History GR 3 - WW2

What was the Easy War

• The attack on Scandinavia and northern Europe

• Quick invasion of Poland aided by the Russians (Poles spreaded troops as they did not know where Germans would attack … failed in the end)

  • 1st concentration camp set up there

• Took Norway and Denmark as well

  • Norway was able to protect the homeland long enough for the GOV to escape

• Did not have success with Finland

Why was the Easy War important

• Increased German momentum

• Creation of the concentration camp

• Set up initial dynamic with Russia

What was the fall of France?

• Germany swiftly invaded France in order to take out one of the allied powers

  • hoped to push allied powers north

• Three attack troops

  • A: facing the French frontier in the Ardennes  

  • B: under Bock, facing the Dutch and Belgian borders 

  • C: facing Maginot Line

• Coup de Main (counter attack) failed on the French side and lead to the Fall of France

Why was the fall of France important?

• Largest allied loss

• Forced allies out of the west as they needed to conserve their forces

What was the battle of Britain

• On 3 July, Britian seized all the French warships in their ports, and summoned Mers-El-Kebir (Algeria) to surrender 

• They refused to surrender, and a 9 minute naval bombardment destroyed all but one vessel 

Why was the battle of Britain important

• It cut potential German naval reinforcements 

• Britian also demonstrated to allies that it can put up a fight (in particular, the US) 

What was the Battle of Balkans

• 10 June 1930, Mussolini declared war on Britian and France 

• There were no clear operational/strategic goals besides a desire to have Italy reclaim it’s status as a ancient patrimony in Rome 

• Their military was not ready intellectually or physically 

• Italy dithered throughout the war due to indecision and prohibitions from the Germans 

• Mussolini ordered Marshal Roldofo Graziani to move against Britain’s defenses in Egypt 

• They entrenched themselves in a bunch of isolated defensive positions

Why was the Battle of the Balkans important?

• First major involvement of the Italians

• Lead to the signing of the Axis power alliance (Japan, Germany, and Italy)

What was Tobruk and why was it important?

A strategic port city. It was important for supply routes. Ended up in British control

Who was Rommel

Key German commander and very smart. Was sent to North Africa to support the Italian army after their failures against the British in Egypt and Libya. 

Role of tanks in Africa

The vast deserts of North Africa and the rugged terrain of Italy created unique challenges and shaped tank warfare strategies They were important because they provided mobility, firepower, and tactical flexibility in battles. They could also break through enemy lines. 

What was El Alamein

Major battle in Egypt for the Allies, also a battle of attrition. Turning point of WW2, before the battle N. Africa was dominated by the axis forces. After, it led the allies to defeat the axis forces later on. This area was crucial because of the Suez Canal.  

Who was Montgomery

was one of the most important British military leaders. But he lacked time to correct the tactical deficiencies of the troops he commanded.  Victory in El Alamein, led the invasions in Sicily.  

Why was N. Africa Important

because it controlled key strategic locations, trade routes, and resources. 

•  Secured vital supply routes (Suez Canal, oil fields) 

•  Prevented Axis expansion into the Middle East and Southern Europe 

• Gave the Allies a base to invade Italy and later France (D-Day 1944) 

• Forced Hitler to fight on multiple fronts, weakening his forces 

What was the role of the lend-lease act in N. Africa

The U.S. didn't sell supplies; instead, it lent or leased them, often with the understanding that they would be returned after the war or replaced if they were destroyed. This helped the ally countries keep going throughout the war. 

Why was Mussolini interested in N. Africa

To build a new Roman Empire and assert Italy’s power on the world stage. Access to resources like oil.  

What was the Doolittle Raid?

a military air raid on Japan during World War II, by the U.S using B-25s. The mission was intended to strike at Japanese cities to boost American morale and show Japan that it was vulnerable to attack. 

Why was the Doolittle Raid important?

Boosted US morale. And showed Japan that the US can attack Japan, lowering their morale. Japan then had to change their plans for the war, they had more doubt about the war and their navy was crippling. This also raddled their public.  

What was the Battle of the Coral Reef?

United States and Australia, were determined to stop the Japanese advance toward Australia and to protect the important Allied supply and communication routes in the South Pacific … Japan wanted a pivotal trading port

Why was the Battle of the Coral Sea important?

This battle led to even odds to the Americans in the battle of Midway. It helped the Americans learn and create better warfare in the battle of Midway. 

What was the battle of Midway

Japan wants to draw the US carriers out of Hawaii to sink them (therefore they cannot be restored). However, a American code breaker gave the Americans a heads up about Japan’s plan (HYPO), therefore they were able to outsmart Japan and not fall into their traps. The US started to organize a trap/attack. And by chance the Americans got the Japanese.  

Why was the Battle of Midway important?

Major Turning point of the war. Americans outsmarted Japan. After Midway the Americans start the Island-hopping campaign.  

What was Battle of the Beams?

• German night bombers used radio beams to find targets, but the British jammed them. 

What was Operation Gomorrah?

• The primary goal of the operation was to destroy Hamburg’s industrial capacity and to demoralize the German population by attacking a major urban center. 

What was Blitzkrieg?

• Lightning war with the goal of getting across France in the matter of weeks

• Germans were fueled by Methamphetamines

• Traveled in small groups which was highly efficient

Who was Winston Churchill and why was he important?

• Prime Minister of Britain

• Critical in allied war effort

• Headed the Gallipoli Campaign

• Good military strategy

• Big part of the involvement of U.S.

• Could speak convincingly to his people

What was Germany’s Military Strategy at the beginning of the war?

• Land invasion of GB

• Operation SEALION

  • executed mid august

• Wanted command of the seas

• Wanted to command the skies

Why did operation SEALION fail?

• Has no landing craft

• Troops not trained for invasion

• No plans from high command

What were Germany’s advantages earlier in the War?

• They had the numbers and experienced troops

• They had momentum —> high morale due to multiple victories in Europe

Britain’s Advantages early in the War?

• most powerful Navy in the world

• home field advantage - can save pilots

• leadership: Churchill had vision and could speak convincingly to his people

• Had the Spitfires and Hurricanes which are superior aircraft technology

• Used the Dowding system

What was the Blitz?

• German’s accidentally bombed civilian areas in London

• Britain dropped bombs in Berlin which pissed Hitler off

In retaliation to the bombing of Berlin Germany responded how?

• Germans bombed London for 57 nights

• Didn’t work as planned due to OPERATION PIED PIPER and ANDERSON SHEDS

  • the largest international migration in British history

What was the Cannae tactic?

Russian commander Gregory Zukov kept adversaries tied down in the centric, while building up an undetected mass in the rear that later launched in a pincer attack to trap his opponents

What was Operation BARBAROSSA

• Germany’s attack on Russia

• Messed up by Rasputitsa (mud season)

• Did not have the proper logistics

  • not enough resources

• Did so to stand by Nazi ideologies

Who was Charles Lindbergh and what did he do?

• Flew the Spirit of St. Louis

• 1st Trans Atlantic flight

• becomes one of the leading military aviators

• committed isolationist

What was Japan’s Mil Strat

Gain naval supremacy in the pacific

Why was Pearl Harbor a strategic loss for the Japanese

• pulls U.S. into war

• sets up series of events that will result in the home islands being a pile of rubble

• humiliation of army and navy

• emperor had to stop being viewed as a god

What is nature of war

• stable and enduring

  • political dimension

  • human dimension

  • uncertainty

  • contest of wills

What is character of war

• changing

• largely but not totally at tactical level

• technology

• doctrine

• military organization

What was Nagumo’s Dilemma

• couldn’t decide whether or not to deliver a full strike

• decision took so long that by the time they were ready it was too late as they were under attack by planes from midway

What was the advance to Baku?

• needed oil

• Germans didn’t think they would meet opposition

• met by guerilla forces

• women pilots flew @ night and took out German soldiers

• Stalingrad turned out to be the turning point in the war

  • Germans will not be on the offensive again

Importance of the Tuskegee Airmen

everyone wanted to fly with them because they escorted bombers for the entire mission

What was Battle of the Bulge

• Massive push on the western front from the Germans

• Makes giant bulge in the lines (salient)

• Set pretty far into Belgium

What was Guadalcanal

• Japanese were building an airfield so it became and American target

• First amphibious landing of the Marines

what was the night of black snow

the firebombing of Tokyo