World War II Europe, Africa and Asia (the Pacific) World War II: an overview War Fought in Europe but also Asia and Africa ‘Allied Powers:’ Britain, France, Poland ‐ supported by African, Indian, Commonwealth (Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, South African) troops ‐ Soviet Union joined 1941 (after initial co‐ operation with Germany) ‐ China also joined 1941 By 1942, ‘direction’ of Allies in hands US, Britain and Soviet Union World War II: an overview War Fought in Europe but also Asia and Africa ‘Axis Powers:’ Germany, Italy, Japan (grew from mid‐1930s Com‐Intern Pact) ‐ included support of several ‘puppet’ states in eastern Europe, Asia ‐ e.g. Japanese Manchukuo, Burma, Philippines, Indochina (Vietnam) ‐ French North/West Africa following fall of France (e.g. Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria ) ‐ Italy’s North African colony, Libya World War II: an overview Overview: German Aggression ‐ 1939: officially ‘War in Europe’ began in when Germany invaded Poland, Britain and France responded by declaring war on Germany ‐1940: Germany attacked, occupied Denmark, Norway, ‐ followed by Belgium, the Netherlands, and finallyFrance ‐ only now did British ground forces engage The Momentum of War April-May 1940 World War II: Fall of France Occupation of France 1940: ‐ French forces backed by British allies fell to Germans in seven weeks (spring) ‐ British forces scrambling to escape: many losses ‐ country divided between Military Occupation (north) and ‘Vichy government’ (south) –1942‐44 whole country occupied ‐ French colonies North/West Africa became by extension ‘Vichy’: supported Germany [see ‘War in North Africa’, below] World War II: Fall of France World War II: Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain: July‐October 1940 ‐ Germany launched air attack on Britain ‐ battle between RAF and Luftwaffe first major military battle fought in the air ‐ crucial for Hitler’s plan to control English Channel (military traffic) and invade Britain ‐ targeted shipping, airfields: British RAF had many advantages (home ground, radar) ‐ terrorized civilians: towns indiscriminately bombed World War II: Battle of Britain ‐ by mid‐September, Luftwaffe clearly ‘out‐ gunned’: lost 1700 planes (to RAF’s 900) ‐ Hitler no longer looking to invade but focused bombing on large cities, centres industry, ship building: e.g. Coventry, Plymouth ‐ much of London destroyed during Battle of Britain Battle of Britain: Programme of shipping children out of cities like London into countryside ‘to safety’ Images of Devastation: London during the Battle of Britain “Never, in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” Sir Winston Churchill (speaking of British RAF during the Battle of Britain) World War II: North Africa The War in Greece and North Africa ‐ Italy took advantage of fall of France: entered war with Axis powers ‐ late autumn/winter 1940‐41: invaded Greece ‐ disaster: Britain became involved and new ‘front’ opened up against Germany in Greece World War II: North Africa The War in North Africa ‐ part of German invasion of Britain had included Italian attack from Libya into Egypt ‐ when British invasion was sidetracked in September 1940, Mussolini ordered forces to attack anyway ‐ although Italians were numerically superior, British highly mobile ‐ campaign a disaster: by December Italian forces in North Africa on verge of collapse World War II: North Africa Germans in North Africa: ‐ February 1941, German General Field Marshal Rommel arrived to provide more firepower and new leadership ‐ became known as the “Desert Fox” World War II: North Africa ‐ new, more suitable Italian troops and equipment lent support Italian Tank on Tunisian Frontier World War II: North Africa Rommel’s ‘Afrika Korps’: took firm root in North Africa –invited Allied engagement ‐ Tobruk (Libya): following Italian defeat 1940, British forces took Tobruk 1941 ‐ saw several major battles over next two years ‐ finally remained in Allied hands after 1942 World War II: North Africa British Engaged in ‘Cat-and-Mouse’ Chase with Rommel World War II: North Africa El‐Alamein and ‘Operation Torch’: 1942 ‐ Battle of El‐Alamein (Oct. 23 ‐ Nov. 3): considered most decisive battle in North African Campaign ‐ British force twice as strong, Rommel not present at beginning of attack: overwhelming Allied victory ‐ turning point for hugely successful ‘Afrika Korps’ specializing in surprise attacks and outflanking maneuvers Word War II: North Africa El‐Alamein and ‘Operation Torch’ ‐ “Operation Torch” (Nov. 8): British and US sea invasion French North Africa (Morocco) ‐ 100,000 men, over 600 ships: among the largest amphibian invasions in history ‐ faced more resistance than expected from Vichy French colonies ‐ drew German forces needed in Europe into Tunisia: defeated ‐ May 1943: Allied forces controlled 1000 miles North African Coast World War II: North Africa Operation Torch November 1942: successful Morocco, Algeria. ‘Agreement’ left Vichy administration in place but colonists ordered to support Allies. Germany sent troops to prop up Tunisia. Fierce fighting continued until May 1943 when German troops finally surrendered. World War II: North Africa Importance of War in North Africa: ‐ showed weakness of Italian colonial adventure (adding British and French colonies to Libya) ‐ failure forced Germany to ‘come to the rescue’: turned into large‐scale, long‐term conflict ‐ weakened much‐needed German efforts elsewhere in Europe: defeat costly ‐ first involvement of US in European theatre World War II: Eastern Front The War on the Eastern Front: ‐ during same period, Germany also turned eastward: “Operation Barbarossa” ‐ June 1941 began long‐planned invasion Soviet Union (three‐pronged attack ): 4 million soldiers ‐ anticipated easy victories: initially achieved goals ‐‐swift progress, deep into Soviet heartland World War II: Eastern Front World War II: Eastern Front Plan to complete conquest by onset of winter: failed ‐ country too large to control all forces ‐ winter: brutal – men, equipment bogged down; temperatures unbearable ‐ Russians determined to fight, no matter what the costs: both soldiers and local partisans World War II: Eastern Front Battle for Moscow: ‐ November: civilians dug 5000kms trenches around city ‐ kept German troops mired in place: vulnerable to partisan harassment ‐ in three weeks, lost 85,000 men: as many as had been lost in “Operation Barbarossa” to date ‐ Hitler stopped the offensive: stalemate over the winter The Battle for Moscow: German forces kept several kilometers from city World War II: Eastern Front Taking German soldiers as POWs Civilian-built barricades, Moscow World War II: Eastern Front Battle of Stalingrad: 1942‐43 ‐ next summer, operations shifted south ‐ Stalingrad: centre Russian communications, manufacturing; stood between Germany and oil fields of Caucuses ‐ critical to both Stalin and Hitler: neither would step back ‐ both armies told no retreat, surrender possible –no matter what! World War II: Eastern Front World War II: Eastern Front Battle of Stalingrad: 1942‐43 ‐ initial attack August: German air bombings set city on fire: 40,000 inhabitants died ‐ oil spill set Volga River on fire ‐ looked like quick victory: wrong ‐ became “one of deadliest single battles in history”: lasted six more months and over another winter in Russia World War II: Eastern Front Battle of Stalingrad: 1942‐43 ‐ one of most brutal of in War: hand‐to‐hand daily conflict; both sides used snipers ‐ city bombed‐out shell: fighting took place street‐by‐street, building‐by‐building ‐ “what Germans took by day, Russians took back by night” Street Fighting, Stalingrad Word War II: Eastern Front Russians Defending Positions, Stalingrad World War II: Eastern Front Battle of Stalingrad: 1942‐43 ‐ November: Soviets used 1million soldiers to surround city, trapped 300,000 Germans ‐ Hitler would not permit escape attempt: siege continued ‐ both armies suffered but Germans less able to cope with temperatures, lack of heat, shortages food: army dying of starvation ‐ Germans surrendered end of January 1943 Word War II: Eastern Front Soldiers in Winter, Stalingrad World War II: Eastern Front Battle of Stalingrad: 1942‐43 ‐ in addition to complete Army lost, 91,000 taken prisoner ‐ losses manpower, equipment left Germany unable to resist Russian forces when they returned the attack ‐ Germany in retreat through 1944 ‐ Hitler declared national day of mourning: not for the men lost but for the shame brought upon Germany by surrender! World War II: Eastern Front Of 91,000 prisoners, half died en route to concentration camps; only 5-6000 returned home alive . World War II: Western Front The War in the West: Normandy and “D‐Day” ‐ long‐awaited invasion of France: ‘Operation Overlord’ ‐ ‘misinformation campaign’ using turned German spies convinced Hitler attack would take place at Calais ‐ June 1944: British and US forces landed at Normandy, further south ‐ backed up by forces dropped inland by parachutes World War II: Western Front The War in the West: Normandy and “D‐Day” ‐ Hitler still convinced another attack was planned for Calais, so withheld reserve forces ‐ mistake: although Allies had high casualties first day, still outnumbered Germans ‐ secured coast: movement inland more difficult, took July, August World War II: Western Front World War II: Western Front The War in the West: Normandy and “D‐Day” ‐ American forces had taken Rome just before D‐Day: Italy now southern gateway to France ‐ August 15: 100,000 Allied soldiers invaded France from south ‐ armies approached Paris from north