BATTLES IN WWII 25 2 THE EARLY BATTLES

BATTLES IN WWII 25. 2 THE EARLY BATTLES 25. 4 PUSHING THE AXIS BACK 25. 5 THE WAR ENDS

Winston Churchill Dwight D Eisenhower Franklin D Roosevelt Francisco Franco Adolf Hitler Douglas Mac. Arthur Isoroku Yamamoto Benito Mussolini Chester Nimitz George S Patton Erwin Rommel Joseph Stalin

This map of Europe shows the extent of Hitler’s reach in 1942

STRUGGLE FOR NORTH AFRICA • Axis forces attack North Africa – Mussolini 1940 attacks British controlled Egypt - Suez Canal key to Middle East oil, but 1941 British strike back – Hitler sends German tank force, the Afrika Korps, under General Erwin Rommel, nicknamed “Desert Fox, ” to reinforce the Italians • The British under General Montgomery defeat Axis forces at the Battle of El Alamein Rommel’s forces retreat west & Allies launch Operation Torch 1942 when Allied force of over 100, 000 troops, mostly American, land in Morocco & Algeria under American general Dwight Eisenhower. – 2 major reasons for the invasion of North Africa: it would give the army some experience without requiring lots of troops & once they retook these areas they would be in a position to help GB against Rommel in Egypt – Rommel’s Afrika Korps is finally crushed in May 1943, caught between Montgomery’s & Eisenhower’s armies.

BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC • Ger. had been running a constant attack on Am. cargo ships. To protect the ships, Americans on the East coast (including Palm Beach, Florida) turned off their lights, used blackout curtains, & drove with their lights off. • The loss of so many ships convinced the US to start using the convoy system, cargo ships protected by warships. – Americans use convoy system to deal with Ger. subs, along with new technologies like depth charges, radar, & sonar helps win Battle for the Atlantic.

THE BATTLE FOR STALINGRAD • USSR doing most of the fighting in Europe until the US began to attack the Western front. • Hitler invaded Sov. Un. & planned to destroy the Soviet economy. Ger. Advanced but stalled at Leningrad 1941 – winter hits summer 1942 Battle of Stalingrad. Stalin ordered the Soviet army to hold the city no matter what. He forbid retreat. – Luftwaffe nightly bombing raids, but Stalin orders commanders to defend the city to the death winter hits & Soviets launch counterattack Soviets surround city but Hitler refuses retreat – (1943) 90, 000 frostbitten, half-starved German troops surrender (what was left of 330, 000) – defense of Stalingrad cost Soviets over 1 million soldiers & 99% of the city was destroyed, but Ger. surrendered 1943 battle put Ger. on the defensive for the 1 st time. – Germany was now on the defense.

STRIKING BACK AT THE THIRD REICH: Casablanca Conference • STRIKING AT THE SOFT UNDERBELLY - Casablanca Conference: FDR & Churchill meet – goal = step up bombing “the progressive destruction of the Ger. military, industrial, & eco system, & the undermining of the morale of the German people” & Allies agree to attack the Axis on the island of Sicily – Italy = the “soft underbelly” of Europe – Ended up causing severe oil shortage & destroyed railroad system & aircraft factories – DUKW – amphibious truck, brings supplies to soldiers on beach when invading Sicily • Eisenhower overall command of invasion, Patton (US) & Montgomery (GB) in charge on ground • Invasion of Italy Italian king Victor Emmanuel/Italian generals put Mussolini under arrest. Italy surrenders 1943. Ger. troops there still fighting at Cassino & Anzio & trying to keep Mussolini in power. Italian campaign one of bloodiest in the war – cost Allies more than 300, 000 casualties.

STRIKING BACK AT THE THIRD REICH: FDR & STALIN AT TEHRAN • 1943 Stalin, FDR, & Churchill meet in Tehran, Iran. • Stalin promised to launch a full-scale offensive against Ger. when Allies invaded France in 1944 • FDR & Stalin agree to break up Ger. after war so could never threaten peace. • Stalin promises once Ger. defeated will help US defeat Japan. • Stalin accepts FDR’s proposal to create international organization to help keep peace after the war. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Yh 0 TWAYb. VUU

• • LANDING IN FRANCE: OPERATION OVERLORD – NORMANDY INVASION Code name for planned invasion of France, Eisenhower in command Advantage of Allies – surprise – not Pas-de-Calais (decoys) but Normandy Date for the invasion = D-Day – June 6, 1944 (weather favorable) Trouble at Omaha Beach led by General Omar Bradley, but invasion succeeded. http: //www. youtub e. com/watch? v=kqx s. Uzg. Ya 9 I

THE THIRD REICH COLLAPSES • FDR/Allied leaders promised to punish the Nazis after the war • Hedgerows = dirt walls several feet thick & covered in shrubbery, used by the Ger. to defend their positions in Normandy, France. Battle of the hedgerows ended with American bombers blowing a hole in the German lines, allowing American tanks through Allies liberated Paris on August 25 close to Ger. border • Hitler’s last offensive to cut off Allied supplies coming through the port of Antwerp, Belgium = the Battle of the Bulge: Ger. raced west, their lines “bulged” outward, resulting in the battle’s name. U. S. won the battle & Jan. 8, Germans withdrew with little left to stop the Allies from entering Ger.

VICTORY IN EUROPE • Allied forces move toward Ger. from West & Soviets from the East • The Ludendorf Bridge across the Rhine River was still intact, allowing American troops to cross & force the German defenders back. • Hitler’s last offensive = Battle of the Bulge when German tanks broke through weak American defenses, but eventually pushed back war in Europe comes to a close. • Hitler marries Eva Braun & they commit suicide in underground bunker bodies carried outside & burned • His successor, Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz tried to surrender to the Americans & the British while still fighting the Soviets, but he was forced to unconditionally surrender on May 7, 1945. • May 1945 General Eisenhower accepts unconditional surrender of the Third Reich from the German military May 9, 1945 = V-E Day, for “Victory in Europe. ”

Japanese advance in the Pacific -Commander of Pacific Fleet against Japan = Admiral Chester Nimitz

THE FALL OF THE PHILIPPINES: General Douglas Mac. Arthur – in Philippines, bombed by Japan, surrender 78, 000 American POWs Bataan Death March (1942) http: //www. youtube. co m/watch? v=u. QWd. ETw. F ACs

DOOLITTLE’S RAID B-52 bombers strike Japan – Japanese horrified Emperor could’ve been killed Commander Yamamoto wanted to attack American help island of Midway to lure out the American fleet.

BATTLE OF CORAL SEA BATTLE OF MIDWAY BATTLE OF CORAL SEA: Although Japan managed to sink the Lexington and damage http: //videos. howstuffworks. com/battleof-the-coral-sea-videos-playlist. htm#video -42820 http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=v 8 Ff_CDVLM the Yorktown; Americans pushed the Japanese away from New Guinea and kept supply lines open to Australia. BATTLE OF MIDWAY: US code breakers had also intercepted news that Japan planned to attack & Nimitz set up an ambush - when the Japanese launched aircraft against Midway the US was ready. American planes hit the exposed Japanese carriers. This battle was the turning point for power in the Pacific.

DRIVING THE JAPANESE BACK http: //www. youtube. com/ watch? v=n 79 CRr. EBCh 0 • ISLAND HOPPING IN THE PACIFIC & MCARTHUR RETURNS TO THE PHILIPPINES: The plan to take the Pacific was two-fold. Nimitz was to island hop across the Pacific, toward Japan; while Mac. Arthur would advance through the Solomon islands, New Guinea, & the Philippines. • Island hopping: reefs pose problem -> the LVT or alligator = amphibious tractor (amphtrac) invented in the 30’s to rescue people from the Florida swamps – Marshal islands, Mariana islands (Guam, Saipan, Tinian). Islands used as bases. From the Marianas these planes could bomb Japan directly. • Mac. Arthur returns to Philippines as promised. Invades Guadalcanal 1942. Retaking Philippines required a huge invasion force, over 700 ships and 160, 000 troops landed in Leyte Gulf on October 20, 1944. Manila taken 1945. – Leyte Gulf: largest naval battle in history & 1 st time Japanese pilots used the Kamikaze attacks as planned strategy. “Hell was red furry spiders as big as your fist…enormous rats and bats everywhere, and rivers with waiting crocodiles. Hell was the sour, foul smell of the squishy jungle, humidity that rotted a body within hours…”

JAPAN IS DEFEATED – IWO JIMA • FDR died a month before the defeat of Ger. Vice President Harry S Truman became president • American military planners decided to invade Iwo Jima because it was closer to Japan & would make bombings more effective. • On February 19, 1945, 60, 000 American Marines landed on Iwo Jima, and 6, 800 lost their lives before the island was captured. • Iwo Jima needed to effectively bomb Japan. The island had a huge dormant volcano, rough terrain, & miles of tunnels and bunkers to hide the Japanese. On Feb. 19, 1945 60, 000 Marines landed on Iwo Jima. Over 6, 800 died there.

JAPAN IS DEFEATED - FIREBOMBING • Firebombing: US employs the use of Napalm (liquid fire) - even if the bombs missed the fire would spread. 1945 Tokyo was attacked. The fire raged out of control so hot that it evaporated the atmosphere and suffocated thousands, many civilians. The fire killed over 80, 000 people and destroyed 250, 000 buildings. US firebombs 67 Japanese cities. • General Curtis Le. May, commander of the B-29 s based in the Marianas, changed strategy to drop bombs filled with napalm, a kind of jellied gasoline. • These bombs not only exploded but also started fires. The risk of killing civilians made this very controversial. • The Tokyo firebombing killed over 80, 000 people & destroyed more than 250, 000 buildings. Japan’s 6 most important industrial cities were firebombed. • Japan refused to surrender American military planners chose to invade Okinawa, 350 miles from Japan, to stockpile supplies & build up troops.

JAPAN IS DEFEATED - OKINAWA • On April 1, 1945, American troops landed on Okinawa needed to hit the mainland to force Japan to surrender. 1945 US troops landed on the island. Japanese did not defend the beaches but holed up in the mountains in bunkers/caves. On June 22, 1945, Okinawa was captured with more than 12, 000 American soldiers, sailors, and marines losing their lives. • The Japanese leaders were then willing to surrender as long as the Emperor was allowed to stay in power. Truman did not want to go against public opinion, which blamed the Emperor for the war, & refused. He also had a new weapon he thought would make the Japanese agree to unconditional surrender – the Atomic Bomb

JAPAN IS DEFEATED – MANHATTAN PROJECT • The American program to build an atomic bomb was code-named the Manhattan Project and was headed by General Leslie R. Groves. • July 16, 1945, the 1 st atomic bomb was detonated near Alamogordo, New Mexico. • The Allies threatened Japan with “utter destruction, ” & Truman warns surrender or “rain of ruin from the air, ” but Japan does not reply August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima • Tens of thousands of people died instantly, & thousands more died later from burns and radiation sickness. • August 9, 1945, the U. S. dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing between 35, 000 and 74, 000 people. • On V-J Day, for “Victory in Japan”–August 15, 1945–Japan surrendered. WWII ENDED.

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CREATING THE UNITED NATIONS • In 1944 delegates from 39 countries met to discuss the new organization that was to be called the United Nations (UN). • April 25, 1945, representatives from 50 countries met in San Francisco to officially organize the United Nations and create its charter, or constitution. • The delegates decided to have a General Assembly, where each member nation would have one vote. • Britain, France, China, the Soviet Union, & the U. S. would be permanent members of the Security Council, each having veto power.

PUTTING THE ENEMY ON TRIAL • In August 1945, the International Military Tribunal (IMT) was created by the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union to punish German and Japanese leaders for their war crimes. • The IMT tried German leaders suspected of committing war crimes at the Nuremburg trials.

Review: America’s (Allied) War Strategy The North African Campaign • In order to control key Mediterranean ports and gain access to the Suez Canal, Germany and Italy invaded North Africa. • America (with French and British help), therefore, had to drive the Italians and Germans out of North Africa, work their way up to Italy, remove Mussolini, and start working their way inland. The Pacific Campaign • The Japanese controlled all naval bases and islands in the Pacific (except Australia , New Guinea, and a select few others that were still British-owned); the Japanese navy controlled all waters near Japan, so any attack on Japan was extremely difficult; any meaningful attack of Japan was impossible. • America, therefore, had to begin at Australia and, one island at a time, take over Japanese held territory, get within closer distance to Japan, mobilize the American navy along with it, and get close enough to launch an all out attack on Tokyo, the capital of Japan. This strategy becomes known as island-hopping. • At the same time, America initially had to ensure that their supply lines (American transportation to Australia and New Guinea) remained intact, or the entire island hopping strategy would not work. The European Campaign • This is the last campaign initiated. The Russians attack Nazi dominated Europe from the East, Allied Forces invade Italy and remove the Fascists, moving their way inland towards Germany, and finally, Allied Forces launch a massive attack through France, pushing their way inland towards Germany. Once Hitler is surrounded by Allied forces to the West, South, and East, he should surrender.

Review: Early WWII Battles (Pacific & European Campaign) MIDWAY • Initially, Japan had sent a few ships to attack New Guinea, an Allied naval base in the Pacific, but were stopped at Coral Sea: This American victory at Coral Sea, however, meant nothing yet. Most Japanese ships were sent to attack the one base America still owned in the North Pacific: Midway Island. • After a hellish battle lasting many hours, the Japanese were dealt a losing blow when Americans sank 4 carriers and a dozen other ships. The Battle of Midway was a turning point in the Pacific Naval Campaign. • After two successful defenses, it was now time for America to be put on the “island-hop” offensive. STALINGRAD • Before the Allies began to win back the seas, Hitler was convinced he was going to win the war. Hitler began to concentrate on the USSR, he believed that victory was dependent on destroying the economy. • In May 1942 he ordered an invasion of southern Russia and the Ukraine which hinged on Stalingrad. Germany entered Stalingrad in September and Stalin ordered the Soviet army to hold the city no matter what. He forbid retreat. Germany had to fight house to house. • Nov. 23, Soviet reinforcements surrounded the city cutting of the Germans. In Feb of 1943, the Germans surrendered. • This battle put Germany on the defensive for the first time.

Review: D-Day – Invasion at Normandy • An invasion of Europe was necessary. But where and how was it to take place? • Operation Overlord was the name for the French invasion and it was to be run by Dwight D Eisenhower. The Germans believed the invasion would come at Pas-de-Calais the town the closest distance to Britain, the allies helped this idea by setting up fake tanks and boats a the port there. Time was also an issue, though the Germans had no idea when the invasion would occur, neither did the allies. • Almost 7, 000 ships, 100, 000 soldiers, and 23, 000 paratroopers set out for France. Bombers dropped bombs on bridges, bunkers, and radar stations, once the allied warships were in range they pounded the coast with thousands of shells. • There were mass casualties at the Normandy beach sector named Omaha beach (nearly 2, 500) but the Allied forces broke through my mid-day. 35, 000 US troops landed at Omaha, 23, 000 at Utah, and over 75, 000 at the other landing sites. The invasion was a success. • Once the allies managed to break through the hedgerows, which lined Normandy, they moved on Paris. With the help of French resistance fighters Paris was liberated on August 25, 1944. Three weeks after, the allies were within 20 miles of the German border.

Review: Fighting Japan to the End The Battle of Iwo Jima • By November 1944, Americans had island-hopped their way close enough to Japan to launch a series of bombings on Tokyo, Japan; the only problem was, it wasn’t close enough and American bombers often did not have enough fuel to return to American bases. • The solution: invade an island close enough to bomb Tokyo and not worry about refueling. The island was Iwo Jima (pg. 760). • After a victory at Iwo Jima, American airfields were built to begin the planned bombing campaigns of Tokyo. • Using napalm (in addition to regular bombings) a kind of jellied gasoline that spread like wildfire when dropped, American bombers killed over 80, 000 people and destroyed over 250, 000 buildings in over 67 destroyed Japanese cities in 1945. • Still, the Japanese were not ready to quit. Okinawa • On April 1 1945 American troops invaded an island called Okinawa, which was to be the large island base from where the Americans were ready to launch the all-out invasion of Japan, if necessary. • Japanese leaders were still unwilling to surrender the Emperor. The Manhattan Project • In 1939, FDR received a letter from Leo Szilard, one of the world’s top physicists, and Albert Einstein, warning FDR that the Germans were currently working on splitting uranium atoms, a process that causes massive amounts of energy to be released; if developed into atomic weapons, by the Germans the results would be devastating for the world. • FDR responded by setting up a super secret program to develop the an atomic bomb, code-named Manhattan Project. • On July 16 1945, they detonated the world’s first atomic bomb in New Mexico.

Review: Truman’s Atomic Bomb Decision • President Truman decided to drop the atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima (120, 000 Japanese citizens killed, Japan did not surrender) and Nagasaki (74, 000 Japanese citizens killed) for the following reasons: • The surrender of Japan meant that no land invasion of Japan was necessary (a Japanese mainland invasion would have been extraordinarily costly in terms of not only American lives [an estimated 250, 000 American lives would have been lost] but also in terms of Japanese lives [the estimated number of lives that would have been lost is in the millions, and includes Japanese civilians who were ready to fight an American invasion, if necessary, in the defense and in the name of the Emperor) • CONCLUSION: The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki cost about 250, 000 Japanese lives, including the lives of many innocent civilians, not to mention the after-effects of radiation, as well as millions in economic cost. However, Japan did surrender as a result of the bombings, and the WWII did end after that. • On Aug. 15 1945, V-J Day, after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in addition to the Soviets declaring war on Japan, Japan came to terms with reality, and surrendered. • WWII was officially over.

Blackout in Palm Beach County during WWII • During WWII, to discourage air and submarine attacks by German U-Boats, the Federal government enforced blackout orders-which forced coastline cities, such as those in Palm Beach County, to temporarily shut off all power. • This was particularly important along Florida's long, exposed coastline, where lights from houses, hotels, and amusement parks could silhouette allied merchant ships and make them easy and inviting targets for German U-Boats.