Download WWII: Course of War

WORLD WAR II—THE COURSE OF WAR.
THE WAR IN EUROPE, 1939-41
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By 1939, Hitler had absorbed Austria into Germany and conquered Czechoslovakia. France and Britain realized
appeasement had failed and threatened war if he moved on Poland.
August, 1939. The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact promised that these bitter enemies would not go to war with
each other. Hitler was neutralizing the USSR in preparation to attack Poland.
September 1, 1939. Germany invaded Poland; France and Britain declared war.
winter, 1939-40. “Phony war”—no battles, as both sides built up for fighting.
spring, 1940. Blitzkrieg—Germany rapidly conquered Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, France. France
evacuated much of its army to Britain, where it operated a government in exile under Gen. Charles DeGaulle.
fall, 1940. Battle of Britain: massive German bombing of Britain, in preparation for an invasion. As Britain
failed to surrender and Germany lost more and more planes, Germany ended the attacks.
June 22, 1941. Operation Barbarossa—Hitler’s fatal blunder: a three-pronged invasion of the Soviet Union, in
violation of the Non-Aggression Pact. Through the rest of the war, the USSR suffered the greatest destruction and
loss of life of any nation. Britain at last had an ally—Josef Stalin. Soon it would have another—the United States.
THE EUROPEAN THEATRE
Dec. 8, 1941—US declared war
Allied Leaders:
USA:
______________________________________________________
Great Britain: ______________________________________________________
USSR:
______________________________________________________
France (exile): ______________________________________________________
“Europe First” & Wartime Conferences pp. 743-44
North African Campaign, 1942-3
see map, p.758
Battle of Stalingrad, winter 1942-3—a turning point, as Soviets began to drive Germany out of the USSR.
Invasion of Italy, 1943
D-Day, June 6, 1944—General Dwight D. Eisenhower p. 754
Paris liberated, Aug. 25, 1944
Fire-bombing of Dresden and other German industrial cities p. 763
Battle of the Bulge, Dec., 1944 p. 759
US troops crossed Rhine River, Mar., 1945 p. 759
Soviet troops reach Berlin, April, 1945
FDR died, April 12
Hitler committed suicide, Apr. 30
May 8, 1945—Germany surrendered—“V.E.” (Victory in Europe) Day
THE PACIFIC THEATRE
Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941 (Sunday morning), destroying much of the U.S. Pacific
fleet in a surprise attack without first declaring war on the U.S. FDR asked Congress for a declaration of war on
Dec. 8, 1941, describing the attack the day before as “a date that will live in infamy.” Reasons for the attack:
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U.S .had “frozen” Japanese assets and declared a trade embargo with Japan because of Japan’s brutal war in China
Japan desperately needed raw materials for its war industry that it could no longer buy from the U.S.
Japan underestimated U.S. willingness to fight
Japan underestimated U.S. ability to fight
Japan desired to strike first (pre-emptive strike), seize Asian territories quickly, and force the U.S. to fight an offensive
war throughout Asia
Japan’s Emperor____________________________ ; military dictator__________________________________
Japan seized the Philippines, 1942 p. 742
Battle of Midway, June, 1942 pp. 742-3
“Island-Hopping,” 1942-44 p. 761
Philippines recaptured by U.S., 1944-45
 Battle of Leyte Gulf, October, 1944
The Assault on Japan:
Iwo Jima, March, 1945; and Okinawa, June, 1945 p. 762
massive firebombing of Tokyo and other Japanese cities, 1945 p. 762
Top Secret Manhattan Project succeeded, July, 1945 p. 745
 Atomic Bombs dropped on Hiroshima (Aug. 6) and Nagasaki (Aug. 9), 1945 pp. 762-4
“V-J” (Victory over Japan) Day, Aug. 14, 1945