The U.S. in WWIIThe U.S. in WWII

1942-431942-43

Ernest J. KingErnest J. King

George C. Marshall George C. Marshall

Chester W. Nimitz Chester W. Nimitz

Japanese Offensives of 1941 - Japanese Offensives of 1941 - 19421942

The Philippines hold out…The Philippines hold out…

……until May 1942until May 1942

Journey into Journey into captivity since captivity since known as the known as the “Bataan Death “Bataan Death March”March”

U.S. Navy raids Japanese U.S. Navy raids Japanese basesbases

Battle of the Coral Sea, May 3-Battle of the Coral Sea, May 3-8, 19428, 1942

First Carrier BattleFirst Carrier Battle ShohoShoho, , LexingtonLexington sunk sunk Japanese invasion turned backJapanese invasion turned back

Battle of Midway, June 4-5, Battle of Midway, June 4-5, 19421942

Japanese carrier force destroyedJapanese carrier force destroyed YorktownYorktown also sunk also sunk

Allied Strategic IssuesAllied Strategic Issues

““Germany First”:Germany First”: What was the best way to knock Germany out What was the best way to knock Germany out

of the war? of the war?

The British or “Peripheral” The British or “Peripheral” StrategyStrategy

Strategic bombing.Strategic bombing. Aid to the U.S.S.R.Aid to the U.S.S.R. Support subversive activities in Support subversive activities in

occupied Europe.occupied Europe. Employ armored, mobile forces on Employ armored, mobile forces on

edges of German-controlled territory.edges of German-controlled territory. Avoid direct, large-scale confrontation Avoid direct, large-scale confrontation

with Wehrmacht until risk minimal.with Wehrmacht until risk minimal.

Strategy of U.S. military Strategy of U.S. military planners.planners.

Defeat of Germany required large-Defeat of Germany required large-scale land operation in northwest scale land operation in northwest Europe.Europe.

Sought to engage and destroy Sought to engage and destroy Wehrmacht as soon as feasibleWehrmacht as soon as feasible Constrained by need to mobilize men Constrained by need to mobilize men

and material.and material. Reflected appreciation of...?Reflected appreciation of...?

U.S.-proposed operations for U.S.-proposed operations for Europe.Europe.

Operation BOLERO:Operation BOLERO: Build-up of U.S. ground and air forces in Build-up of U.S. ground and air forces in

England starting in 1942.England starting in 1942. Operation SLEDGEHAMMER:Operation SLEDGEHAMMER:

Emergency invasion in Europe for 1942.Emergency invasion in Europe for 1942. Operation ROUNDUPOperation ROUNDUP

Larger invasion envisioned for 1943.Larger invasion envisioned for 1943.

Churchill proposes another Churchill proposes another idea…idea…

The invasion of northwest AfricaThe invasion of northwest Africa.. Reflects British strategy.Reflects British strategy. Assists current Allied operations against Assists current Allied operations against

Rommel’s Afrika KorpsRommel’s Afrika Korps

The decision for Operation The decision for Operation TORCHTORCH

Roosevelt: Roosevelt: committed to committed to engaging U.S. engaging U.S. ground troops ground troops against German against German forces in 1942.forces in 1942.

British: absolutely British: absolutely opposed to opposed to SLEDGEHAMMERSLEDGEHAMMER

The Consequences of The Consequences of TORCHTORCH

Cross-Channel invasion delayed:Cross-Channel invasion delayed: Partially due to ongoing material Partially due to ongoing material

shortages.shortages. Partially due to momentum generated Partially due to momentum generated

by Allied forces committed to the by Allied forces committed to the Mediterranean.Mediterranean.

But as time goes on…But as time goes on…

Approach of U.S. military planners Approach of U.S. military planners comes to dominate Allied strategy.comes to dominate Allied strategy. With some help from Stalin.With some help from Stalin.

Reflects changing nature of Anglo-Reflects changing nature of Anglo-American relationship.American relationship.

U.S. planners at times will threaten U.S. planners at times will threaten to divert more resources to Pacific to divert more resources to Pacific War.War.

Mechanisms for CooperationMechanisms for Cooperation

U.S. creates the Joint Chiefs of Staff. U.S. creates the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (JCS)(JCS)

U.S. JCS joins with British U.S. JCS joins with British counterparts to create the Combined counterparts to create the Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS).Chiefs of Staff (CCS).

British and U.S. create joint and British and U.S. create joint and combined commands for particular combined commands for particular geographic areas as well.geographic areas as well.

Manpower & Selective Manpower & Selective ServiceService

1942: all males 18-64 required to 1942: all males 18-64 required to register.register. Upper limit ultimately dropped to 38.Upper limit ultimately dropped to 38.

During war, 36 million men During war, 36 million men registeredregistered 10 million inducted into military10 million inducted into military 6.4 million rejected (mostly for medical 6.4 million rejected (mostly for medical

reasons)reasons)

How many served?How many served?

16 million, between Dec. 1941 and 16 million, between Dec. 1941 and Dec. 1946.Dec. 1946.

At war’s end, 12 million people in At war’s end, 12 million people in uniform.uniform.

1/6 of U.S. male population served.1/6 of U.S. male population served. Army creates only 90 divisions.Army creates only 90 divisions.

Labor and the warLabor and the war

The induction of so The induction of so many young adult many young adult men, combined with men, combined with war demands, war demands, created labor needs created labor needs filled by other groups:filled by other groups: WomenWomen African AmericansAfrican Americans Agricultural laborersAgricultural laborers RetireesRetirees

Labor demand spurred Labor demand spurred migrationmigration

Workers came from Workers came from Southern & Prairie Southern & Prairie states.states.

Went to factories in Went to factories in North & East, parts North & East, parts of Midwest, and the of Midwest, and the Pacific coast.Pacific coast.

Industrial MobilizationIndustrial Mobilization

Goes smoother, more efficient than Goes smoother, more efficient than WWI.WWI.

Problems with competing needs, Problems with competing needs, multiple demands for resources.multiple demands for resources.

Agencies created to centralize Agencies created to centralize mobilization policy:mobilization policy: War Production Board (1942)War Production Board (1942) Office of War Mobilization (1943)Office of War Mobilization (1943)

Harnessing ScienceHarnessing Science

Government Government agencies agencies contracted with contracted with university and university and industrial labs to industrial labs to pursue war-related pursue war-related research & research & development development products.products.

The Intelligence WarThe Intelligence War ULTRA: highest ULTRA: highest

classification of classification of intelligence gained intelligence gained from breaking Axis from breaking Axis codes.codes. Much came from British Much came from British

breaking German breaking German Enigma codes.Enigma codes.

MAGIC: intelligence MAGIC: intelligence gained from U.S. ability gained from U.S. ability to break Japanese to break Japanese “Purple” codes.“Purple” codes.

Important use of intelligence:Important use of intelligence:The Battle of the AtlanticThe Battle of the Atlantic

Defeat of the U-boats stemmed Defeat of the U-boats stemmed from:from:

Building merchant Building merchant shipsships

Building escortsBuilding escorts ConvoysConvoys Better air coverBetter air cover IntelligenceIntelligence TechnologyTechnology

Guadalcanal:Guadalcanal:August 1942 – February 1943August 1942 – February 1943

Campaign Campaign encompasses encompasses ground, sea & air ground, sea & air combat.combat. 7 major naval 7 major naval

battlesbattles

Meanwhile, in New Guinea…Meanwhile, in New Guinea… Australian & U.S. troops stop a Japanese Australian & U.S. troops stop a Japanese

overland advance towards Port Moresby overland advance towards Port Moresby (July-Sept. 1942).(July-Sept. 1942).

MacArthur’s forces drive MacArthur’s forces drive Japanese troops backJapanese troops back

Take Buna on north Take Buna on north coast by end of coast by end of 1942.1942.

Pacific CommandersPacific Commanders

William HalseyWilliam Halsey

Douglas MacArthurDouglas MacArthur

Operation CARTWHEEL:Operation CARTWHEEL:June 1943-March 1944June 1943-March 1944

Germany First?Germany First?

Into 1943, U.S. sends about same Into 1943, U.S. sends about same number of ground troops & planes to number of ground troops & planes to Europe and Japan.Europe and Japan.

Most ships deployed to Pacific.Most ships deployed to Pacific.

Operation TORCH:Operation TORCH:November 8, 1942November 8, 1942

Allied forces Allied forces stymied in stymied in

TunisTunis Will hook up with Will hook up with

Montgomery’s Montgomery’s British 8British 8thth Army in Army in March.March.

U.S. troops U.S. troops routed atrouted atKasserine Kasserine

Pass, Pass, February February

19431943

Strategy Conference:Strategy Conference:Casablanca, January 1943Casablanca, January 1943

Invasion of Sicily Invasion of Sicily approved.approved. Operation HUSKYOperation HUSKY

Churchill proposes Churchill proposes invasion of Italyinvasion of Italy

Cross-Channel Cross-Channel invasion to be invasion to be delayed to 1944.delayed to 1944.

Sicily: July-August, 1943Sicily: July-August, 1943

July 1943: Mussolini July 1943: Mussolini overthrownoverthrown

Germans react Germans react quickly.quickly.

Italians don’t want Italians don’t want to fight for the to fight for the Allies.Allies.

Allied forces land in Allied forces land in SeptemberSeptember

Italy 1944: Anzio & CassinoItaly 1944: Anzio & Cassino

Images of Images of Monte Monte

CassinoCassino

Rome captured June 4, 1944Rome captured June 4, 1944

Tehran Conference:Tehran Conference:November-December, 1943November-December, 1943

Western Allies Western Allies commit to cross-commit to cross-Channel invasion in Channel invasion in 1944.1944. Operation Operation

OVERLORDOVERLORD Also agree to an Also agree to an

invasion of invasion of southern France.southern France.