World War II

European Theatre

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

Final Offensive

British and American forces move into Germany

Meet up with Russian forces heading West.