Chinese Guerilla Counter-Offensive Military Campaigns during the Anti-Japanese War (1937-1940)
World War II European Theatre. War in Europe Much of war planning was joint British- American...
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Transcript of World War II European Theatre. War in Europe Much of war planning was joint British- American...
War in Europe
Much of war planning was joint British-American strategy American in favor of immediate offensive against
the continent British favored a more conservative approach
Scarred by 3 hard years of war Go after the “softer underbelly” of the enemy
Dieppe Raid
Reinforced British view August 1942- Raid by Canadian forces to
test strength of German defenses in France Disastrous results Canadians incur over 3,000 casualties Good lessons
Improved amphibious attack strategies Not prepared for French invasion yet
Offensive in North Africa
Combined British and American force attacks Heavy resistance around Casablanca Race for control of Tunisia Kasserine Pass-American inexperience
shows against Afrika Corps Ultimately able to push by Rommel’s forces
Battle of the Atlantic
Allied strategy: Land-based air patrols Escort Carriers Escort vessels
Increasingly German undersea activities became a useless drain on resources
Sicily/Italy
Next step after North Africa Massive Force-160,000 troops Quickly overrun Island Move on to Italy
Two landings Germans had taken over most of Italian
defenses Italy would be a long and bloody campaign
European Air War
British campaign used night-time mass bombing raids Disrupt economy Lessen will of German people to fight
American strategy was to fly precision, daytime raids— B-24’s, B-17’s
Schweinfurt-October 1943 Need for long-range fighter
Impact of air campaign often overrated Accuracy limited-bombsights marginally accurate Bomb loads relatively small Psychological impacted limited—Battle of Britain Ground support role was very effective
Invasion of France
Russians had pressed for 2nd front since 1942.
Germans expecting attack in 1944 Pas de Calais region
Normandy-5 beaches Germans have strong beach defenses
3 Airborne divisions dropped before dawn 5 divisions—resistance light, except Omaha
Beach
D-Day
Germans initially mistake invasion for a diversion. Unable to prevent beachhead
Within 2 weeks, over 1 million men ashore Quickly turned from battle for Normandy to
Battle for France By August 25th, Paris fell By Autumn 1944, German position looks
hopeless
Marketgarden
September 1944 Allies make “leapfrog” German defenses Dropped three airborne divisions behind
German lines to secure bridges over Meuse, Waal, and Rhine rivers.
Fails British 1st airborne unable to hold Arnhem
British armor unable to punch through German lines
Battle of Bulge
Hitler’s final gamble-Counteroffensive through weak center of Allied line in Ardennes Forest
Winter allows for secret troop buildup Germans strike December 16 Inflict heavy losses-Encircle Bastogne Uses up German reserves