1941

The USA enters the war, December 1941
Japanbrought the USA into the war through their attack on **Pearl** **Harbour**. Before the assault,America had remained isolated in WWII, but since it was such a devastating attack,America joined the war againstJapan. In order to create a stronger assault against Japan, America joined China, which was waging war against Japan also.

Pearl Harbour was a well-planned assault on America’s naval base located on the Hawaiian isles. The success of Japan’s assault gave them power over the Pacific Ocean, which made it easy for Japan to capture Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong, Burma, the Dutch East Indies, the Philippines, Guam and Wake Island. In reference to Germany, because of the events that happened, Hitler declared war on the USA, thus involving America in the war even more. Declaring war on America was a mistake for Germany. Additionally,Germany had made a guarantee to help Japan if Japan got involved with America.
 * Pearl** **Harbour**

North Africa and Greece
- Hitler sends troops to Tripoli, together with Italians drove the British from Libya - By June 1942 Germans are approaching El Almein, in Egypt. - In April 1941 Hitler forces invade Geeks - Captures Athens – forcing Poritein to retreat


 * The Campaigns in Greece:**

- Were crushing for the allies - British weakened - This delayed Hitler’s attack on Russia

German invasion ofRussia: Operation Barbarossa
- He feared Russians may attack Germany while she was occupied in the west - Hoped Japanese would attack Russia in the far east - Wanted a powerful Japan that would prevent USA entry - Most importantly he had a hatred of communism and desire for Lebensraum
 * Began June 22nd 1941**
 * //Hitler’s motives://**

- Was in three spots
 * //The operation://**
 * The north towards Leningrad
 * The Centre towards Moscow
 * The South towards the Ukraine

- Huge Blitzkrieg - Russians were caught off guard - Stalin still trusted Hitler to honor the Nazi-Soviet pact - Russians were not ready for the attack

- Germany failed to capture Leningrad and Moscow - Germany were inadequately prepared for the conditions in Russia
 * //Results://**

Behaviour of Germans and Japanese
- Ruthless and brutal - Treated people as sub-humans, which was the same as recognising them as slaves - Nazi attitude toward Jews - Japanese treatment of POWs and Asians was bad - Japanese wanted “Greater East Asia” Co-prosperity sphere – defended by air and power.


 * 1941-1942: Why did Germany lose the war?**

1941: Operation Barbarossa – Russian invasion


 * Hitler feared Russian attack on Germany
 * He was hopingJapanwould attack Russia in the east
 * He wanted a powerfulJapanto prevent US entering
 * Most importantly he had a hatred for communism and desire for Lebensraum


 * Up until this point, Blitzkrieg had been very effective forGermany
 * The operation was targeted in three spots:Leningrad, Moscow and Ukraine
 * Blitzkrieg was used on a massive scale
 * Managed to catch the Russians off guard


 * //__BUT__//**


 * Germany failed to capture Leningrad and Moscow
 * They were inadequately prepared for the cold Russian climate and its vast expanses
 * The tanks would not run and the guns would not fire
 * The oil froze
 * The Russians were prepared for the conditions
 * Hitler would not let his army break out of the Russian counter attack and therefore forfeited many men


 * WW2 1941**

So as we have seen before there have been many developments in air, land, sea and strategies.


 * Just before the War**

France
 * Tactical stagnation
 * Believed that any conflict fought would be similar to the last
 * Development of the maginot line
 * Series of fortification along the border with Germany
 * Started to make plans to defend against a next war
 * Strong line of defence against Germany
 * Not so strong against Belgium,

Germany
 * Treaty of Versailles left the military weak
 * Looked toward to winning the next war, as opposed to dwelling on the last
 * Secret alliance with the soviet union 1919-30 – Germany could use their men in Russia and build
 * Spanish civil war (Germany helped out)- got experience

Soviet Union
 * Secret alliance with Germany
 * Gave them access to German technical and tactical innovations
 * Purges of the officer corps of Stalin
 * What type of picture doers this paint in terms of war breaking out


 * Germany** **and the Second World War**
 * Lighting war – attack where unexpected and control the air.
 * However it is a weak plan due to counter attacks
 * Very successful in the early years of the war

Britain and Frances use of tanks
 * Initially viewed tanks in the same light as the first world war
 * Saw them as infantry support, not as an individual entity
 * French campaign 1940


 * Tank development**
 * Initially allied tanks were a match of their german counter parts
 * German development quickly accelerated
 * Eventually came down to a matter of quantity over quality
 * German tanks were better quality but were in too few number
 * Soviet and us production too great


 * Small Arms-second world war**
 * Mass introduction of automatic weapons
 * Increased firepower for individual soldiers
 * Some second world war technology still in use today
 * Introduction of the assault rifle


 * Modern technology
 * Better deigned helmets


 * Practises of the Second World War**


 * WW2**
 * Evolution of bomber
 * High losses led to greater defensive capability
 * RAF mass raids at night
 * Formation flying for mutual support
 * Introduction of drop tanks for fighter
 * Development in bombing techniques for greater accuracy


 * Strategic bombings
 * Both sides extensively targeted civilian population and military installation
 * Hoped that the population would lose the will to work and fight –total war
 * Americans by day, Britain by night
 * Did not have the desired effect during the blitz or allied bomber offensive


 * Jet air was introduced
 * great strides were made in aircraft design during the conflict
 * Germany produced good ones but not enough


 * Paratroopers
 * First mass use of airborne troops
 * Used extensively by the Germans in early years of conflict
 * Invasion of Holland and Crete
 * Used extensively by the allies during d day and operation market garden
 * Used on a scale never seen before or again
 * Losses to high during mass operation to count


 * Radar
 * Radio detection and ranging
 * Early warning system
 * Basic by todays standard
 * Used extensively during the battle of Britain
 * Not just ground based, also fitted to night fighters


 * Ballistic Missiles
 * Brought in but not very precise
 * Used to create fear amongst civilians
 * Played a role in US space mission.


 * Operation Barbarossa: **



Naval use in 1941:


 * On march 7 Germany U-Boat was destroyed by the British fleet and all men inside were killed.
 * On march 28 the Italy fleet attacked the British naval fleet
 * Britain later sunk the ship