by 1945, focusing on concentrated efforts rather than widespread engagements.