THE SECOND WORLD WAR1939 - 1945

The New War

Tanks – faster and more mobile Mobile infantry (APC’s and

motorcycles) Air power (Long range bombers and

fighters) Aircraft Carriers Nuclear Bombs Improved communication (long

range radios)

How did this change the war? No more Trenches Much more mobile Civilians will be targeted in the cities Massive destruction Massive casualties (77 million) A true global conflict

Nuremberg

German Fighter/ German Panzer

Long range destruction

EnterpriseBritish Lancaster Bomber

American JeepLittle Boy- Atomic Bomb

Blitzkrieg :

This is the German term for lightning war. This involved the cooperation of the air force (Luftwaffa), Armor (Panzers), and Infantry.

Planes would bomb power stations, bridges and telephone lines.

Tanks would bust through the enemy lines and encircle and the foot soldier cleaned up the mess.

This created mass confusion, panic and rapid retreat.

Operation Barbarossa Hitler made the greatest error. This is

the decision that would eventually cost him the war.

He figured he had England isolated. He turned his sites on his neutral ally the Soviet union.

This operation was doomed to fail. He started the invasion of the USSR in late June of 1941. This was 3 months too late. It would mean that the Germans would have to fight threw a Russian winter.

Stalingrad

By late October, the Germans were on the door step of Moscow.

Hitler wanted to destroy the industrial center of Stalingrad. He diverted 300 000 men to capture the city. They encircled it and laid siege for six weeks.

The Moscow invasion stalled and the Russian army descended on the Germans entrenched around Stalingrad and captured over 300 000 German soldiers.

This was a huge turning point. The USSR would gain momentum and the Germans would gain no more ground in the East.

Pearl Harbor

Nov. 26th 1941 Japanese Carrier fleet sets out on a 5000 mile journey to Hawaii to crush the American Pacific Fleet.

Goal is to deliver a knock out blow by a surprise attack. This would allow Japan to invade Southeast Asia.

Dec. 7th 1941 350 Japanese plains would strike while the Americans were still sleeping in their beds.

Pearl Harbor

Midway June 1942

Americans decode Japans invasion plans for the US airbase at Midway.

Admiral Nimitz scrambles 3 carriers: Enterprise, Hornet, and Yorktown (She got fixed)

American bombers catch the Japanese carriers with all their planes on the decks fully loaded with torpedoes and fuel.

Japanese lose four carriers and the US would lose the Yorktown.

The Importance = America controls the Seas

D-Day The idea was to create the two front war to

divide the German forces in Europe. The British and American air Force had

been bombing German industrial centers for two years. It was time to deliver the knock out punch. This would come on the beaches of Normandy (Saving Private Ryan)

The Allies worked hard at convincing the Germans that it would come at Calais in he East some 300 km from Normandy.

The American General Dwight Eisenhower would be in command.

The landing June 6th 1944 it begins. 1,273 ships 57500 U.S. troops 75000 British and

Can. 13743 air craft 900 armored vehicles and 600 guns. Five beaches :Utah/Omaha = U.S

Sword/Gold = British Juno

= Canadian

D-Day

Yalta Conference

Feb. 4-11, 1945Roosevelt, Churchill, and StalinEurope’s Post war reorganizationGermany divided into 4 zones of occupationPoland and Yugoslavia are to remain independentSoviets commit to getting involved in defeating Japan

The Big Three

Occupation of Germany

Potsdam

July 16th 1945President Truman, Josef Stalin, Clement AtleeChina, U.S. and Great Britain commit to the total defeat of JapanSoviet’s demand territorial concessions in the EastU.S. become suspicious of Soviet intentions in the futureAllies agree to prosecute Nazi war criminals in an international war tribunal

The Bomb

President Roosevelt dies in April 1945.

Harry Truman takes over and he learns of a new weapon that could end the war in weeks.

Aug. 6th 1945 the Hiroshima Aug. 9th Nagasaki Aug 14th the Emperor announces

Japan’s surrender.

Hiroshima