Note
WWII Began in sept 1939 in Europe with Germany’s invasion of Poland. Japan began its expansion in China in 1937.
- By the time US joined the war in Asia Pacific in 1941 → it had become total war with fighting on land, at sea, and in the air.
- Estimated 75 million people, mostly civilians, died during war.
Considered most devastating conflict in history
Key Developments: WWII in Europe, 1939-1945
With Germany’s defeat in May 1945 → WWII in Europe ended.
- Sept 1939: Germany invaded Poland, Poland was divided between Germany and USSR by end of the month
- May and June 1940: Germany began 6 week ‘lightning war’ or blitzkrieg, conquering Belgium, France, Netherlands
- July 1940: Germany began intensive bombing, known as Blitz in battle of Britain
- June 1941: Germany troops invaded USSR in Operation Barbarossa, 1941 → which used up the main German forces and drew aircraft away from battle of the Atlantic. Also drew land forces away from other theatres of war
- August 1942-February 1943: USSR counterattacked German forces at Stalingrad. Siege of Stalingrad → was one of the deadliest battles in History. German forces were defeated by USSR → regarded as turning point in WWII
- July-August 1943: Germany launched → attack on soviet city of Kursk → resulting in one of the largest tank battles in history. Soviet forces → able to halt and counter German attacks.
- June 1944: Allies launched Operation Overlord - D-Day, 1944 → allied troops landed in Normandy (France) + began slow advance across France and towards Germany
- April 1945: allies entered Berlin → Hitler committed suicide thereafter. Germany surrendered in May 1945
Note
Germany’s eventual defeat → might seem expected and almost inevitable]
- not apparent in early stage of war.
- Shortly after occupying Poland → Germany invaded and occupied Norway, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, and France → by 1940.
- Germany’s quick extension → of control into Europe → was largely due to successful use of blitzkrieg (means lighting war). - Blitzkrieg was swift and focused attack using mobile forces → such as armoured tanks and air support → to overwhelm enemies. (check if this is required**)
→ elaboration on blitzkrieg technique
| 1. Fast moving tanks + other armoured vehicles → used to take enemy forces by surprise + create openings for infantry troops to move into | 2. Junkers 52 transport planes → used to carry paratroopers. → these paratroopers → would land behind enemy lines → to capture key bridges, airports, and other vital infrastructure ahead of their main forces |
| 3. Germans used modern ground attack aircraft → Stuka → break up enemy forces and defences. Also damaged enemy roads, tanks, planes on ground, enemy warships, shipping, rail lines, telephone lines | 4. Modern, powerful field radios → used to coordinate air and land forces. → enabled Germans to work together effectively. |
Why did Germany Use Blitzkrieg Techniques?
- its economy lacked important resources → copper, rubber, oil → could not support long drawn out campaigns + trench warfare.
- Also desire to avoid military stalemates.
Plot Twist
- Blitzkrieg brought Germany lot of initial success → but situation would change
- June 1941 → Germany declared war on USSR.
- USSR proved to be formidable foe → pressuring Germans from Eastern Front.
- Make matters worse → United states entered war in late 1941 + bolstered allied forces from Western front
June 1944 → allies landed in Normandy (France) + invaded Germany in March 1945. Key Developments - WWII in Europe, 1939-1945
Key Developments: WWII in Asia-Pacific, 1937-1945
Japan → had been aggressive → in its expansion → since its invasion of Manchuria in 1931. → Japan continued expansion into China → 1937 → when it attacked + occupied areas such as ShangHai, Wuhan, Nanjing (Sino-Japanese war)
- Japan was not successful in occupying whole of china → was able to exploit natural resources + manpower of the areas they occupied to support their war efforts.
1941 onwards → Japan → advanced into parts of pacific region.
- was a massive conflict → fought over vast territory → involving millions of Allied troops.
- July 1937: Japan launched full scale invasion → China → occupying cities like Shanghai, Wuhan, Nanjing → after Marco Polo bridge incident
- Sept 1940: Japanese forces → occupied French Indochina → after fall of France
- Dec 1941: Japan disabled much of the US fleet → at pearl harbour → when it launched. surprise attack.
- US declared war on Japan. Japan launched attacks on Malaya, Philippines, Dutch East Indies
- Jan-May 1942: Japan → completed invasion of Malaya, Dutch East Indies, Philippines.
- June 1942: American fleet → destroyed 4 Japanese aircraft carriers + 300 aircraft in Battle of Midway
- Aug 1942 - June 1945: US forces → pushed back Japanese forces island by island→ despite fierce resistance.
- Aug 1945: USSR → declared war on Japan + invaded Japanese-occupied Manchuria.
- atomic bombs → dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan surrendered unconditionally thereafter
Note
Similar to what we learnt about WWII in Europe → Japan → initially successful after attacking Pearl Harbour in US in Dec 1941. → by start of 1942 → Japan → occupied many territories in Asia-Pacific including Malaya, Dutch East Indies, Philippines.
While US → formally entered WWII → 1941 → Allies → had agreed to prioritise defeat of Germany. → nevertheless allies → continued to resist Japanese
- from may 1942 → Japanese were gradually driven out of the territories they had conquered.
When Germany → finally surrendered in May 1945 → Japan faced allies alone → would eventually be defeated by Sept 1945.
Key Developments - WWII in Asia-Pacific, 1937-1945