Western Battles

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1. Operation Barbarossa

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2. The Conflict in France

"The Fall of France"

"The Miracle of Dunkirk"

3. Battle of Britain and The Bli...

Britain

Invasion of Britain

The Battle of Britain

The Blitz

Battle of Britain Newsreel

4. Battle of the Atlantic (1939–1...

German Units

Purpose

Decline

Allied Defense

America Enters the War

5. Diplomacy and Coalition Warfa...

The Tehran Conference

Canada's Role in Italy

The US enters the war

Strategic Disputes

The Critical Juncture

The Raid at Dieppe

1942: A Turning Point

The Casablanca Conference

Operation Husky: The Invasion ...

Total War and Strategic Bombin...

6. Normandy

Churchill and Roosevelt appoin...

Normandy= beginning of the end...

Invasion location: beaches of ...

Troops

Cost: 120,000 Allied casualtie...

Western Battles

1. Operation Barbarossa

See related topics and documents

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8L-GBHNNqrQ

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See related topics and documents

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/2941/introduction.htm

Regardless of the Nazi-Soviet pact, Hitler’s grand scheme had always included the conquest of the Soviet Union.

Operation Barbarossa, codename given to the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union was a strategic move designed to fulfill Hitler’s vision of Lebensraum (living space) strike a blow at his most hated rivals, the communists, and deny British support from the Soviets.

The operation was prompted by racist fervor; Hitler intended to exterminate “undesirables” such as communists, Jews, and people with Asiatic features.

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See related topics and documents

http://barbarossa.netfirms.com/

Hitler did not only want to destroy the Soviet Union he wanted to annihilate large portions of the Soviet population.

Operation Barbarossa marked the high point and the beginning of the end of interest warfare. Operation Barbarossa marked the beginning of warfare that involved governments, armies, and partisans.

Scale of Operation Barbarossa was enormous. Armies of 3 million on either side, with air and naval support, spanned the length of the German-Russian border, covering half of Europe.

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See related topics and documents

http://www.loyno.edu/~history/journal/1989-0/fleming.htm

Hitler expected to win with his blitzkrieg and gave little thought of a first strike failure.

Germany opened gaping holes in the Soviet defense capturing Minsk, Smolensk and Kiev. As the Red Army retreated, they put forth the scorched earth policy, strategy used by the Soviets, burning everything in their wake.

Hitler makes crucial decision by not heading straight to Moscow. Victory was possible but German arrogance left them under prepared for the Soviet winter.

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See related topics and documents

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/operation_barbarossa.htm

The delay from the division of the south meant the German army that headed to Moscow was greeted by the brutal winter. Without adequate winter clothing and winter equipment, the German army ground to a halt.

Stalin ordered a huge counter attack, led by Zhukov, the Soviets were able to stop the Nazi advance, winning a great physiological victory and handing Germany their first major setback of the war.

2. The Conflict in France

"The Fall of France"

See related topics and documents

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/fall_france_01.shtml

The swift defeat of the French army came as a surprise to many.

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The British concluded that France's defeat was imminent and began preparing an evacuation.

Factors:

Poor morale and discipline

The phony war bored French troops.

Would not salute officers.

Abandoned posts.

Pillaged.

Abused alcohol.

Lack of popular support

Many felt it was the government's duty to avoid war.

Communists opposed the war.

Poor leadership

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France's leadership was stuck in a WW1 mind set.

Chose to build forts and trenches.

Maginot Line

Did not anticipate Blitzkrieg or mechanized assault.

Felt the Ardennes forest would hold the Germans back.

Did not take the offensive; adopted a defensive mentality.

German excellence

The German military was very well prepared.

The Germans used innovative tactics that made use of air power and armoured units.

Blitzkrieg

"Lightning War"

The Germans were able to make rapid progress.

The Germans mounted a very successful propaganda campaign.

Results:

The French surrendered on June 22, 1940.

This was done in the same railway coach that the 1918 armistice was signed in.

Germany occupied all of northern France.

The south of France became Vichy France.

Was administered by Marshal Petain.

The British Empire was left to fight Germany alone.

British troops in continental Europe had to be withdrawn.

See related topics and documents

"The Miracle of Dunkirk"

See related topics and documents

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/765004.stm

The British concluded that France's defeat was imminent and began preparing an evacuation.

The evacuation plan was code named Operation Dynamo.

Boats of all size (both naval and civil) were used.

It was originally estimated that only 45000 troops could be evacuated.

In the end, over 328 000 troops from Belgium, Britain, and France were evacuated.

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Soldiers were forced to abandon their equipment.

Factors

The Luftwaffe was hampered by the RAF and fog.

The English Channel was relatively calm at the time; smaller boats could travel it.

The German army was ordered to stop so that its tanks would not get "bogged down in the canals and rivers around Dunkirk."

This allowed the Allies extra time to evacuate

Results

The evacuation lifted British morale and ensured the war did not end.

The massive loss of equipment at Dunkirk resulted in British dependence on American munitions for rearmament.

3. Battle of Britain and The Blitz

Britain

Germany's last remaining enemy in the West

Germany wanted to seek peace with Britain

A month after the battle of Britain, Hitler clung to illusion of Third Reich co-existing with Britain

Invasion of Britain

Code named "Operation Sea Lion"

The key to a successful invasion was the command of the skies

The Luftwaffe was the German air force responsible for the bulk of the German aggression

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The Messerschmitt 109 was the plane used by the Luftwaffe

The invasion marked the first time that aircraft would be used as the primary instrument to destroy the enemy's will and capacity to resist

The RAF (Royal Air Force) fought the Luftwaffe in defence of Britain and is largely responsible for Britain's success

In the final days of the Battle of France, Churchill wanted to send six squadrons of the RAF to France. Hugh Dowding, the commander-in-chief of fighter command of the RAF disagreed because he realized how crucial the RAF would be for Britains defence. This has been said to be one of the best strategic decisions in history.

The Battle of Britain

The Battle began on July 10, 1940

British had the advantage of having a home base to operate British squadrons from whereas Germany was using recently captured airfields

The first phase of the Battle was known as Kanalkampf, which focused on small towns

Germany outnumbered the RAF to begin with, but the British overcame this

Britain created planes twice as fast as Germany and

The British developed radar which gave them a large advantage which was crucial to the defence of Britain and the outcome of the war.

The Blitz

September1940 - Hitler ordered the bombing of London

Thousands were killed and night time raids became common

The attacks strengthened Britain rather than weakening it and the RAF rebuilt just when they were at their weakest

Hitler postponed operation Sea Lion and turned his attention to the east

Battle of Britain Newsreel

See related topics and documents

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0-fVLCnsBs

4. Battle of the Atlantic (1939–1945)

Happy Time- Between May and December of 1940, where U-boats dominated Allied counterparts

Shear amount of allied forces finished off the U-Boat division

See related topics and documents

http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-at-sea/atlantic/battle-of-the-atlantic-index-1939.htm

German Units

U- Boats

Began West of Ireland

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp37B-iDhig&feature=related

Brought a new era of submarine warfare.

Italian naval unit excelled in sea battles but were still a secondary priority to Germany

At first 17 U-boats are issued (alongside 57 other operations boats)

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Superior tool for attacking allied ships,

After the campaign against Norway, the U-boats focused on Britain

Patrolled the Atlantic, rumoured being seen off New York and off of Texas

New technologies like Anti-Aircraft guns were installed, hoping they would be advantageous, but proved to only hurt efficiency

Luftwaffe

German airborne Infantry

Attacked convoys crossing the Atlantic; when they weren't bombing London

Purpose

To force Britain out of the War by cutting off supplies and goods to the island.

Britain, being isolated from the world, was dependent on food imports as well as military ammunition

Hitler saw the opportunity to force Britain out of the war without landing on English soil

Decline

Gradual, never really deteriorated until Germany's surrender

Black May

See related topics and documents

http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-at-sea/atlantic/battle-of-the-atlantic-index-1943.htm

When German U-Boat power reached its peak; 118 seaworthy vessels

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Though Allied loses were more heavy, U-Boats were hurt much more due to lack of amount

Effectively began the decline of U-Boat presence, nearly avoiding starvation in Britain

U-320 becomes the last U-Boat to be sunk in Battle; just off Norway

Quantity of allied ships won the Battle of the Atlantic

Allied Defense

ASDIC Sonar

Established in WW1 but developed greatly against boats, airplanes and submarines

Would send message for Aircrafts to attack or convoys of boats to encircle

Budget cut by the Great Depression; and therefore not as potentially useful as it could have been

Battle lasted throughout the majority of the War

America Enters the War

Though they aided the Allied cause, they would not attack Germany prior to entering the War.

In December of 1941 after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

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Its massive navy assisted in breaking the stranglehold Germany had imposed on Britain

Though there were American Senators who felt that the Germans would win the War; they entered siding with Allies

5. Diplomacy and Coalition Warfare

The Tehran Conference

Meeting of Allies: Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill - November 1943 Agreed on invasion from West in summer of 1944

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Canada's Role in Italy

Canadians became spearhead for Allies drive towards Rome - opened June 5, 1944

The US enters the war

Why? Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor British was in need of much aid

Britain, the Soviet Union and the US referred to themselves as the United Nations Due to economic resources and military strength of the US, the tide shifted in favor of the Allied forces

United States was committed to Euro First Policy - defeating Nazi Germ & securing democracy

Strategic Disputes

British favored indirect approach, America wanted direct approach with massive invasion through northwestern France At Arcadia Conference in Washington decision for British-American counteroffensive in Mediterranean in 1942

The Critical Juncture

May 1942 Hitler diverted army south to Crimea and oil fields - severing Soviet Union lifeline for forced surrender Soviet Union got stronger with more nationalism and better trained soldiers End of Jan 1943 German Sixth Army forced to surrender

The Raid at Dieppe

Assault launched August 19, 1942 - biggest hit to Canadian military - most shot before off beach Why here? to move German troops from Russia, trail for full invasion, best trained Canadian troops, Canadians training in England eager to see active duty

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1942: A Turning Point

Allies successfully counter attacked on 3 fronts: Egypt, North Africa, Russia

The Casablanca Conference

1943 Churchill and Roosevelt met here to map out future of their combined war efforts Achieved joint declaration that Western Allies would only accept unconditional surrender from Axis powers British plan was to fight Germans in North Africa, Sicily, Italian mainland June 1940 Italian invasion of Egypt - Italian defeats in Africa and Balkans brought Germans to Mediterranean

Operation Husky: The Invasion of Sicily

American, British, Canadian troops launch Operation Husky After 6 weeks the island of Sicily fell and Allies began prep for invasion of mainland Italy Fascist Grand Council withdrew support for Mussolini - July 25 asked to resign as Prime Minister Mussolini imprisoned and King Victor Emmanuel 3rd took command of armed forces; Marshal Pietro Badolgilio became PM Germans landed in Italy and planned cross channel invasion called Operation Overlord - long/costly and didn’t end until collapse of the German army

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Total War and Strategic Bombing

Total war- civilians became legitimate targets for both sides

6. Normandy

Churchill and Roosevelt appoint American general Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969)

See related topics and documents

http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/dl/dday/ddaypage.html

Eisenhower directed British field marshal Bernard Montgomery to prepare ground force plans

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Normandy= beginning of the end for Nazi Germany

Invasion location: beaches of the Normandy coast- Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, and Utah

Landed: June 6, 1944

By June 10, the separate beachheads had been consolidated, giving the Allies a solid base from which to begin pushing back the German army

Invasion of France across the English Channel supported by naval bombardment and air support from American and British aircraft

July: German resistance especially by Hitler fanatics

German unleashed new weapon: guided missile= inaccurate

Troops

156, 000 British, Canadian, and American troops

German military: only 425 fighters

Cost: 120,000 Allied casualties, 500,000 German casualties

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