Battles, Battles, & Battles #1 - (June to Dec. 1941) Largest military operation and land invasion in the history of warfare, as it was Hitler’s attempt to accomplish “Generalplan Ost.” It included the strategic objectives of Leningrad, Moscow, Stalingrad, and the greater Ukraine region, eventually producing the greatest number of casualties in the history of warfare. Eventually, this operation was a failure, and the Soviets conducted numerous counter-offensives.

Operation Barbarossa (22 June – 5 December 1941) Largest military operation, land invasion, and number of casualties in the history of warfare. Consequence: Opens up the Eastern Front Almost 4 million German soldiers invade Results: Soviet victory, eventually, as it retains Leningrad and Moscow, repels the offensive, and eventually defeats Germany

#2 - (June 1942) Universally considered the turning point in the Pacific Theater, this battle saw the Japanese lose four aircraft carriers, a blow from which they never fully recovered. Japanese Admiral Yamamoto planned to lure the U.S. fleet into a trap, drawing out the American fleet from Pearl Harbor. But the Americans had broken the Japanese code and executed an ambush effectively, leading to a stunning victory, sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers, Kaga, Akagi, Hiryu, and Soryu.

Battle of Midway * The Americans sank four Japanese fleet carriers – Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu. - 4 June, 1942

#3 - (June 6, 1944) Also called, Operation Overlord, which was the codename for the Allied invasion of Normandy (northern France), this invasion was conducted for the purpose of opening up a third front in Europe (after Italian Front) and putting Germany on the defensive. It involved storming the beachheads called Gold, Sword, Juno, Utah, and Omaha.

Operation Overlord – “D-Day” * Western European Invasion Purpose: open-up a third front and put the Axis Powers (Germany really) on the defensive * Strategy: - “Operation Fortitude” (Bodyguard) (the decoy) - Weather considerations - Paratroopers dropped night before - Aerial attacks on German defenses - Warships bomb German defenses from the sea

- #4 - (April 1945 to June 1945) The last battle in the Pacific Theater of war, the Americans suffered over 35,000 casualties and 12,000 lives lost, while the Japanese suffered over 100,000 deaths. The island was of tremendous strategic importance, as it was only 350 miles from mainland Japan, and this island was to be used as a staging area for an invasion of the Islands of Japan. The Japanese launched over 1,500 kamikaze attacks against the U.S. fleet, and 10,000’s of civilians were forced to commit suicide by the Japanese military.

Battle of Okinawa April to June, 1945 Bloodiest battle in the Pacific Theater, also known for its Japanese civilian suicides and kamikaze attacks

- #5 - (August 1942 to February 1943) With about two million casualties, this battle is often cited as the bloodiest battle in history, as well as, according to many, possibly the most important battle in WWII. The battle arose out of Germany's summer campaign to capture vital oil supplies in the Caucasus Mountains. Germany also attacked this city due to its symbolic importance. The Soviets needed to hold the city, as well due to its symbolic importance, but also to maintain important shipping and transportation routes. Eventually the Soviets were victorious by defeating the Italian, Hungarian, and Romanian forces guarding the German flank.

Battle of Stalingrad - Sept. 1942 to Feb. 1943 Most strategically decisive battle in WWII 2 million soldiers killed, wounded, or captured!! 144,000 Axis prisoners; 6th Army destroyed; Wehrmacht never recovers

#6 - (Oct. 1941 to Jan. 1942) Part of Operation Barbarossa, the Nazis Army, the Wehrmacht, stalls 19 miles outside of the Russian capital city, as the temperature dips to as low as – 45 C. Hitler is furious, fires his commander-in-chief, Walther von Brauchitsch, and takes over personal control of the Wehrmacht. The Germans did not take winter gear, so many soldiers freeze to death.

Battle of Moscow (1941) Oct., 1941 to Jan., 1942 Nazis stall 19 miles outside Moscow Hitler is furious, fires head of Wehrmacht, and takes over control Let’s Defend Moscow

#7 - (May 1942) - The Japanese believed they could carry out two attacks simultaneously, one against New Guinea and another at Midway Island. The Japanese wanted to take Port Moresby in southeast New Guinea, as well as the surrounding area, to cut-off Australia from U.S. aid. Along with the Battle of Midway, these two battles stem the tide of Japanese advances in the Pacific Theater of war.

Battle of Coral Sea * The supply lines to Australia is sustained. - 4-8 May, 1942

#8 - (Sept. 1941 to Jan. 1944) This military operation, conducted with cooperation from the Finland’s Army, was an attempt to prevent any Soviet shipping throughout the Baltic Sea and to cripple an important cultural city and economic center in the Soviet Union. (Today this city is called St. Petersburg.) This led to the death of more 1,500,000 soldiers and civilians and another 1,400,000 civilians evacuated, mainly women and children, many of whom eventually died due to starvation and disease.

Siege of Leningrad Sept. 8, 1941 to Jan. 27, 1944 Now called “St. Petersburg,” the cultural center of Russia 872-day siege Death of 1,500,000 soldiers and civilians 1,400,000 civilians evacuated, mainly women and children

Eastern European Theater

Battle of the Bulge Dec. 16, 1944 to Jan 25, 1945 - “Operation Watch on the Rhine” – - Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein (in German) * Final German offensive in WWII, with an initially successful blitzkrieg, but then after a successful Allied counter-offensive, Germans have few tanks & planes left - Battle of the Ardennes

Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive Operation Bagration “Maskirovka” June 2 to Aug. 19, 1944 Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive Soviet Offensive Almost complete destruction of Nazi “Army Group Center.” Largest German defeat in WWII July 13 to Aug. 29, 1944 These offensives lead to the Soviet repossession of Belarus and Ukraine Almost complete liberation of western Soviet Union Soviet Offensive Almost complete destruction of Nazi “Army Group South.” Soviets advance through Ukraine into Romania

Vistula–Oder Offensive Jan. 12 to Feb. 22, 1945 Soviet Offensive covers 300 miles from Vistula River in U.S.S.R. to 43 miles from Berlin

Battle of Berlin April 20 to May 2, 1945 Soviet Union takes Berlin, Hitler commits suicide, and Germany surrenders the city

Pacific Theater of War

Pacific and European Theaters of War Pg. 598 – B-24, “The Liberator”

Battle of Iwo Jima Feb. to March, 1945 Establish closer air strips to Japan, allowing Iwo Jima to be used as a safe-haven for bombing runs upon Japan’s major cities.

- Are these ideas related? - Are these ideas contradictory?

Battle of Okinawa April to June, 1945 Bloodiest battle in the Pacific Theater. Nothing stopping American advance. Japanese civilian suicides and kamikaze attacks.

Battle of Okinawa April to June, 1945 Mass Japanese civilian suicides Traditional Ideas: Bushido Code and “Seppuku”

Conventional Bombing & Potsdam Conventional Bombing Campaign over Japan Crazy number of bombs & destruction Potsdam Declaration ** July 26, 1945 No more “world conquest” Occupation of Japan Disarm military Prosecuting war criminals Threatened “utter destruction” Support democracy Sustain economy Withdrawal once established a “peacefully inclined and responsible government”

B-29’s over Japan

How did WW II really come to an abrupt end? On August 6, 1945 Hiroshima, Japan On August 9, 1945 Nagasaki, Japan The Atomic Bombs were never used before, and have never been used since.

Aug. 8, 1945 - Soviet Offensive Into Manchukuo

Atomic Bombs - “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” Was dropping the atomic bombs “the best way to end the war?” And “was it necessary?” Moral implications Historical & cultural considerations Potsdam Declaration & “Unconditional Surrender” Imperial Headquarters policy Mass Japanese suicides, voluntary & forced (Okinawa) Japanese culture – Bushido Code In 3,000 years, Japan never lost a war The military wanted to keep fighting In perspective of United States, there were post-WWII considerations Aug. 14, 1945 – Nippon Oil Refinery Bombings