1942

After the US entry in World War II as a result of the bombing of Pearl Harbour in 1941 it truly became a “world war” by 1942.
 * United States Involvement: **


 * The Wannsee Conference (January 20th): **
 * Nazi officials gathered at Wannsee, Germany to discuss “the Final Solution to the Jewish problem”
 *  Here they finalized their plan to exterminate Jews from German controlled Eastern Europe by means of exposing them to harsh living conditions and starvation or murder.

→ Japan captured 60,000 Allied troops and resources.
 * Singapore Falls to Japan (February): **
 * On the 8th of February Japanese troops stormed the Singaporean coast in boats during the night. These troops were supported with aircraft and tanks.
 * Allied forces were spread too thin in order to protect the island. They also lacked training, armaments and air support.

→ One of the greatest defeats in British military history. Churchill: “The worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history.”


 * Midway Island (June) **
 * crucial turning point in the battle for the Pacific
 * Americans beat off a powerful Japanese attack
 * there were several reasons for US victory despite the odds against them:from then on US maintained their lead in carriers and aircraft (especially dive bombers)
 * they had broken Japanese radio code → so they knew exactly when abd where the attacks were to be made
 * Japanese were overconfident which resulted in 2 fatal mistakes:
 * they split their forces
 * attacked with aircraft from all four carriers simultaneously → made them extremely vulnerable

[]
 * El Alamein (October) **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">in Egypt ,Rommel’s Afrika Korps were driven back by the British Eighth Army
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a culmination of several engagements fought in the area:
 * first Axis advance was temporarily checked
 * when Rommel tried to break through he was halted again at Alam Halfa
 * finally several weeks later in the Oct battle he was chased out of Egypt by British and New Zealanders
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Allies were partly successful because of massive reinforcements → Germans and Italians were greatly outnumbered
 * as well as sinking the Axis supply ships which caused a major shortage in supplies (food, fuel, oil, ammunition)
 * at the same time the allies air force was strong enough to protect their supply ships
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> the victory was a turning point in the war:
 * prevented egypt and Suez Canal from falling into German hands
 * ended possible link up between Axis with Middle East and Ukraine
 * led to complete expulsion of Axis from N Africa
 * Allies were well placed from invasion of Italy
 * "Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat." -Churchill

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stalingrad (August - February[1943])
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Germans had reached stalingrad at the end of August 1942
 * They destroyed the city
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In November Russia fought back ferociouslyWith 94 000 men Germany was forced to surrender (2 Feb. 1943)
 * Trapped the Germans in Stalingrad
 * Supply lines were already too extended

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">US becomes suspicious of Japanese as well as Germans and Italians <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">april 26 - hitler gains the power of life and death for german people <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">may 31 - attack on sydney harbour <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">June 13- US opens a propaganda center


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Car Makers switch from making cars to making War Material
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">atlantic charter
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In US gas rationing begins
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Manhattan project - First self sustaining chain reactionGermany started attacking the arctic convoys that were intended for Russia
 * Was a large pushthrough in development for the weapon.
 * Allies come to the conclusion that this will be a long time war and something extreme will be needed to win the war


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Germany had 90 U-boats with 250 in productionDuct tape was invented by the military
 * These U-boats were very effective
 * Allies lost 4 million tons of merchant shipping

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[]

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[]