practices of wwii

the goal of war

occupation, to dictate terms “render enemy powerless”. kindness is a fallacy

“On War” in a nutshell:

• maximum use of force, total means

• war is an extension of policy

• war hovers between “The Wondrous Trinity”

Lundendorff’s Der Totale Krieg

1937- impact of regime changes in Europe. citizens are not trained to endure rigors of war, thus, nation might collapse without defeat on the battle field. designates every citizen as an enemy and legitimate target. the best survival of a nation was total annihalation of another.

total mobilization

by total state for the total pursuit of political and strategic aims. nations should be praised for mobilization, peace is merely temporary.

Lundendorff Syndrome

tactical success can mitigate strategic failures. creates time and space for strategic planning but no long-term strategic success.

the theoretical total war

absolute pure war; war can get to a point where it is unchecked absolute violence without any reason and absolute destruction. Policy is what prevents this.

the goal of total war

unconditional surrender, war = means x will. you need enough violence to break a nation’s will with a lot of focus on center of gravity.

what prevents total war

POLICY!! policy must be supported by the people. to ensure policy support: large scale propoganda system to control social message to dehumanize the enemy. omit/censor information about conflict, easy to do when tech is limited.

pesky society vs. society

(moral dilemna) nation at arms: are all citizens soldiers? non-combatants or civilians, including women, children, elderly, and workers are all part of the “bad guys”

chance

the fog of war; the uncertainty that influences the outcome of battles and the overall war

to accomplish total war:

(nation at arms) political, economy, military, and society are all devoted to victory. economic mobilization, conscription, propoganda, rationing, infridgement on civil liberties, government control on business, scapegoating, etc.

strategy vs. tactics

• planning vs. doing

• large vs. small scale

• why vs. how

• difficult vs. easy to copy

• long vs. short time frame

limited war

policy defines it as not a total war since it holds the nation back to some extent

can a war be total and limited at the same time?

yes! example). the american revolution, american vs. british levels of involvement

blitzkrieg

lightining war (must avoid trench stalemate) speed and surprise to break through lines and encircle enemy

limitations of blitzkrieg

if an enemy can force a drawn out war/battle of attrition, then speed and element of surprise is lost.

• england: radar (surprise) and ability to restock from the US

• USSR: complete surprise achieves, but a seeminglyunlimited supply of arms and army drew it out, lend/lease aid, chance

Gleiwitz incident

SS fabricated stages of “attacks” from poles against germans. used this as justification for germany to invade poland on 9/1/1939.

when did britain and france declare war on germany?

9/3/1939, two days after germany invaded poland.

Fall of France

1940- phoney war (sitzkrieg) soldiers sitting and waiting along the maginot line. May 10th 1940, blitzbrieg resumes, germany invaded france may 12th 1940, broke through french lines easily sicne they cut through belgium

surrender and then birtish evacuation in france:

blitzkrieg invasion leads to mass confusion and the british surrounded on three sides, the other side was dunkirk. The miracle at dunkirk (HARRY STYLES!) aka operation dynamo had about 400K troops evacuated via civialian boats but soldiers left behind their weapons and supplies where the germans took them and used them. france surrendered on June 25th.

Battle of Britian

Fall 1940- Germany priotitizes air supremacy over blitzkrieg when attacking Britian due to location and british U-boat blockades. msotly night bombing raids on britian, used destruction from bombing to break morale. they switched to day bombing buts were significantly less effective because the british could see them and shoot them down easier. churchill proved himself during this battle. the germans eventually gave up bombing in october due to minimal success.

operation barbarossa

the beginning of the end, june 1941-february 1943, USSR 5.5 million troops (defending) vs. Germany 3 million troops, TECH:

• Pzkpfw tank- German tank used in Russia

• Soviet rocket launchers Katyusha, left a big impression on germans

• PPSh-41 gun, soviet cheap and simpler machine gun

Key events: seige of leningrad and battle of stalingrad.

nazis had poor planning followed blitskreig tactics. was a major turning point in the war! not total war, finally put the germans to a halt.

extreme violonce: killed jewish people, mobilization prior to the camps; no surrender allowed for USSR soldiers; no one allowed to leave Stalingrad —> led to starvation and cannibalism withi the city from civilians

casablanca conference

jan 1943 —> led to the agreement of unconditional surrender against germany

operation husky

Allies: US, Canada, free france, australia

Axis: Nazi germany and fascist italy

july 10 1943 - aug 17th 1943 on the southern shores of sicily, total invasion of sicily

massive amphibious assault, allied superior strength in numbers, increased supply chain, and naval cupremacy around sicily. The beginning fo the end of the italian fascist regime, failure of espeditionary forces. not total war, no civilians involved. made the italian government realize that their military was weak, led to the fall of mussolini

operation overload

Allies: free france, britain, canada, and US

vs. Germany (constructed russians and poles to fight)

june 6th 1943 (D-day) the allies won due to sheer war power; soldiers, weaponry, and strong leadership. tech advancements:

• paratroopers

• hobarts funnies (minesweeping and floating tanks)

• higgins boat

civiliasn were forced to leave their homes and fight against the germans, large casualties

operation bagration

june 23-aug 19 1944 red army offensive vs. germany

HUGE scale operation, germans lsot 30 divisions in less than a month (1/4 of their strength in the east), Minsk, Bellarus the USSR captures (center of gravity), the allies won because of surprise in the night, cut off the central german army group, leaving them stranded and unable to send replacements. germany was busy with d-day, led to a weaker force from them. the allies limited german territories and allowed for easier allied invasions, loyalty strengthened between stalin and churchhill. the axis confidence ing erman army was damaged and lost valuable control in the east.

battle of the bulge

Dec 1944-Jan 1945 increased urban bombing by allies to “close the ring”, US and Britain go south while germany goes West, german troops surrenderin gin mass, refugees killed in the crosshairs, high command suicides, camps discovered by allied forces

Axis dictators

STUBBORN! Il duce and Fuhrer had their own goals, Hitler ahd to constantly come to Mussolini’s aid. By ‘43, Italy was essentially a German Pupper Regime. Hitler was a horrible military strategist as sen in Barbarossa (fires generals who suggest retreat), and bears prime responsibility for German army disasters. Big Idea: large lack of communication with incomplete agreement or complete disregard of professional advice led to quicker victory by the allies.

Allied generals

Stalin needs West to take pressure of the eastern front, caused a dispute over when that should occur. D-Day was an improbable success, Allies now able to replenish forces quicker than germans. dispute over strategy- open supply lines or keep pushing east? By the end of the war, future politics begin dictating strategy: “uneasy alliance” (the enemy of my enemy is my friend), US and Britian keep USSR at bay, cold war on the horizon.

The atlantic

total wafare: unrestricted warfare, firing upon vessels without warning and targeting noncombatants, “the crunch of the whole war” depended on control of sea and shipping. britian was unable to protect their merchant ships. Big Idea: Inn WWII airpower becomes vitally important to naval success.

Allied vs. german Naval Strategy

german wolf packs:

U boats in packs of 3 supported by milch cows. once a convoy was spotted, groups would converge and attack at night when unseen. inflicted cripling damage in early years of the war.

allied convoy system:

merchant ships travel in large groups protected by escort ships that are heavily armed. Two types of escort ships in a convoy system: one to protect goods and one to hunt U-boats. FDR’s order to shot ons ight - 9/41

German naval strategy

german wolf packs:

U boats in packs of 3 supported by milch cows. once a convoy was spotted, groups would converge and attack at night when unseen. inflicted cripling damage in early years of the war.

war of attrition:

unlike on loand, germany fought a war of attrition on sea.unable to invade england, but used heavy submarine warfare against them and sink as many vessels as possible. heavily affected britain’s shipping. caused churchill to make antisubmarine warfare a priority

Atlantic Gap

area of the atlantic where was not covered by german intelligence allied tech/production eclipses. allies needed to close the gap in order to shorten their routes (had to go around it)

Admiral Horton change in US naval strategy

1942, US failed to adopt convoy system/evasive manuevers and blackouts. he was appointed in 1942 to command the us navy causing increased air support, intelligence, soordinated escorts. after the worst losses in 1943, horton decides to go on the offensive. hunter-killer gorups, had to wait until production allowed it

pacific (naval)

pearl habor bombing heavily crippled US fleet. Japanese were surprised at the speed/completedness of destruction. japanese just needed supplies and resources. US response to pearl harbor was the Doolittle raid in ‘42 and blockade. since japan needed supplies and resources, the established the wash naval treaty (limited naval construction on both sides).

coral sea

may 1942 australia ia allied jumping off point, not a single shot was fired by either navies, entirely fought by aircraft. more or less a draw… however strategic victory for the us in that they stopped japanese expansion towards australia. provided much needed morale boost for the us and they break the japanese codes.

midway

june 1942 japanese objectives were to use midway to launch air strikes on pearl harbor, eliminate bombing threat to home islands, and to deliver crippling blow to US. tactical and strategic win for the US ended japanese supremacy in the pacific. proved to be the turning point in the pacific theater. gave the united states the strategic initiative to begin island hopping campaign.

fall of the phillipines

pacific open to japan after pearl harbor. dec. 8th- japan invades the phillipines, largest US presence in the pacific. dec. 24th, MacArthur orders withdraw and the Bataan death march of prisoners starts in april. 60-80K POWs on a 60 mile march ~15-20K die on the march. US begins aiding Ho Chi Minh in Indochina and Chiang Kai-Shek in China.

Guadalcanal

aug 1942- feb 1943 US obtains naval supremacy in this battle. US win as the japanese don’t commit troops fast enough

Iwo Jima

Feb 1945 volcanic 8 mi² island “throwing human flesh against reinforced concrete” US combined arms, japanese had 11 miles of tunnels. japanese were protected from bombings due to tunnels and the dense volcanic rock was taking the blows. casualties: ~27K US and ~20K Japanese

Okinawa

march-june 1945 the last hop before Japan invasion. casualties: US 12K / 30K Japan ~70K soldiers. Mass suicide in Japanese civilians on Okinawa ~100-150K civilians dead.

Operation Meeting house

March 1945 US bombers reach Japan, uses incindiary bombs instead of explosives at altitudes <10,000 ft high. March 9 an d10th, 1,600 tonnes of explosives on Tokyo — a “torado of fire” with high winds (65mph winds). Tokyo doesn’t have many air defenses or fire support. napalm bombings killed 100,000. the B-29 proved to be successful here.

Douher “father” of strategic airpower and his beleifs

home front vs. front lines, MORALE! civilians aren’t trained to endure the ahrd ships of war making ti easier to break their will. minimize the effectiveness of escorts. “the bomber always gets through”

Mitchell and Trenchard: “fathers” of tastical airpower and their beleifs

Mitchell:

started the US air force, promoted a seperate air force to use tactical air power to gain air superiority and support the troops.

Trenchard:

(UK) airpower should be used to support massed ground operations, not as big on bombs, should be independent.

Big Idea: Combined arms tactics

tactical air power

military use, typically fighters but can be bombers. aircraft used to gain control of the air. used in conjuction with ground forces to gain control on the ground. combined arms

air superiority —> air supremacy

reconnaissance air power

air power with purpose to gather information about “the otehr side”. intelligence gathering, survaillence, photographs

strategic airpower

air power that is aimed at destroying an enemy’s ability to supply/support a war, NOT aimed at destroying an enemy’s military but rather their industry, public support, economic centers, and infrastructure. Break morale!!! think of clausewitz’s center of gravities… target these!

area bombing

(total warfare) bomb an area hoping to hit items of military importance. helpful strategy as accuracy wasn’t the best.

• saturation, cluster, and carpet bombings

• napalm, incinderary, atomic

• widely inaccurate, dud, further unites the people

• use precision bombing in the day due to increased visibility. US moves to precision bombing after operation torch (bombign german civilians)