Download WWII European Front Notes Outline

WWII: European Front Outline
II. Operation Barbarossa: German invasion of the Soviet Union (June 1941-Dec. 1941)
• German Goals…With the Battle of Britain coming to an end, Germany set its eyes on Soviet Union
– Acquire raw materials
– Lebensraum
– Eliminate Soviet resistance = continental dominance
• Soviets: largest army and air force
– Destroy the communists
– Racial cleansing
• Massive Operation
– 3,000,000 German soldiers; 3,400 tanks
• Operation Stalls in the Winter
– A 6 week delay, caused Germany to stall out as the Soviet winter set in…less than 100 miles outside
Moscow
• Significance:
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– Germans captured over 3 million Soviet POWs, most did not make it out alive…many starved to death as
part of German plan to reduce population of Eastern Europe
III. Battle of Stalingrad: Turning Point in the East
 Winter: 1942-1943
 One of largest battles in World History
o Over 2 million troops involved (each side over 1 million, respectively)
o 1600 tanks
o 2300 planes
 German Objectives
o Cut Soviets off from oil/industrial resources
o Major RR junction
o Strike a psychological blow…take control of the city that bares the Soviet leader’s name
 Stalingrad: The Attack
o September, 1942…Germans control 90% of city…but turns into House to House combat
 Soviets forbidden to retreat
o Germans not equipped for winter fighting
o Soviet reinforcements break through German flanks protected by Italians and Romanians…German army
surrounded in the city
 Becomes war of attrition; Puts Germans on defensive
 Outcome/Significance of Stalingrad
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U.S. Home Front
I. Why Begin with Germany?
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– Had to rebuild/bolster Naval fleet after Pearl Harbor
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– island hopping
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– Allies: Britain/French Resistance Movement
– Not closely aligned w/ Soviets…but Soviets, U.S., Britain all have mutual enemy…Hitler
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– Japanese: Bushido—forbade surrender
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II. Impact of War on the Home front
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• War Productions Board puts in place Price Controls/Rationing
• Victory Gardens
• Women in industry, nurses, clerks in military
• War Bonds
• Population shifts: South and Western urbanization
III. Japanese Internment
• Executive Order 9906
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• 110,000-122,000 Japanese Americans forced to relocate into camps
– 65% American citizens
• 442nd Nisei Regimental Combat Team (Japanese American Army Unit)
– Most highly decorated unit in U.S. History (21 Medals of Honor)
IV. African Americans in WWII
• Segregation in the Armed Forces
• Double “V” Campaign
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– Tuskegee Airmen
• Executive Order 8802
– A. Philip Randolph
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• Executive Order 9981
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Western Europe
I. Operation Torch (Nov. 1943-May 1943): North Africa Campaign
• Why did the Allies begin in North Africa?
– Allies (British/US) not strong enough yet to launch an invasion against German’s in France
– Vichy French (German puppet government) controlled N. Africa and were weak…
– Would provide a base of operations to invade Sicily/Italy
• Commanders in the West:
– German: Irwin Rommel— “Desert Fox”
– British: Bernard Montgomery
– American: Dwight D. Eisenhower; George Patton; Omar Bradley
• Results
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II. Italian Campaign (May 1943-April 1945)
 Goal: Attack the “Soft Underbelly” of the German Empire…Italy
 Casablanca Conference & Sicily
o Casablanca Conference (Jan. 14-24, 1943)
 U.S.(FDR) , Britain (Churchill), French Resistance (Charles De Gaulle)
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o Invasion of Sicily (June-Aug., 1943)
 General George S. Patton/Dwight Eisenhower command
 Allied victory…Allies begin liberation of Southern/Western Europe
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Mussolini
o The Fascists, in 1922, had taken power easily because the constitutional government was disliked by the
Italians and the socialist threat made many Italians desire for a strong government which could impose
law and order in the country
o Mussolini was an opportunist and he could always change his party program to win favor from the
people
o In foreign policy, Mussolini's ultimate goal was to revive the glories of the old Roman Empire.
o The Fascist Grand Council abolished the Parliament
o No strikes or political movements against the government
o The secret police (Blackshirts) was given wide powers
o School children were taught “Mussolini is always right”
o university professors forced to swear an oath of loyalty to fascism and to teach according to its
principles.
o The mass media was all strictly censored by the government.
o Women were encouraged to have at least 5 children
Mussolini Arrested and the Restored to Power by Nazi’s
o As Allies move into Italy, Italian King Victor Emmanuel has Mussolini arrested
 Consequence—Italy Surrenders
o Causes Hitler/Germans to seize Italian peninsula—restore Mussolini to power
Battles on the Gustav Line…
o Operation Avalanche: Allies occupy S. ½ of Italy
 2nd location to conduct bombing raids=stop German oil and industrial production
o With the Southern half of Italy under Allied control, the Germans set up in a defensive position across
the center of Italy…forming what comes to be known as the Gustav Line, using the mountainous terrain
to their defensive advantage…some of the most grueling battles of the war on this front…including the
Battle for Monte Cassino
Gustav Line
o Part of the Winter line, the Gustav line was the strongest of the western lines
o Fortified with gun pits, concrete bunkers, turreted machine-gun emplacements, barbed wire and
minefields
o Held by 15 divisions of the German Army under the command of General Albert Kesselring
Battle for Monte Cassino
o Winter 1943-44, Western hinge of German Winter Line (Gustav Line)
o December failure to take Gustav Line result in ally attack of combined land + amphibious assault,
launched January 22
o Allied forces decide that Monte Cassino must be destroyed to break Gustav Line, believing it to be a
German stronghold
o May 18, 1944 the abbey is liberated, greatly in part to Polish soldiers to whom they have built a
monument directly across from the abbey.
Battle of Anzio (Jan. 22-June 5, 1944)
o Goal…breaking thru the Gustav Line
o Operation Shingle: Battle of Anzio
 Forced the Germans to divert troops from France to defend Italian Front
o Outcome/Significance
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III. Operation Overlord: The Allied Invasion of France and Western Europe
• Allied/American Leaders
– Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
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– Gen. Omar Bradley
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– Gen. George S. Patton
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• D-Day Invasion: June 6, 1944 (Normandy France)
– Why did the invasion of France take so long?
• Soviets angry over lack of a 2nd front…Stalin viewed the Western Allies as delaying an attack to
weaken both Germans and Soviets
– What was D-Day?
• During World War II, the Battle of Normandy, which lasted from June 1944 to August 1944,
resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control. Codenamed
Operation Overlord, the battle began on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, when some
156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of
the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. The invasion was one of the largest
amphibious military assaults in history and required extensive planning. Prior to D-Day, the
Allies conducted a large-scale deception campaign designed to mislead the Germans about the
intended invasion target. By late August 1944, all of northern France had been liberated, and by
the following spring the Allies had defeated the Germans. The Normandy landings have been
called the beginning of the end of war in Europe. (http://www.history.com/topics/d-day)
– Battle Details
• Rematch:
• Irwin Rommel (German) v. Eisenhower (U.S.)
• U.S./British set up decoys at Pas De Calais to fool Germans
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– Battle Plans
• Paratroopers come in at night confuse Germans, take roads,
bridges, gun emplacements, to cut off German reinforcements
• Planes drop bombs to weaken German defenses, also create
craters for infantry when they come (fox holes) on the beaches
• Massive floatilla supposed to carry US, British, Canadian troops
to beachheads: Utah/Omaha (US); Gold/Sword (GB); Juno
(Canada)
– The Battle: June 6, 1944
• U.S. Targets: Utah & Omaha Beaches
• British/Canadian Targets: Gold, Sword, Juno Beaches
• Significance of D-Day invasion:
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• Provided base of operations to crack into Hitler’s “Western European Fortress”…opens
door for Allies to advance into France and liberate it.
WWII European Front (Continued…)
I. Liberation of Paris by Allied Powers: Aug. 25, 1944
A. Charles De-Gaulle Returns in Glory
 Leader of the French Resistance
II. Battle of the Bulge: Hitler’s Last Offensive (12/16/44 1/25/45)
A. Hitler launches final counter-offensive in Ardennes Forest
o Hitler planned to split the US from the British at the lightest defended portion of the American
line – the Ardennes Forest (the same location that they concentrated their panzer forces to
defeat the French in 1940).
o Dec. 15-24: Germans attack and create ‘bulge’ in allied line
o Battle of Bastogne
 Grueling Winter Fighting
o Dec. 26-Feb. 7: Americans push Germans back to start line
III. Dresden Firebombing
A. “Florence on the Elbe R.”
 German Cultural Center
B. RAF/USAF
 Drop 3900 tons of heavy bombs and incendiary devices (napalm)…burn city to the ground
 25,000 Civilian Casualties
 Response to German attacks on civilians in London (Battle of Britain)?
IV. Germany Defeated: VE Day May 8, 1945
A. U.S. & Russian Soldiers Meet at the Elbe River: 4/25/45
B. Hitler Commits Suicide: 4/30/45
C. Victory in Europe Day (VE Day): 5/8/45
V. Holocaust Exposed
A. 2/3 of Jews in Europe killed
 Estimated 11 million killed; 6 million Jews
VII. Consequences of WWII
A. “A World War”
 61 countries; 1.7 billion people took part
o ¾ of world’s population
 110 million persons were mobilized for military service
o More than ½ those by 3 countries
 USSR (22-30 million)
 Germany (17 million)
 United States (16 million)
B. Casualties
o WWI: Military Dead—95%; Civilian Dead—5%
o WWII: Military Dead—33%; Civilian Dead—67%
C. Economic Costs
– Countries plundered of economic resources
– War Cost: Over $1 trillion
– US ($341); Germany ($272); USSR ($192)
– USSR lost 30% of its nations wealth
– Germany: 5 BILLION cubic yards of rubble
D. Massive Human Dislocations
o By the end of WWII, Europe had more than 40 million refugees
o Jews, Poles, Hungarians, Russians, Serbs, Germans Albanians, etc…
ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR
Cold War: The state of political, economic, social, and military hostility that existed
between the Soviet bloc countries and the US-led Western powers from 1945 to 1990.
E. Tehran Conference (Nov. 1943)
• 1st major meeting of FDR, Churchill, and Stalin (the Big 3)
– Soviets agree to launch offensive on Eastern Front as US/Brits
launch invasion of France (1944)
– Soviets pledge to aid in war against Japan after Germany defeated
– Stalin agrees to formation of U.N. after the war
– FDR/Stalin discuss division Germany after the war
– Begin discussing fate of E. Europe… FDR calls for free elections if
Baltic states were to join Soviet Union…Stalin pushes back on
this…why?
F. Yalta Conference (Feb. 1945)
• 2nd mtg. of FDR, Churchill, Stalin
• Soviets agree to join war v. Japan, in exchange…
– Soviet sphere of influence in Manchuria; Sakhalin; and Kurile Islands
• FDR and Churchill concede E. European nations bordering USSR should be
“Soviet friendly,” in exchange…
– Soviets pledge free elections in all land liberated from Nazi Germany
• FDR & Stalin divided and weak Germany
– Churchill wants a strong Germany…why?
• Lay out framework for United Nations (5 member Security Council)
G. Potsdam: July 1945 (Origins of Cold War)
• FDR dead, Churchill replaced as PM during conference.
• Stalin only original…meet to discuss post-war Europe
– Truman very suspicious of Stalin; Ardent anti-communist
• The United States reveals it has the A-bomb…
– Who might Truman have been trying to intimidate?
• Allies agree Germany is to be divided into 4 occupation zones (US, GB, FR, & Soviet zones)
– But disagree over issue of reparations and economic unity…
• Revise German, Poland, Soviet border to benefit Soviets
• Tensions high b/n U.S. & Soviets
H. Division of Germany/Spheres of Influence
o Division of Germany and Europe and creation of “Iron Curtain”
o Germany ÷ into a western and eastern sector as was Berlin
o Iron Curtain:
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o Stalin installs pro-Soviet governments in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania
o Stalin supports communist governments in Albania and Yugoslavia
o Stalin bars free elections in Poland…
o Winston Churchill: “An Iron Curtain has descended across the continent”
I. Two Visions of the Post War World: US v. Soviet…Cold War
• The creation of two visions of the post war world:
– American/Western Vision: UN to deter aggression
• Collective security = NOT appease future aggressor nations.
• Establish “friendly” governments
– USSR: Treated as major power
• Disarm/weaken Germany
• Russia would be surrounded by "friendly" governments in Eastern Europe
• Soviet Union/US emerge on top of Post War World…Compete for power/influence
K. Introduction of Nuclear Weaponry and Arms Race
o Permanent Arms Race emerges between U.S. & Soviet Union
o U.S. launches Hydrogen Bomb 1952 (Soviets 1953)
o MAD: Mutually Assured Destruction
o Goal of United Nations: Try to stop Nuclear Proliferation
Additional Consequences of WWII
L. Decolonization of Africa
o European powers draw geographic borders w/o regard for ancient tribal/ethnic rivalries
 Intentionally—prevent ethnic groups from unifying to rebel against imperial powers
o After war: self determination—borders cause instability
 Over last 40 years, 20 African Countries have experienced at least one period of civil war
 88% of conflict related death tolls from 1990-2007 occurred on the African continent
M. America Emerges Out of the Depression
o The Depression ended.
o Many previously unemployable Americans found new, but short-lived, job opportunities - Mexicans,
Native Americans, African Americans, women.
o Capitalism remained intact and strengthened.
o A permanent war time economy emerged.
o The role of the federal government was strengthened.
o The nation underwent a permanent demographic shift by moving in greater numbers to cities.
o The GI bill was passed and helped many Americans achieve the American Dream.
N. Roots of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
o What do you do with the millions of dislocated Jews in Europe
o Zionist Movement
o Balfour Declaration
 1917: Formal statement by British government supporting the formation of a Jewish
state in Palestine
o Sykes-Picot Agreement
 1916: British guarantee of recognizing an independent Arab state in Palestine
o Establishment of an Israeli state
O. Nuremberg Trials
o Twenty-four major political and military leaders of Nazi Germany, indicted for aggressive war,
war crimes, and crimes against humanity, were brought to trial before the International Military
Tribunal. More than 100 additional defendants, representing many sectors of German society,
were tried before the United States Nuremberg Military Tribunals
o Hitler, Himmler, Goebbels had committed suicide
o Led to the establishment of an International Court
o Established the idea that those guilty of committing war crimes would be held accountable by
the international community.