Changes

In 1940 [[Denmark]] and [[Norway]] were invaded by German forces, to preempt a British occupation of Norway and acquire Norway's coastline and ports for the German Navy. Norway also contained a source of [[Heavy water]], potentially crucial in the construction of an atomic weapon.  The operation was successful, but losses were heavy, especially to the [[Kriegsmarine]].  This was soon followed by the British troops invited by [[Iceland]] and American occupation of [[Greenland]]. (The need to prevent any increase in the range of German air activity, brought about the occupation of these lands - and of the Azores at the request of the  Portuguese Government.)

In 1940 [[Denmark]] and [[Norway]] were invaded by German forces, to preempt a British occupation of Norway and acquire Norway's coastline and ports for the German Navy. Norway also contained a source of [[Heavy water]], potentially crucial in the construction of an atomic weapon.  The operation was successful, but losses were heavy, especially to the [[Kriegsmarine]].  This was soon followed by the British troops invited by [[Iceland]] and American occupation of [[Greenland]]. (The need to prevent any increase in the range of German air activity, brought about the occupation of these lands - and of the Azores at the request of the  Portuguese Government.)

With Britain the sole opposing European nation, the [[Battle of Britain]] commenced. The [[Luftwaffe]] attempted to achieve aerial dominance over the south of Britain, in order to allow a sea based invasion of Britain to proceed. From 10th July to the end of October the [[Royal Air Force]] and Luftwaffe fought for dominance, with the resilience of the RAF, with British, Canadian and London Polish exile pilots, and the use of [[radar]] and its associated early warning system had forced a rethink of German tactics. It was the first significant setback for the Germans in the War. They now concentrated on the great population centres, especially London, hoping that huge civilian casualties would weaken morale and lead to a lessening of the war effort by the populace. The period that followed, popularly known as [[the Blitz]], lasted into May 1941. Around 40,000 civilians and civil defence workers died; but it failed in its objective and Hitler began concentrating on the impending invasion of Russia  

With Britain the sole opposing European nation, the [[Battle of Britain]] commenced. The [[Luftwaffe]] attempted to achieve aerial dominance over the south of Britain, in order to allow a sea based invasion of Britain to proceed. From 10th July to the end of October the [[Royal Air Force]] and Luftwaffe fought for dominance, with the resilience of the RAF, with British, Canadian and London Polish exile pilots, and the use of [[radar]] and its associated early warning system had forced a rethink of German tactics. It was the first significant setback for the Germans in the War. They now concentrated on the great population centers, especially London, hoping that huge civilian casualties would weaken morale and lead to a lessening of the war effort by the populace. The period that followed, popularly known as [[the Blitz]], lasted into May 1941. Around 40,000 civilians and civil defense workers died; but it failed in its objective and Hitler began concentrating on the impending invasion of Russia  

With the pressure off their airbases the RAF was now able to increase its nightly raids on industrial sites in Germany and occupied lands. Because of the inability to correctly target these sites, the raids soon turned into “area bombing”, and German civilian casualties rose. These raids were to reach further into Germany as the war progressed and were greatly increased when American bombers began their sorties.

With the pressure off their airbases the RAF was now able to increase its nightly raids on industrial sites in Germany and occupied lands. Because of the inability to correctly target these sites, the raids soon turned into “area bombing”, and German civilian casualties rose. These raids were to reach further into Germany as the war progressed and were greatly increased when American bombers began their sorties.

1941 marked the major turning point in the war in Europe, when the Germans undertook [[Operation Barbarossa]] - the invasion of the Soviet Union.  Stalin was repeatedly informed by his own spies and anti-German countries that Germany was about to attack; he rejected the accurate reports and paid dearly for the blunder.   

1941 marked the major turning point in the war in Europe, when the Germans undertook [[Operation Barbarossa]] - the invasion of the Soviet Union.  Stalin was repeatedly informed by his own spies and anti-German countries that Germany was about to attack; he rejected the accurate reports and paid dearly for the blunder.   

In June--behind schedule because of diversions in the Balkans--the Germans launched their massive war against the Soviet Union (known as the "Great Patriotic War" in Russia). It was by far the largest, bloodiest, and most decisive phase of World War II.  Outside observers in the first few months fgured that Germany would win easily. But the Nazi armies were split three ways, logistics became worse and worse as distances grew, and none met their objective by the time the extreme Russian winter of 1941-42 set in. Bltitkrieg had failed against the Soviets, and the Germans lacked the resources to fight a long war against a country with such vast areas and so many more people.  The Luftwaffe, which promised to overcome the slowness of ground travel, failed to provide adequate support and was soon matched and outnumbered by the Soviet air force.<ref> The best studies of this theater are by [http://books.google.com/books?as_q=&num=30&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES&lr=&as_vt=&as_auth=glantz+david&as_pub=&as_sub=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_isbn=&as_issn= David Glantz]</ref>

In June--behind schedule because of diversions in the Balkans--the Germans launched their massive war against the Soviet Union (known as the "Great Patriotic War" in Russia). It was by far the largest, bloodiest, and most decisive phase of World War II.  Outside observers in the first few months figured that Germany would win easily. But the Nazi armies were split three ways, logistics became worse and worse as distances grew, and none met their objective by the time the extreme Russian winter of 1941-42 set in. Blitzkrieg had failed against the Soviets, and the Germans lacked the resources to fight a long war against a country with such vast areas and so many more people.  The Luftwaffe, which promised to overcome the slowness of ground travel, failed to provide adequate support and was soon matched and outnumbered by the Soviet air force.<ref> The best studies of this theater are by [http://books.google.com/books?as_q=&num=30&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES&lr=&as_vt=&as_auth=glantz+david&as_pub=&as_sub=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_isbn=&as_issn= David Glantz]</ref>

==United States enters the War==

==United States enters the War==

American naval escort of British convoys carrying [[Lend-Lease]] aid lead to a shooting war with Germany. On October 17, 1941, the U.S. destroyer Kearney was torpedoed; two weeks later, the destroyer Rueben James was blown to pieces with the loss of 115 lives.<ref>Oxford Guide to World War II, ed. by I.C.B. Dear, Oxford University Press, 1995</ref>  On November 10, an American escort of 11 vessels picked up a convoy of six vessels including America's three largest ocean liners with 20,000 British troops and guarded them from Halifax to India and Singapore. Many of the activities of the American Navy in the summer of 1941 were not known at all to the American public. In September, Roosevelt sought to repeal the [[Neutrality Act]] forbidding the arming of merchant vessels which was done on October 17. Two weeks later, all the essential points

American naval escort of British convoys carrying [[Lend-Lease]] aid lead to a shooting war with Germany. On October 17, 1941, the U.S. destroyer Kearney was torpedoed; two weeks later, the destroyer Reuben James was blown to pieces with the loss of 115 lives.<ref>Oxford Guide to World War II, ed. by I.C.B. Dear, Oxford University Press, 1995</ref>  On November 10, an American escort of 11 vessels picked up a convoy of six vessels including America's three largest ocean liners with 20,000 British troops and guarded them from Halifax to India and Singapore. Many of the activities of the American Navy in the summer of 1941 were not known at all to the American public. In September, Roosevelt sought to repeal the [[Neutrality Act]] forbidding the arming of merchant vessels which was done on October 17. Two weeks later, all the essential points

of the Neutrality Act were repealed. <ref>Carroll Quigley, ''Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in Our Time'', Collier-Macmillan, 1966, pg. 720. ISBN 0-945001-10-X</ref>

of the Neutrality Act were repealed. <ref>Carroll Quigley, ''Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in Our Time'', Collier-Macmillan, 1966, pg. 720. ISBN 0-945001-10-X</ref>

==Eastern Europe 1944-45==

==Eastern Europe 1944-45==

By the spring of 1944, Soviet forces had reclaimed their own country almost wholly and were pushing into the Balkans and Poland. After two and one-half years of siege, Leningrad was relieved in January, 1944. A series of probes against the German forces in the Dnieper bend, south and southeast of Kiev, beginning in December 1943 and continuing into February, 1944, showed the Germans were weakening--they had lost most of their air support and were short on supplies and reinforcements. In early March 1944 Marshal Zhukov's First Ukrainian Front (army group) attacked along a front of 60 miles in order to sever the Odessa-Lvov railway, Germany's critical lifeline for supplies. In the first two days they advanced 50 miles and captured the a key railhead at Volochisk on the main line, then kept moving. Marshal Ivan S. Konev's Second Ukrainian Front, to the south of Zhukov, launched a general offensive at the same time, and captured the great German logistics base at Uman. The German front was now untenable, and the Germans fled in panic, despite Hitler's orders to never retreat. By March 15 Konev was within 30 miles of the Dniester River and the Romanian border.

By the spring of 1944, Soviet forces had reclaimed their own country almost wholly and were pushing into the Balkans and Poland. After two and one-half years of siege, Leningrad was relieved in January, 1944. A series of probes against the German forces in the Dnieper bend, south and southeast of Kiev, beginning in December 1943 and continuing into February, 1944, showed the Germans were weakening--they had lost most of their air support and were short on supplies and reinforcements. In early March 1944 Marshal Zhukov's First Ukrainian Front (army group) attacked along a front of 60 miles in order to sever the Odessa-Lvov railway, Germany's critical lifeline for supplies. In the first two days they advanced 50 miles and captured the a key railhead at Volochisk on the main line, then kept moving. Marshal Ivan S. Konev's Second Ukrainian Front, to the south of Zhukov, launched a general offensive at the same time, and captured the great German logistics base at Uman. The German front was now untenable, and the Germans fled in panic, despite Hitler's orders to never retreat. By March 15 Konev was within 30 miles of the Dniester River and the Romanian border.<ref> See David M. Glantz, ''When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army Stopped Hitler'' (2000) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst;jsessionid=LjLQtM5yvBTN3SfvN4kpNXzb1gpNh17lTPtH7ljVqh3QYhQbmptY!875247955?a=o&d=111924465 online edition]</ref>

Next, Zhukov turned south and advanced on Chernovtsy, aiming to cut the last rail line between the German armies based in Poland and the forces still remaining in Ukraine. By late March he had crossed the Dniester and occupied the city. By that time, Konev's right flank had crossed the Bug River and moved up to the Prut; German resistance had ended, and the remaining Germans south and west of Kiev were trying to escape to the south.  

Next, Zhukov turned south and advanced on Chernovtsy, aiming to cut the last rail line between the German armies based in Poland and the forces still remaining in Ukraine. By late March he had crossed the Dniester and occupied the city. By that time, Konev's right flank had crossed the Bug River and moved up to the Prut; German resistance had ended, and the remaining Germans south and west of Kiev were trying to escape to the south.  

Coordinating with the Allied landing in Normandy in June, the Soviets launched a broad-scale offensive with 100 divisions attacking the Germans at the same time, thus preventing reinforcements from moving to France.  The Soviets recaptured the Baltics, western Ukraine and central Poland.

Coordinating with the Allied landing in Normandy in June, the Soviets launched a broad-scale offensive with 100 divisions attacking the Germans at the same time, thus preventing reinforcements from moving to France.  The Soviets recaptured the Baltics, western Ukraine and central Poland.

To the south, Societ encircling maneuvers in August, 1944, forced Romania to quit the war. A coup d'étatd'etat by King Michael unseated the dictator General Ion Antonescu; the king pledged support to the Allies. On August 26 Bulgaria announced its withdrawal from the war; German forces began to evacuate Greece. Having already seized the Romanian oilfields, in September Soviet forces occupied Sofia and prepared to mount a campaign up the Danube River for the purposes of conquering Hungary and Austria. The loss of Romanian oil was the final blow to the Luftwaffe, which was running out of aviation gasoline.  The Germans no longer had an air force of importance, so they moved their airmen into infantry units.  The arrival of hundreds of thousands of fresh, energetic ex-airman proved a tonic for the dispirited Wehrmacht.  The eastern front was static after September, with the Soviets near the German border.  The Soviets needed time to recoup their heavy losses and reorganize in time for a final thrust in January 1945 toward Berlin.  The winter was brutal but Moscow realized the Germans were weak in manpower, and lacking any reserves in transport, armor, aviation, or fuel. Crippled by Hitler's no-retreat policy, the Germans were unable to maneuver. They fought to the death.

To the south, Soviet encircling maneuvers in August, 1944, forced Romania to quit the war. A coup d'étatd'etat by King Michael unseated the dictator General Ion Antonescu; the king pledged support to the Allies. On August 26 Bulgaria announced its withdrawal from the war; German forces began to evacuate Greece. Having already seized the Romanian oilfields, in September Soviet forces occupied Sofia and prepared to mount a campaign up the Danube River for the purposes of conquering Hungary and Austria. The loss of Romanian oil was the final blow to the Luftwaffe, which was running out of aviation gasoline.  The Germans no longer had an air force of importance, so they moved their airmen into infantry units.  The arrival of hundreds of thousands of fresh, energetic ex-airman proved a tonic for the dispirited Wehrmacht.  The eastern front was static after September, with the Soviets near the German border.  The Soviets needed time to recoup their heavy losses and reorganize in time for a final thrust in January 1945 toward Berlin.  The winter was brutal but Moscow realized the Germans were weak in manpower, and lacking any reserves in transport, armor, aviation, or fuel. Crippled by Hitler's no-retreat policy, the Germans were unable to maneuver. They fought to the death.

In mid-January, 1945. all four Soviet army groups attacked. In two weeks 15 German divisions were trapped in East Prussia; they held out until April. Desperate German civilians fled west on rail and on foot, as the Ruissians robbed, raped and killed any they caught. In Poland, Zhukov outflanked Warsaw to the southwest, and with their rear threatened the Germans abandoned the city on January 15, while Zhukov's forces swept forward to Lodz. To the south Konev's group, after overcoming a strong initial resistance around Kielce, moved rapidly on Kraków and on January 20 crossed into Germany north and south of Breslau, established bridgeheads across the Oder River. By February 15 Konev had taken Bunslau, 125 miles southeast of Berlin. By mid-March Zhukov's artillery could be heard in Berlin. Hitler ordered new armies to rush to defend Berlin, but the armieds did not exist and there was no help.  By the end of March the German position on the Danube River had collapsed, and Soviet forces had crossed into Austria. By mid-April Vienna was in Red hands.

In mid-January, 1945. all four Soviet army groups attacked. In two weeks 15 German divisions were trapped in East Prussia; they held out until April. Desperate German civilians fled west on rail and on foot, as the Russians robbed, raped and killed any they caught. In Poland, Zhukov outflanked Warsaw to the southwest, and with their rear threatened the Germans abandoned the city on January 15, while Zhukov's forces swept forward to Lodz. To the south Konev's group, after overcoming a strong initial resistance around Kielce, moved rapidly on Kraków and on January 20 crossed into Germany north and south of Breslau, established bridgeheads across the Oder River. By February 15 Konev had taken Bunslau, 125 miles southeast of Berlin. By mid-March Zhukov's artillery could be heard in Berlin. Hitler ordered new armies to rush to defend Berlin, but the armies did not exist and there was no help.  By the end of March the German position on the Danube River had collapsed, and Soviet forces had crossed into Austria. By mid-April Vienna was in Red hands.

 

==Far East==

==Far East==