9.2 major events of wwii [powerpoint] 1939 41

Major Events of the
Second World War
(1939-1941)

Global Theaters of the Second World War
Atlantic Ocean
North Africa
Europe
Pacific Ocean
Asia
The Second World War lasted for six long years from 1939 to 1945. Battles
were fought in Europe, Africa, and Asia, and in the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans. This gigantic struggle cost the lives of about 50 million people.

THE WAR YEARS
1939: Blitzkrieg

Nonaggression Pact Between Germany and U.S.S.R.
(August 23, 1939)
Germany and Russia agreed not to attack each other, which allowed Hitler to open
up a second front in the West without worrying about defending against Russia.
Granted Western Poland to Germany, but allowed Russia to occupy Finland,
Estonia, Latvia, and Eastern Poland. Hitler intended to break the pact.
As early as 1924, Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf, that
conquering the Soviet Union was his ultimate goal. He
was greatly disappointed when France and England
declared war on Sept. 3, 1939 (see the next unit’s notes)
which had delayed his military timetable. Hitler
secretly desired an alliance with England to join him in
his crusade against the Soviet Union. That dream ended
with the death of Neville Chamberlain and the
appointment of Winston Churchill as England’s new
Prime Minister.

Gleiwitz: Trigger That Started WWII
The incident, which triggered World War II, was the fake, simulated attack by the
Germans on their own radio station near Gleiwitz on the Polish border. To make it
appear that the attacking force consisted of Poles, condemned German criminals
from a nearby concentration camp were dressed in Polish uniforms then shot and
their bodies placed in strategic positions around the radio station. A Polish-
speaking German then did a broadcast from the station to make it appear that
Poland had attacked first. This was all the excuse Hitler needed to invade Poland
on September 1, 1939.
“On the 1st of Sept. 1939, at dawn, the Germans crossed into our territory.”
Radio Warsaw reports the German invasion of Poland September 1, 1939

Hitler Used the staged incident at
Hitler used the pre-dawn staged incident at Gleiwitz to announce the Germany’s declaration of
war against Poland on Sept. 1, 1939
MP3- Hitler Declares War on Poland

Blitzkrieg “Lightning War”
Germany’s blitzkrieg tactics were designed to avoid the stalemate and trench
warfare which occurred during WWI. The objective was to break through the
enemy lines at the weakest points and then rush forward to spread fear and
confusion behind the lines. Pockets of enemy resistance could then be isolated and
destroyed. Recording

Hitler Invades Poland [Sept 01, 1939]
September 1, 1939: Germany launched the blitzkrieg on Poland. Poland's two
million man army was easily defeated, many of whom were on horseback against
German tanks. The Soviet Union attacked from the west on Sept. 17,
1939according to the Nazi-Soviet non-Aggression pact signed a month earlier.
Great Britain and France responded by declaring war on Germany on Sept 3,
1939.

Hitler Invades Poland [Sept 01, 1939]
The fast moving and brave Polish cavalry was no match for the German
panzers. The age of mechanized warfare had begun.
Recording RecordingRecordingRecording

England & France Declare War on Germany
On September 3, 1939 England and France declared war against Germany. The
war in Europe had begun.
On Sept. 3, 1939, Neville Chamberlain, the Prime
Minister of England announced that the British
ambassador to Berlin had handed a final note to the
German government stating that unless Germany
had announced plans to withdraw from Poland, a
state of war would exist between the two countries.
Chamberlain continued, "I have to tell you now that
no such undertaking has been received and
consequently this country is at war with Germany."
Similarly the French issued an ultimatum, which was
presented in Berlin at 1230, saying France would be at war
unless a 1700 deadline for the German withdrawal was
followed.
Recording

German Reaction to England’s Ultimatum
On the morning of September 3, 1939 Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain went on the radio and
announced to the British people that they were at war with Germany.
When I entered the next room Hitler was sitting at his desk and Ribbentrop stood by the window.
Both looked up expectantly as I came in. I stopped at some distance from Hitler's desk, and then
slowly translated the British Government's ultimatum. When I finished, Hitler sat immobile and
completely silent and unmoving. Then after an interval which seemed an age, he turned to
Ribbentrop, who had remained standing by the window. 'What now,?' asked Hitler with a savage
look, as though implying that his Foreign Minister had misled him about England's probable
reaction. Ribbentrop answered quietly: 'I assume that the French will hand in a similar ultimatum
within the hour.'
Goering turned to me and said: 'If we lose this war, then God have mercy on us!' Everywhere in the
room I saw looks of grave concern, even amongst the lesser Party people."
“Hitler sat immobile and completely
silent and unmoving. Then after an
interval which seemed an age, he turned
to Ribbentrop and inquired, 'What now,?'
almost as if astonished that the Western
Allies had finally stood up to him.

As part of the Nazi-Soviet Pact in August 1939, Stalin ordered Soviet troops to
advance into eastern Poland on Sept. 17, 1939. Without military support from
England or France the Polish army was soon overwhelmed.
Soviet Union Invades Poland from the East
MP3 Recording- Soviet 1

Soviets & Germans Meet
Polish Officials Surrender
Polish Prisoners
German and U.S.S.R. Division of Poland
I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a
riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, but
there is a key. That key is Russian self-interest.
Winston Churchill, Oct. 1, 1939 Commenting on
the Soviet pact with Nazi Germany.

German Atrocities Against the Polish People
Although the regular German army, the Wehrmacht, defeated the Polish military
within days of the initial invasion, a more sinister set of squadrons followed, the
Totenkopf, or “Death’s Head.” These squadrons immediately began rounding up
and killing Polish civilians. All intellectuals were to be exterminated. It was Hitler's
intention to obliterate all traces of Polish history and culture. Even towns and
villages were renamed in German. The Poles were to become a 'leaderless nation of
common labor and were not to be taught anything more than simple arithmetic
and how to write their own name.

Katyn Forest Massacre
Katyn Forest is a wooded area near Smolensk where Stalin ordered the NKVD to
shoot and bury over 4,000 Polish officers in 1940 that had been taken prisoner
after the Soviet Union invaded Poland in September 1939.
In 1943 the Nazis exhumed the Polish dead and exposed Stalin’s little secret.
However, in 1944 after the Soviets had retaken the Katyn area, Stalin ordered the
bodies to be burned and then accused the Nazis. Because the Soviet Union was an
important partner to the Western allies, the United States and England supported
the Soviet version of the story. During the Cold War the truth was uncovered.
Recording

American Neutrality
During the late 1930s, Many Americans were alarmed by the international conflicts
of the mid-1930s and were divided about becoming involved in “Europe's quarrels.”
Isolationists were people who believed the United States should stay completely
out of other nations’ affairs except in the defense of the United States, strictly
opposed intervening.
Non-Isolationists were people who felt that the United States should be more
involved in the economic and political problems occurring across the Atlantic.
Survey on December 16, 1940: Do you think it was a mistake for
the U.S. to enter the first World War?
Yes: 39%
No: 42%
No opinion: 19%
Recording

When FDR expressed a desire for American intervention in WWII, he was faced
with stiff resistance by the America First Committee in 1940. The committee was
compromised of many pro-isolationist who thought that the allied powers could
do nothing to stop the war.
“I ask you to look at the map of Europe today and see
if you can suggest any way in which we could win this
war if we entered it.”
Charles A. Lindbergh,
speech in New York, 1941
“If any one of these groups; the British, the Jews, or the
administration, stops agitating for war, I believe there will be
little danger of our involvement.”
Charles Lindburgh, Jr.
Urges U.S. neutrality in World War II
Des Moines, Iowa, September 11, 1941
America First Committee
Charles Lindbergh was a big
supporter of this policy, and even
joined the America First
Committee to demonstrate his
antiwar sentiment.
Recording

Neutrality Acts
1935: prohibited arms shipment
to all belligerent countries.
1936: forbid loans to all belligerents
1937: “Cash & Carry” principle:
all nations must pay for nonmilitary
purchases and ship the goods in
their own vessels.
1939: prohibited Americans from
traveling on ships of belligerent
nations.
1940: Lend Lease program offered
to Great Britain…. U.S. becomes the
“arsenal of democracy”
[See Battle of Atlantic]
A PERSONAL VOICE FRANKLIN DELANO
ROOSEVELT
“ This nation will remain a neutral nation, but I cannot
ask that every American remain neutral in thought as well.
. . . Even a neutral cannot be asked to close his mind or
his con-science. . . . I have said not once, but many times,
that I have seen war and I hate war. . . . As long as it is my
power to prevent, there will be no blackout of peace in the
U.S.”
Radio speech, September 3, 1939
Recording

Cash and Carry Revision of Neutrality
A precautionary move by the U.S. to make sure they stayed an isolationist
country. Any nation that wanted to trade or purchase materials from the U.S.
would have to pay cash and carry the goods away in their own ships. Benefitted
the Allies, since German ships could not reach the U.S. due to the Allied
blockades.
“The people of Europe who are defending
themselves do not ask us to do their
fighting, they ask us for the implements of
war.... We must be the great arsenal of
democracy.”
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt,
radio address, December 1940

U.S. Conscription
In September 1940, the U.S. Congress passed the first draft law ever
enacted while the United States was at peace. Over 900,000 young men
between the ages of 21 and 36 were inducted into the armed forces. In
October of 1940, some 16,500,000 men were registered.
The first group was called upon for duty the following month.

Phony War (Sept. 1939 to April 1940)
Following the invasion of Poland in the fall of 1939, World War II lapsed into a
lull known as the "Phony War." During this seven-month interlude, both sides
sought to avoid a general confrontation on the Western Front and the possibility
of World War I-style trench warfare.
Although war had been declared, no
shots were fired across the French
Maginot Line during the winter of 1939-
40. Both sides tried to endure the
boredom while waiting for orders to
attack. The "Phony War" ended in
April 1940.
Strange… But True: A Gentlemen’s’War
[One] decoy built during the Phony War was an artificial German "airfield," constructed with meticulous care, and was made
almost entirely of wood. There were wooden hangars, oil tanks, gun emplacements, trucks, and aircraft. The Germans took so
long in building their wooden decoy that allied photo experts had more than enough time to observe and report it. The day
finally came when the decoy was finished, down to the last wooden plank. Early the following morning, a lone RAF plane
crossed the Channel, came in low, circled the field once, and dropped a large fake wooden bomb.
Recording

Russo-Finland War (Winter 1939-1940)
Nonaggression Pact between Germany and U.S.S.R. allowed Stalin to invade and
occupy the Baltic States: Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Russia wanted to display
its military prowess and invaded Finland. Hitler became upset with Stalin because
Finland was a source of Hitler’s iron ore. (Made into steel) Eventually, Soviet
superior numbers (Steamroller) overwhelmed the Finns and Finland negotiated a
peace settlement which gave the Soviet Union 22,000 square miles of land.
Finnish ski troops defended against the
Soviet invasion.The invincible Russian Steamroller
Recording
Bear Roar

Russo-Finland War (Winter 1939-1940)
The Soviet invasion of Finland exposed weaknesses with the Soviet Army:
•Stalin’s purges of the 30’s severely weakened the military.
•All battlefield decisions were supervised and made by a communist political
officer.
•Soviet equipment broke down in the cold and snow.
•Finnish ski troops made the Soviet Army look weak.
Hitler decided to invade the Soviet Union in 1941 based on the knowledge that Stalin’s
purges of his military in the 1930’s and Russia’s poor performance during the invasion
of Finland in the winter of 1939-1940 proved the Soviet Army was vulnerable. Hitler
believed that the Soviet Union was rotten to the core and would collapse within a
matter of weeks after he launched his invasion of the Soviet Union.
Hmmm… Those
Russians will be
no match for my
Aryan race
vs.

THE WAR YEARS
1940 “Blitzkrieg in the West”

France’s Maginot Line
The French depended on the Maginot Line to protect France from a German invasion.
Named for Andre Maginot, the French Minister of War. By 1939, the Maginot Line was
a militarized zone ten to fifty miles deep and considered the strongest fixed fortification
system in the world.
The French military strategy was to
remain defensive based on the high
losses it had sustained as a
consequence of their offensive
posture during the First World War.
Named after Andre Maginot, the
Minister of War from 1928-32, the
Maginot system was a line of forts
that cost over $200 million.
Most of the Maginot Line was
underground where it was connected by
tunnels. Today, the French government
rents out its dark and damp caverns to
farmers for growing mushrooms.
The French made no plans to extend it
past its border with Germany, because
they did not consider neutral Belgium an
enemy, or a threat. The Maginot Line is
considered one of the greatest military
failures of all-time.

Winston Churchill
On May 9, 1940, Churchill's predecessor, Neville Chamberlain faced heavy
criticism in Parliament and made the decision to resign as Prime Minister.
Winston Churchill who was experienced in warfare, from both the civilian's and
soldier's point of view eagerly accepted the position. Even though he promised
nothing more than 'blood, toil, tears, and sweat', Churchill’s greatest talent was his
ability to motivate and inspire the English population against the determination of
Germany and Italy's warmongering.
Chamberlain: The Great Appeaser Churchill: The Bulldog
Recording

Churchill Becomes Prime Minister [World Wars]

Hitler Invades Denmark & Norway (April 1940)
Hitler used the excuse that he had to protect Denmark and Norway. In spite of a
treaty Hitler had with Denmark, he rolled his tanks across its borders on April 9,
1940. Norway's government was headed by Vidkun Quisling, whose name would
later become equated with "traitor."
Strange… But True
In Norway there were around 10,000 children born of parents who were members of Vidkum Quisling's pro-Nazi party and of
love affairs between Norwegian girls and German soldiers. After the war, these children were rejected as so-called 'German
kids', maltreated and despised, treated with contempt, in fact refugees in their own country. Considered social misfits, few have
received a proper education. To relieve Norway of this embarrassing problem, Sweden adopted a few hundred of these children
and around 250 were sent to homes in Germany. Since the war, many have tried to get their Norwegian citizenship back but in
each case their application has been refused.
Vidkun Quisling was a Norwegian politician who the Germans
had installed as the prime minister of Norway in 1942.
Throughout the war he continued to collaborate with the
Nazis. Today, his last name in Norway has become synonymous
with traitor. Quisling was tried and executed after the war.

Hitler Invades the Low Countries (May 10, 1940)
Hitler moved 136 divisions against Holland and Belgium on May 10, 1940. The Dutch
were helpless against the blitzkrieg. On May 14, the Dutch port city of Rotterdam was
bombed into submission with no provocation. Queen Wilhelmina escaped to England
where a government-in-exile was established. The Dutch suffered 100,000 casualties
before surrendering. Hitler placed the Dutch under the rule of Artur von Seyss-Inquart,
an Austrian who had helped in the Nazi coup there.
Recording

British and French anticipated the main German attack would Come through
Belgium. The Allies planned to respond to the anticipated German advance by
sending troops into Belgium. A fortress at Eben Emael fell within 36 hours of the
blitz on Belgium. King Leopold refused to escape, and many saw this as a form of
collaboration with the Germans. He was forced to step down from his throne
after the war in 1951.
The Germans had the exact blueprints to the fortress Eben
Emael and practiced their assault for months.
Hitler posing with German paratroopers who captured
Eben Emael by landing on the fortress’ roof with gliders.
Hitler Invades the Low Countries (May 10, 1940)

The Master Plan
As the Germans had hoped, the British and French forces took the bait and sent their entire
armies into Belgium and assumed defensive positions. Then three German Panzer corps smashed
through the Ardennes behind the Allied lines and cut off the Allied armies in Belgium.

The Manstein Plan
The Germans lured the British & French into Belgium with a diversionary attack. The main German attack
then struck from behind and completely encircled the unsuspecting French and British troops.
Manstein

Hitler Invades France (May 1940)
Led by Guderian and Erwin Rommel, the German forces smashed through the
Ardennes behind Allied lines, raced across northern France and cut off the Allied
armies in Belgium.
On June 10, 1940,
Italy entered the war
on Germany's side
and attacked an
already weakened
France.

Hitler Invades France (May 1940)
Fleeing civilians congested the roads and made allied troop
movements to the front difficult. Nevertheless, German
airplanes targeted them and strafed them with bullets.
Strange… But True
Hitler ordered the Stuka equipped with a
screaming siren that made the sound of its dive
far more frightening, giving it a greatly enhanced
psychological effect which terrorized enemy
civilians and soldiers alike. The Stuka had one
main disadvantage; it was quite slow and became
easy prey for enemy fighters. As a result of that,
the Stuka suffered very heavy losses whenever it
operated without air superiority provided by
German fighters.
Recording

Miracle at Dunkirk
Once Belgium fell, the British forces were trapped. The only means of escape back to
England was the port of Dunkirk on the French coast. The British called upon its
civil population to donate any small ships that were available to move men and
equipment from the European mainland. From May 26 to June 4, 1940, 887 ships of
all sizes crossed the English Channel to rescue 338,226 men by bringing them to
England.

Highlights of the Dunkirk Evacuation (May 1940)
Newspaper and newsreels
were full of pictures such
as this one, which shows
troops wading out to a
troop ship close to the
shore.
Did Hitler allow the British to escape? Some historians debate whether Hitler wanted to let the British escape
in order to placate the British government. Others claim that the Luftwaffe failed to do the job.

France Surrenders (June 22, 1940)
France surrendered to Germany outside of Paris at Compiegne on June 22, 1940.
New French government called Vichy France was established as a German
puppet government. (Did as Hitler directed)
With the fall of France, Hitler became the Master of Europe. Only England
stood in his way.
Strange… But True
As a token of revenge, Hitler had the same train car in
which the surrender document was signed ending WWI
placed on the same spot and destroyed after the French
surrendered to him in 1940.

Nazis Occupy Paris (June 1940)
“France has lost a battle. But France
has not lost the war!”
Charles DeGualle Proclamation June 18, 1940
Recording

Hitler Visits Paris [1940]
Strange… But True
Hitler visited Paris only
once, and only after
France surrendered in
1940. While there he
visited the Eifel Tower
and the tomb of
Napoleon, one of his
idols.
Strange… But True
The French Resistance cut the elevator cables to the Eiffel Tower to keep
Hitler from visiting it during his visit when Paris fell. When faced with the
prospect of climbing over 1500 stairs, he opted out.

The Division of France: Vichy France
Vichy France was the
name of the French State,
headed by Marshal
Philippe Pétain from 1940
to 1944. During this
period, Paris remained the
de jure capital of France.
From 1940 to 1942, the
Vichy regime was the
nominal government of
France while, Germany
militarily occupied
northern France.
Following the Allied
landings in French North
Africa in November 1942,
southern France was also
militarily occupied by
Germany and Italy. The
Vichy government
remained in existence, but
was very aware that it had
to please Germany. It
vanished in late 1944 when
the Allies occupied all of
France.

England Stands Alone
White Cliffs of Dover
(England) 40 km away.
German officers used binoculars to peer at the White Cliffs of Dover
in England only 40 miles across the English Channel. For the next
year, England will face the brunt of Hitler’s forces in western
Europe. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941)
will bring the United States, England it’s biggest ally, into the war.
Recording- White Cliffs of Dover

Operation Sea Lion
After the fall of France, England stood alone against the might of the German war
machine, Italy, and Japan. Hitler was surprised that Britain did not surrender like
France. He ordered his generals to invade Britain. Their invasion plan was code
named (Operation Sea Lion). Hitler began planning for an invasion of England, but
before he could launch an invasion he needed to neutralize the British air force.

English Home Guard
What was the Home Guard?
On the evening of Tuesday 14 May 1940, the Government made an urgent appeal on
the radio to all men aged between 17 and 65. The wanted all men not already serving
in the armed forces to become part-time soldiers. Many of the men who joined the
Home Guard were those who could not join the regular army because their day time
jobs were necessary to keep the country running. They included farm workers,
bakers, teachers, grocers, bank staff and railway workers. Other men who joined
were either to young or too old to join the regular army.

English Home Guard
What was the job of the Home Guard?
The Home Guard defended key targets like factories, explosive stores, beaches
and sea fronts. At night they patrolled fields in which the enemy gliders or
paratroops might land. No one expected them to beat well-trained German
soldiers. Their job was to slow them down until the army arrived.
The expected invasion by Germany never came. Instead the main role of the
Home Guard was capturing German airmen whose planes had been shot down
over Britain. They also guarded munitions factories, airfields, and checked
people's identity cards.
Strange… But True
The Home Guard was given
little military training and the
public was asked to give their
shotguns and pistols to the
Home Guard.
Clever camouflage… Can
you spot the hidden Home
Guard?

Britain Prepares for Invasion:
Evacuation of Children
As soon as England declared war on Germany, it started to prepare itself for air
raids and possible invasion. Britons also believed that because the Germans would
bomb major towns and cities all children should be evacuated to the countryside.
This meant leaving their homes and families to live with people that they did not
know in the countryside.
Recording
Who was evacuated?
• Schoolchildren (827,000) and
their teachers
• Mothers with children under
five (524,000)
• Pregnant women (12,000)
• Some disabled people

England Evacuating Children [Horrible Histories]

Britain Prepares for Invasion: Gas Masks
Gas had been used a great deal in the First World War and many soldiers had died
or been injured in gas attacks. There was a fear that it would be used against
ordinary people at home in Britain (civilians). By September 1939, some 38 million
gas masks had been given out, house to house, to families. They were never to be
needed.
Strange… But True
Adults masks were simply
colored black; babies had
a large mask which
covered their whole body
and air had to be pumped
into the mask with a hand
pump.
Strange… But True
A total of 38 million gas
masks were also distributed.
Also stacked in warehouses
were millions of cardboard
coffins in expectations of
many dead from air raids.

Britain Prepares for Invasion: Rationing
Providing food for everybody during wartime was very difficult. When war was
declared the British government started rationing food to make sure that there
would not be a shortage once fighting started. Food had to be rationed because
Britain could not get food from Europe or its colonies very easily when it was at
war. Everybody was issued with a ration book, which told shopkeepers how much
food that person could have.

Britain’s Defenses: Radar
One advantage that the RAF had over the Luftwaffe was radar technology. Radar
(radio detection and ranging) located an object by bombarding it with radio waves
and measuring the time taken for the waves to go out and bounce back to the
transmitter. This early warning system helped to detect German planes crossing the
English Channel and the North Sea and gave the British R.A.F. time to send up and
concentrate its outnumbered fighters in areas to more effectively intercept German
bombers.
Thanks to radar, the R.A.F. shot down four
German bombers to each British fighter lost.

Britain’s Defenses: Barrage Balloons
Barrage balloons were put up to force the German planes to fly higher, so their
bombing would be less accurate. The Barrage balloons were tethered by steel
cables strong enough to destroy any aircraft, which flew into them.
Huge barrage balloons were floated over any major industrial area to prevent
German planes from bombing army bases or important factories. There were two
barrage balloons tied to Upper School during World War Two. These balloons
were raised and lowered by local ARP wardens.

Britain’s Defenses: Blackout
During the war, everyone had to cover their windows and doors at night (before sunset)
with heavy blackout curtains, cardboard or paint. They needed to prevent any glimmer of
light from escaping and aiding enemy aircraft during the bombing raids. Streetlights
were switched off or dimmed and shielded to deflect the light downward. Traffic lights
and vehicle headlights were fitted with slotted covers to deflect the beam down to the
floor. To help prevent the Germans from seeing where the towns were, a blackout was
rigorously enforced after darkness. This meant that all sources of light had to be blacked
out.

Britain’s Defenses: Air Raid Sirens
People were warned of a likely air raid by loud sirens, positioned in different parts
of towns and cities. During the blitz, they became an almost daily part of life. The
sirens made a very loud and long signal or warning sound. For an alert, the siren
sound pitch rose and fell alternately. The All Clear was a continuous sound from
the siren. Not every alert brought a raid, and sometimes raids happened when no
alert had sounded. Recording

Britain’s Defenses: ARP Wardens
Their main purpose of ARP Wardens was to patrol the streets during blackout
and to ensure that no light was visible. If a light was spotted, the warden would
alert the person/people responsible by shouting something like "Put that light out!"
or "Cover that window!” The ARP Wardens also reported the extent of bomb
damage and assess the local need for help from the emergency and rescue.
services.
ARP Wardens They wore helmets with a big W on the
front.

Britain’s Defenses: Air Raid Shelters
British citizens needed to protect themselves from the bombs being dropped by
German aircraft. Anderson Shelters were half buried in the ground with earth
heaped on top to protect them from bomb blasts. Inside they were dark and damp
and people found sleeping difficult because they did not keep out the sound of the
bombings. As the night raids became so frequent, many people who were tired of
repeatedly interrupting their sleep to go back and forth to the shelters virtually
took up residence in a shelter.
What would you take with you into an air raid
shelter?

The Battle of Britain (July-Oct 1940)
Hitler decided to launch an all-out air assault against England, which is commonly
referred to as the “Blitz.” Every day between June and October 1940, the RAF
and the Luftwaffe clashed over Britain. Both sides were equipped with the latest
aircraft technology. However, the RAF had the edge over the Luftwaffe with its
new faster fighters the Spitfire and Hurricane. The Luftwaffe was equipped with
Stuka dive-bombers, Messerschmitt ME109 fighters, and the Heinkel bombers.
“Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty, and so bear
ourselves, that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for
a thousand years, men will still say, “This was their finest hour.”
Winston Churchill inaugurates the Battle of Britain June 18, 1940

By September after the Germans suffered tremendous losses, Hitler ordered
nighttime terror raids rather than daytime precision bombing to break the will of
the British to fight. The Germans' nighttime terror bombing of London and other
British cities was known as the Blitz.
Strange… But True: The bombing became a regular feature of
British life in late 1940 and early 1941. London was bombed for
57 consecutive nights beginning in September 1940.
MP3 Recording-
flames

Highlights of the Battle of Britain
Strange… But True:
Reich marshal Herman Goering, commander of the Luftwaffe said, “ If one Allied bomb falls
on Germany, you can call me Meyer.” (Jewish name.)
The Battle of Britain’s outcome was altered in the fall of 1940
when a Luftwaffe bomber accidentally bombed London. This
prompted Churchill to order the bombing of Berlin the following
night. Under the direction of Hitler, the Luftwaffe began to bomb
London and other cities nightly instead of military targets. Strange… But True:
When the British bombed Berlin in retaliation for the
accidental German bombing of London, the very first
bomb dropped by the Allies on Berlin killed the only
elephant in the Berlin Zoo.
“He who controls the air,
controls the war.”
Herman Goring
Battle of Britain, Fall 1940
MP3 Recording-
planes

Churchill Speech- Heart of Courage [World Wars]

Highlights of the Battle of Britain
Churchill said of the RAF pilots, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” Hitler
meanwhile grew impatient with England’s stubbornness and finally called off Operation Sea Lion in favor of a more
burdensome undertaking, a showdown with the Soviet Union
Churchill's inspirational leadership combined with the bravery of the British Royal
Air force allowed the British to be victorious and prevented Hitler from invading
England in 1940.
The Germans lost 1,882 aircraft and the RAF lost 1,265 in the Battle of Britain.
When Hitler launched his attack on the Soviet Union in 1941, the plan to bomb
Britain into submission was abandoned.

Battle of Britain: Aftermath
English cities and towns were
also heavily bombed, including
Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol,
Southampton, Plymouth,
Birmingham, Coventry and
Liverpool. One devastating raid
on Coventry in November 1940
was the biggest air-raid the world
had ever seen. 4,330 homes were
destroyed and 554 people killed.
At one point during the night 200
separate fires burned in the city.
One in every ten bombs that fell
was a 'dud,' which meant that it
did not explode on impact. But,
some bombs had a delayed action
fuse, which meant they could go off
at any time. This meant that it was
almost impossible to tell which
bombs were which. People had to
be evacuated until the bombs had
been made safe.

Lend-Lease Act
President Roosevelt proposed the Lend-Lease Act in March 1941, which stated
that the United States could lend or lease arms to any country considered “vital to
the defense of the United States.” Congress passed the act by a wide margin.
“Give us the tools and we will finish the job.”
Winston Churchill, Feb. 9, 1941
The Lend-lease bill was approved by Congress in 1941, which originally authorized $7 billion. Thirty-five other nations besides
Great Britain, USSR, France, and China received loans from the lend lease. By August 1945, the amount totaled $48 billion, of
which the United States received $6 billion in repayment by these nations.
"If your neighbor's house is on
fire," Roosevelt reasoned, "you don't
sell him a hose, you give it to him.
Then, you take it back after the fire
is out. This helps your neighbor and
makes sure that the fire doesn't
spread to your own house."
Recording

Great Britain $31 billion
Soviet Union $11 billion
France $ 3 billion
China $1.5 billion
Other European $500 million
South America $400 million
The amount totaled: $48,601,365,000
U. S. Lend-Lease Act 1941
“US Becomes the Arsenal of Democracy”
The Lend-lease bill was approved by Congress
in 1941, which originally authorized $7 billion.
Thirty-five other nations besides Great Britain,
USSR, France, and China received loans from
the lend lease. By August 1945, the amount
totaled $48 billion, of which the United States
received $6 billion in repayment by these
nations.
Lord Beaverbrook was later to exclaim "The
Japanese are our relentless enemies, and the
Americans our un-relenting creditors."

The Battle of the Atlantic
German U-Boats patrolled the Atlantic against the British blockade of Europe and
in an effort to stop supplies from America from ever reaching Britain. The
German navy under the command of Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz, carried out
total unrestricted submarine warfare to cut off Britain's imports and military
supplies. The Allies developed a convoy system where merchant ships were
guarded by destroyer escorts.
Allied leaders grouped their supply ships in large
numbers and surrounded them with anti-
submarine warships. (Safety in numbers as
opposed to crossing the Atlantic solo.
Without the convoy system, the Allies
lost one out of every 10 ships. With
the convoy, the number of ships lost
changed to 2 out of 100 ships.

The Wolf Pack
Method used by the German u-boats (submarines) to track and sink enemy
ships. Received its name because this method was similar to how wolves stalk
and hunt their prey.
U-boats operated in
groups of 10 called
"wolf packs."
Recording

Deconstructing History U-Boats

The phase in the Battle of the Atlantic between January 1942 to August 1942, was
known among German submarine commanders as the “Happy Time or Golden
Time,” along the east coast of North America. During this time, German U-boats
were able to inflict massive damage to merchant shipping and U.S. naval vessels
with little risk to themselves because American defense measures were weak and
disorganized. During this period, German u-boats sank 609 ships totaling 3.1 million
tons and the loss of thousands of lives.
“Happy Time” of the German Wolf Packs
Lights from homes and businesses on land would create silhouettes of the
Allies’ supply ships, making them easy targets for German U-boats. To
discourage attacks, streetlights were covered to allow only a small light cast
straight downward. Automobile headlights were dimmed and covered with
tape, which was also used in homes to hold curtains closed.
New York City as viewed through the
periscope of a German U-boat in 1942.

Allied technology to Combat German U-boats
Depth Charges A canister-shaped weapon
dropped from the back of surface ships to
attack submerged submarines. Very deadly
against German submarines.
Sonar A surface ship sent out a pulse of
sound. When the sound hit an object, it
echoed back to a receiver on the ship.
Sonar
Recording

Italy’s Failed Invasion of Egypt
Mussolini had important ambitions and wanted to re-establish the Roman Empire
by making the Mediterranean Sea an Italian lake. On June 10, 1940, Italy declared
war on France and Britain. Perceiving British weaknesses, Mussolini set out to
conquer Egypt and seize the Suez Canal.
Strange… But True: Despite the Italian army
outnumbering the British 3-to-1 in North Africa, the
British army easily defeated the Italian army and forced it
into a frantic retreat.
By the time WWII began, the student had become the
master! Despite Mussolini being an Axis partner with
Hitler, Mussolini was extremely jealous of Hitler’s
successes and set out on his own plans to re-establish
the Roman Empire. He constantly set out on disastrous
campaigns only to have Hitler bail him out time and
time again… much to Hitler’s dismay.
Adolph… I’m in a
little trouble. Can
you help me out?
What again? I told you
next time consult me
before you do something
on your own again.

Rommel and the Afrika Korps
Mussolini's disastrous Egyptian campaign prompted Hitler's intervention and
the creation of the infamous Afrika Korps under the command of Erwin
Rommel. For the next year and a half, the British fought a seesaw battle across
North Africa against Rommel's Afrika Korps.
Erwin Rommel (German)
“The Desert Fox”
The climate of North Africa was very hostile.
There was nothing green and the landscape was
rocky and sandy. Temperatures reached 130 F in
daylight and freezing at night. The Fighting see-
sawed as each side chased the other across the
desert for the several months.
When Rommel arrived in Tripoli (Libya) he had his tank crews drive around the city several times to
deceive British spies into believing he had more tanks than he had. The rouse worked while he awaited the
arrival of his German reinforcements.
Recording

Italy’s Failed Invasion of Greece (Oct. 1940)
Greece was a country of difficult, mountainous terrain. Once again… Mussolini
did not coordinate his actions with Hitler… Hitler was irate! By November
1940, Greek forces gradually pushed the Italians back to the Albanian border.
Italy’s disastrous invasion and retreat from
Greece caused Hitler to fear a British foothold
in the Balkans.

THE WAR YEARS
1941
“Blitzkrieg in the East”

Hitler’s Balkan Intervention (Spring 1941)
Hitler had intended to invade the Soviet Union before June 1941, but Hitler was
forced to postpone the attack and invade the Balkans in April 1941 to restore order
there following Mussolini’s ill-advised and disastrous invasion of Greece in October
1940.
Mussolini constantly set out on disastrous campaigns only to have Hitler bail him
out time and time again… much to Hitler’s dismay. This time the consequences
were disastrous… It forced Hitler to postpone the invasion of Russia by six weeks
and perhaps cost Hitler the war. Even after Yugoslavia was divided up among the
victorious Axis powers, the Yugoslav resistance was fierce.

Crete (May 1941)
Greece was quickly overrun by the German army and forced the British to retreat
to Crete. May 20, 1941 German paratroopers landed on Crete and captured it after
heavy losses.
The airborne assault on
Crete was so costly that
Hitler never launched
another airborne strike
for the rest of the war.

Planning Barbarossa
The planning for Operation Barbarossa [Invasion of the Soviet Union] began in the
summer of 1940. The invasion was planned for spring 1941. Three army groups
were assembled:
Army Group North would advance toward Leningrad through the Baltic States.
Army Group Center would advance toward Moscow.
Army Group South would invade the Ukraine.
“We have only to kick the door in and the whole rotten
structure will come crashing down.” Adolf Hitler
Hitler codenamed the German invasion of Russia after one of his
idols, Frederick Barbarossa.

The German army’s plans
were to push toward
Leningrad in the north,
Moscow in the center, and
in the south as far as the
Volga River.

Why Did Hitler Invade the Soviet Union?
Hitler had always believed that war with the Soviet Union was inevitable. Nazi
ideology held the Soviet Union to be the center of a global Judeo-Bolshevist
conspiracy. Thus, war against the Soviet Union would have not only geopolitical
objectives, providing the German nation with living space (Lebensraum) in the
east, but a major ideological goal as well: the destruction of Judeo-Bolshevism.

Commissar Order: War of Annihilation
Hitler warned his generals that this was to be an Ideological war to the finish and
German soldiers could not be expected to fight according to the usual rules of war.
Troops were issued the infamous "Commissar Order," instructing them to
eliminate all "political commissars [of the Bolshevik party], guerrillas, partisans,
and Jews."
Russian commissars were rounded up and
immediately executed by the Germans.
Soviet
Commissar

Barbarossa (June 22, 1941)
“When the fighting in Russia begins, the world will stand and hold its
breath.” Adolf Hitler, 1941
On June 22, 1941, Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa along a 1,500 mile front
with 3 million men, the largest military undertaking in human history. Stalin
discounted intelligence reports of the German invasion plans but chose to ignore
them. He suspected Churchill of trying to provoke trouble between the Germans
and Soviets.
Recording

Barbarossa: The First Weeks
The Soviet Army was concentrated at the Western Soviet border as the sudden
German surprise attack caught the Soviet forces ill prepared. In the first week
German infantry and tanks stormed 300 miles. Germany's initial success in the first
weeks inflicted tens of thousands of casualties, took almost 2.4 million prisoners,
and virtually destroyed the entire Soviet air force in just two days.

Soviet Order “Order No. 270”
After seeing millions of Soviet troops captured in the early days of the German
blitzkrieg, Joseph Stalin issued August 1941’s “Order No. 270,” which proclaimed
that any troops who surrendered or allowed themselves to be captured were traitors
in the eyes of the law and would be executed if they ever returned to Russia.

Soviet 588th Night Bomber Regiment
‘Night Witches”
In 1941, during the early months of Operation Barbarossa a Soviet pilot named Marina
Raskova (hailed as the “Soviet Amelia Earhart”) was called upon by Joseph Stalin to
organize a regiment of young female pilots to fight the German invaders, making the
Soviet Union the first nation to allow women to fly combat missions. Though the planes
were slow and obsolete, the resourceful female pilots would idle their engines as they
approached the target, then glide the rest of the way, leaving only the “whoosh” of their
aircrafts in the wind to give them away. The sound reminded German soldiers of a
witch’s broomstick, thus dubbing the bombers “Nachthexen,” or “night witches.” The
women of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment flew roughly 30,000 missions, dropping a
total of 23,000 tons of bombs on the invading Nazi armies.
Strange… But True: The Germans attributed the witches’ incredible stealth to special injections and pills taken
to give them “feline-like” night vision. So feared were the mysterious bombers that, supposedly, any German
who shot one down was automatically awarded an Iron Cross.

Barbarossa: Stalin’s Son Captured
Joseph Stalin’s son surrendered to the Germans at the Battle of Smolensk
in July 1941. However, Stalin was known to have despised his first son,
Yakov Dzhugashvili. In 1943, the Nazi regime offered to exchange
Dzhugashvili for some of their own prisoners. But, Stalin refused to
consider the idea. “I will not negotiate with them.” Yakov is thought to
have committed suicide in 1943 by electrifying himself on a perimeter
fence while being held prisoner in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

Highlights of Barbarossa: Welcoming Ukrainians
Many Ukrainians (Russians) welcomed the
Nazis when they invaded Russia. Stalin would
not be forgiving and after the war he severely
punished them with imprisonment in Siberia,
starvation, or other violent means.

Hitler’s Willing Executioners
When the Germans moved into the Baltic States anti-Semitic Lithuanians were
happy to assist with the killings. Many even knew their Jewish friends and
neighbors for years but helped murder them for some extra food.

Einsatzgruppen: Mobile Death Squads
Einsatzgruppen were squads composed primarily of German SS and police
personnel. Under the command of the German Security Police and Security
Service (Sicherheitsdienst; SD) officers, the Einsatzgruppen had among their tasks
the murder of those perceived to be racial or political enemies found behind
German combat lines in the occupied Soviet Union. These victims included Jews,
Roma (Gypsies), and officials of the Soviet state and the Soviet Communist party.
At first, Jews were easy targets because they didn’t resist believing it was God’s calling. Over 100,000 Jews a month were
murdered in 1941.

Einsatzgruppen- Special Aktion Commandos

Babi Yar, U.S.S.R. (September 1941)
One of the largest Einsatzgruppen actions took place in a ravine outside Kiev called
Babi Yar, in Sept. 1941. Over 34,000 Jews were murdered in two days.
Victims were told they were
being relocated. However when
they reached Babi Yar they
were told the strip and await
execution.
Babi Yar Ravine before the shooting
began. A local asks a German if she
could watch.
Photographs were copied from the
film “War & Remembrance”

Partisan Warfare
The many Russians who had welcomed the Nazis when they invaded Russia soon realized
their mistake. Because of the ruthlessness of the Einsatzgruppen and the German attitude
of the “inferiority” of the Russian people many individuals joined partisan groups and
fought against the Nazis from swamps and dense forest.
Partisans engaged in classic guerrilla activity, hit and run
tactics. Strategic targets were selected and attacked, with the
attackers drifting away into the night. For the Germans,
chasing them into forests or marshland was a demoralising
task, and invariably fruitless.
A German patrol ambushed
and massacred by Soviet
partisans

Partisan Retribution
The impact the partisans had on the Germans was huge. The damage done to
military property, communication and supply lines was a major factor in the
Germans inability to sustain its war effort in the east. The impact the partisans had
on morale is probably impossible to calculate. As a result of not being able to find
the partisans to punish, the general population of western Russia was targeted by
the Germans. Civilian blood was spilt in retaliation for partisan attacks. However,
the more civilians were targeted, the more people joined the partisans.
“The best way is to shoot anyone who
so much as looks like giving trouble.”
-Adolf Hitler, July 1941

Partisan Retribution
For captured partisans the punishment was
immediate execution by hanging or firing squad.

Siege of Leningrad [1941-1944]
After the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union in the summer of 1941, a German army began
their encirclement of the city of Leningrad (modern-day St. Petersburg). The siege of
Leningrad lasted almost 900 days and cost the lives of an estimated 1,000,000 city
residents. In subsequent months, the city sought to establish supply lines from the Soviet
interior and evacuate its citizens, often using a hazardous “ice and water road” across
Lake Ladoga. A successful land corridor was created in January 1943, and the Red Army
finally managed to drive off the Germans in 1944.
By November 1941, individual rations were lowered to 1/3 of the daily amount needed by an adult. The city's
population of dogs, cats, horses, rats and crows disappeared as they became the main course on many dinner
tables. Reports of cannibalism began to appear. Thousands died - an estimated 11,000 in November increasing to
53,000 in December. The frozen earth meant their bodies could not be buried. Corpses accumulated in the city's
streets, parks and other open areas.

General Mud (Autumn 1941)
Russian mud, fatigue, and lack of supplies began to take a gradual toll on the advancing Germans and their
momentum slowed to a crawl.
“Russia is a country which is very easy to invade, but
very difficult to conquer.”
Lloyd George, British Prime Minister. April 1919
“There is no crime greater than having too many
desires.”
Lao Tzu
Hitler originally planned for the campaign against the Soviet Union to take six weeks.
Although the Germans did initially make very fast progress, the farther into the USSR
they traveled, the more things slowed down. In the meantime, summer turned to autumn,
bringing a constant, miserable mix of rain and snow. During October, the roads turned to
mud, effectively halting the German advance.

The Russian Winter
By November, snow covered the ground, and temperatures were so cold that they
interfered with the operation of equipment. German soldiers, still in summer uniforms,
succumbed to frostbite and hypothermia in large numbers. Hitler nonetheless ordered
them to continue.
The winter gave the Soviet armies a new advantage, as they were far better prepared to
fight under such conditions. Moreover, reinforcements from the Russian Far East
arrived in large numbers, while the tanks and planes sent from Britain and the United
States were finally entering combat. German intelligence was unaware of these
reinforcements, leaving the German troops in for a nasty surprise.

Gates of Moscow (Dec 1941)
“Russia has two generals whom she can trust- Generals January and February.”
Tsar Nicholas I Mar. 10, 1853.
As the Germans approached Moscow, they encountered row after row after row of
trenches and ditches reinforced by barbed wire. Since late October, thousands of Russian
civilians had dug more than 5,000 miles of trenches by hand all the way around the city. On
November 27, 1941, these trenches finally brought the German advance on Moscow to a
halt, less than twenty miles from the Kremlin.
Overwhelmed by a strong Russian defense, frigid temperatures, and constant harassment
by Russian partisans behind the lines, the Germans became mired. In just three weeks, the
Germans lost 85,000 men, the same number that they had lost over the entire Barbarossa
campaign up to that point.

Ivan Strikes Back (Dec 1941)
On December 5-6, 1941 the Russians launched a major counteroffensive before
Moscow, almost breaking through German lines. The counteroffensive halted the
German advance, and the Blitzkrieg phase of the war was over, as were Hitler's
hopes for a short war.
On December 8, 1941, a directive issued from Hitler himself instructed all German troops in Russia to shift
from offensive operations to defensive.

Atlantic Treaty (August 14, 1941)
The defeat of Nazi Germany would take priority over the war
against Japan.
President Roosevelt met with Winston Churchill in secret (The United States had
not entered the war in Europe at this time) with an objective to map out a
strategy in the event that the U.S. was drawn into the conflict.
It was agreed that the war against Germany would take precedent over the war
against Japan.

Indochina was a French-administered colony in Southeast Asia comprising the present-
day nations Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. On July 20, 1941, Japanese troops entered
the region and quickly occupied the entire area. Japan justified the occupation as
necessary in order to deny resources to the Chinese resistance. However, Indochina also
provided Japan with a convenient base for launching attacks against other countries and
territories in the region, including Singapore and the Dutch East Indies. Both the United
States and Britain saw this move as a threat and a clear indication of Japan’s intention to
continue its expansion throughout the Pacific Rim. The two countries expressed their
disapproval by freezing Japanese bank accounts.
Japan Occupied Indochina [July 1941]
“No nation and no region is secure”
Cordell Hull, U.S. Secretary of State Oct. 1940

U.S. Embargo on Japan
On October 5, 1937, Roosevelt gave a speech denouncing aggressors, calling for an
international "quarantine of the aggressor nations" as an alternative to the political
climate of American neutrality and isolationism that was prevalent at the time. The
speech intensified America's isolationist mood, causing protest by isolationists and foes
to intervention. No countries were directly mentioned in the speech, but it was
interpreted as referring to Japan, Italy, and Germany. Roosevelt suggested the use of
economic pressure, a forceful response, but less direct than outright aggression.
In response to Japan's invasion of southern Indochina, the U.S. froze all Japanese assets
in the United States and had imposed an embargo on the sale of certain key goods to
Japan such as oil and steel.
Since Japan was already poor in natural resources, the Japanese government became
angry and viewed the embargo imposed by the United States, especially on oil and scrap
metal, as a threat to its survival.

Why Pearl Harbor?
Why Pearl Harbor?
The Japanese military, lacking oil and other resources, decided to attack and seize the
resource-rich British and Dutch colonies in Southeast Asia.
Before Japan could continue its expansion in the southeast Pacific it had to deal with one
major problem: The US naval fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and the American
army in the Philippines which posed a threat to Japan's plans for expansion.

Japanese Minister of War Hideki Tojo
Hideki Tojo assumed power in Japan as the Minister of War in October 1941. Tojo
faced many important decisions as Japan planned for war against the United States.
Tojo convinced other Japanese leaders to attack the United States Navy at Pearl
Harbor on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu.
Japan also planned to launch a series of attacks notably the American Philippine,
and the British and Dutch possessions throughout the Pacific.
Recording
Hideki Tojo was the Prime Minister of Japan and leading advocate of Japanese
military conquest during World War II.

Isoroku Yamamoto
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto was the commander of the Japanese Fleet. He created
a plan to destroy the U.S. Fleet with a surprise attack.
Japanese planners made a miniature scale model
of Pearl Harbor so that its pilots could become
familiar with its targets before the surprise attack.
Admiral Yamamoto argued that if Japan chose to
fight the United States, it must strike a crippling
blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor.
This attack would allow Japan to "run wild" for
six months and secure control of Southeast Asia
and the western Pacific.
Yamamoto's plan assumed that the United States
would negotiate peace terms following the loss of
its fleet. He did not believe that Japan would
prevail in a protracted conflict with the United
States.

The Japanese Attack Plan
In October 1941, Emperor Hirohito gave his general approval for action against the
United States. On November 8, 1941, Emperor Hirohito approved the specific Pearl
Harbor attack plan.
On November 25–26, the Japanese fleet set sail from Japan, unseen by U.S. spies. Even
then, however, some Japanese officials disapproved of the plan, and it continued to be
debated heatedly. By December 1, all discussion had ended, and Hirohito ordered the
plan to proceed. Japan’s goal was to make a permanent end to Western interference in its
affairs by obliterating the U.S. and British military capabilities in the Pacific.

Japanese Task Forces Heads
for Pearl Harbor
On November 26, 1941, a large Japanese carrier force set sail in the northern Pacific.
Its objective was the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor.
The element of surprise was essential and the attack force maintained strict radio
silence and followed a northern course well away from the standard sea lanes.
On November 29, 1941, the program for the annual Army-Navy
football game carried a picture of the Battleship Arizona,
captioned: "It is significant that despite the claims of air
enthusiasts no battleship has yet been sunk by bombs." Today
you can visit the site, now a shrine where Japanese dive-
bombers sunk the Arizona at Pearl Harbor only nine days later.
U,S, Admiral Chester Nimitz

Overcoming Pearl Harbor’s Shallow Water
The U.S. ships at Pearl Harbor had no torpedo nets because it was assumed that the water
at Pearl Harbor was too shallow for the use of torpedoes. The Japanese cleverly placed
wooden fins on their torpedoes to give them more buoyancy.
Strange… But True: Wooden Fins for Torpedoes
The water depth at Pearl Harbor averaged 40’ making the use of torpedoes impracticable. To avoid the
possibility of having the torpedoes dropped from their planes striking Pearl Harbor’s shallow and muddy
bottom the Japanese devised wooded fins to give the torpedoes more buoyancy.

Missed Opportunity #1: The U.S.S. Ward
At 0342, the minesweeper USS Condor spotted a white wake and signaled the U.S.S.
Ward, which was patrolling nearby, “Sighted submerged submarine on westerly
course, speed nine knots” at 0348.
At about 0635, a lookout on the U.S.S. Ward noticed a wake following U.S.S.
Antares that was towing a target back to Pearl Harbor. The U.S.S. Ward
commended firing on the sub at 0645. The U.S.S. Ward’s number three gun scored a
hit at the base of the sub’s conning tower and the U.S.S. Ward dropped depth
charges which sank the sub.
“Attacked, fired upon, depth bombed, and sunk submarine
operating in defensive sea area.” U.S.S. Ward

Missed Opportunity #1: The U.S.S. Ward
At 0651, the U.S.S. Ward notified Pearl Harbor, “Attacked, fired upon, depth
bombed, and sunk submarine operating in defensive sea area.” It was just over an
hour before the first Japanese planes would begin their bombing runs.
Unfortunately, the chain of command thinking it was another or many recent false
alarms did not respond quickly.
One may wonder what might have happened if the U.S.S. Ward’s report
had been acted on. Within two hours the Pacific Fleet was sunk or
crippled, all told 18 ships were sunk or damaged. 2402 Sailors, Marines
and Soldiers were killed and another 1247 wounded.

At a range of 230 miles north of Oahu, the Japanese launched their first wave of more
than 180 planes.
The Launch of the Strike Force
The first wave of the Japanese strike force
consisted of 40 Nakajima B5N2 "Kate"
torpedo bombers, 51 Aichi D3A1 "Val" dive
bombers, 50 high altitude bombers, and 43
Zero fighter escort planes.
The second strike, launched at 0715 hours,
consisted of an additional167 aircraft.

At a range of 230 miles north of Oahu, the Japanese launched their first wave of more
than 180 planes. At approximately 7:00 a.m. [nearly a full hour before the attack began]
on December 7, 1941, U.S. radar operators at an army radar station located on the
northern tip of Oahu spotted the massive formation of the approaching first wave of
Japanese planes. Lt. Taylor, the officer on duty that morning was notified, but replied,
"Don't worry about it."
The fast-approaching Japanese aircraft were mistaken for a group of U.S. bombers
expected to arrive from California around the same time. This mistake happened in spite
of the fact that the planes seen on the radar were coming from the wrong direction and
were much more numerous than the expected bomber fleet.
Missed Opportunity #1: Radar
"Don't worry
about it."
Sir… We have a
massive formation
of aircraft
approaching.
Strange… But True: The United States anticipated a Japanese
attack in Southeast Asia but not at Pearl Harbor. It was confident
that Hawaii was secure and all alert messages were not taken
seriously.

Air Raid Pearl Harbor… Tora! Tora! Tora!
The first wave arrived at the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor at 7:55 a.m. and achieved
complete surprise; only nine Japanese planes were lost. The primary targets were the U.S.
Pacific Fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor [These included eight of the nine battleships in the
U.S. Pacific Fleet, along with several dozen other warships. The Japanese also targeted
military airfields and military barracks.
Recording
Captain Mitsuo Fuchida who led the attack at Pearl Harbor announced, “Tora, Tora, Tora” (“Attack,
Attack, Attack”) to commence the attack.

Air Raid Pearl Harbor… This Is No Drill
Recording
The roar of planes was heard in the quiet of a Sunday morning. Some thought it was American planes
coming in from an early morning drill.

Air Raid Pearl Harbor… The Airfields
Recording

Air Raid Pearl Harbor… Damage Control
The seven battleships on Battleship Row received direct hits. The U.S.S. Oklahoma and
the U.S.S. Arizona received extensive damage.
Recording
Strange… But True

Air Raid Pearl Harbor… U.S.S. Arizona
A bomb struck the U.S.S. Arizona's
magazine [ammunition supply], and the
entire battleship blew up and sank with
four fifths of its crew (1300 men).

Pearl Harbor: Damage
Casualties
• USA: 218 KIA, 364 WIA.
• USN: 2,008 KIA, 710 WIA.
• USMC: 109 KIA, 69 WIA.
• Civilians: 68 KIA, 35 WIA.
• TOTAL: 2,403 KIA, 1,178 WIA.
When it was over, the U.S. losses were:
Pacific Fleet:
• 2 battleships sunk [USS Arizona
and USS Oklahoma]
• 3 battleships damaged and later
repaired
• 3 battleships received light damage.
• 6 cruisers damaged and later
repaired
• 3 destroyers heavily damaged or
sunk, 1 repaired.
Aircraft
188 Aircraft destroyed (92 USN and 92 U.S.
Army Air Corps.)

The Blame Game
Admiral Husband Kimmel failed to place the U.S. fleet on alert despite receiving warnings
from Washington D.C. of an imminent attack. Because of the large Japanese population in
Hawaii and the possibility of sabotage, U.S. Army commander, General Walter Short
ordered all of the American aircraft to be parked on the runway wingtip-to-wingtip and
guarded by the military police. When the Japanese attack commenced on the morning of
Dec. 7, 1941, hundreds of airplanes were destroyed parked in plain view.
On January 26, 1942, a Board of Inquiry found the Commander-in-Chief US Fleet,
Admiral Kimmel and the Commander-in-Chief Hawaiian Department, General Short,
guilty of dereliction of duty. Both were dismissed.
Admiral Kimmel
General Short

Pearl Harbor: Missed Targets
The success of the Japanese attack was overwhelming, but it was not
complete. Although stunned by the attack at Pearl Harbor, the Japanese
failed to strike several targets including:
• The oil refineries
• Dry docks (ship repair centers)
• Aircraft carriers (At sea and not at Pearl at the time of the attack.)
• U.S. submarine base.
Dry docks (ship repair centers)

Pearl Harbor: Where Were the Carriers
The American aircraft carriers because they were absent from the harbor.
The U.S.S. Enterprise was returning from Wake Island, where it had just
delivered some aircraft. The U.S.S. Lexington was ferrying aircraft to
Midway, and the U.S.S. Saratoga and U.S.S. Colorado were undergoing
repairs in the United States)
?Congratulations… How
many American carriers
did we sink?
What American
carriers?

Pearl Harbor: A Terrible Resolve
Japanese Admiral Yamamoto: Before the war, Yamamoto attended school at Harvard
and eventually planned the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the attack he commented,
“I’m afraid we have only awaken a sleeping giant.”
“I fear we have only awakened a sleeping giant, and his reaction will be terrible.”
Isoroku Yamamoto,
Japanese Admiral 7 Dec. 1941
When British Prime Minister Winston Churchill heard that
Pearl Harbor had been bombed, he is reported to have said,
"We've won the war!"

“A Day That Will Live in Infamy.”
President Franklin Roosevelt declared December 7, 1941, as a "date
that will live in infamy." On December 8, 1941, the United States
Congress declared war on Japan.
The attack on Pearl Harbor had united a divided country as the nation
developed a wholehearted commitment to victory in World War II.
Strange… But True
There was only one “Nay” vote from
Congress when Roosevelt asked for a
declaration of war against Japan. That
vote came from Congresswoman
Jeanette Rankin. She also voted against
the U.S. entry into WWI in 1917. After
serving 25 years in Congress, she was
voted out of office by an angry
American public during the 1942
congressional election.
President Roosevelt:
An angry U.S. nation declared war on Japan, Dec. 8, 1941, the
day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Recording

FDR Declares War on Japan [World Wars]

Remembering Pearl Harbor
After Arizona sank, its superstructure and main armament were
salvaged and reused to support the war effort, leaving its hull, two
gun turrets and the remains of more than 1,000 crewmen
submerged in less than 40 feet of water. In 1949 the Pacific War
Memorial Commission was established to create a permanent
tribute to those who had lost their lives in the attack on Pearl
Harbor, but it wasn’t until 1958 that President Dwight D.
Eisenhower signed legislation to create a national memorial. The
funds to build it came from both the public sector and private
donors, including one unlikely source. In March 1961, entertainer
Elvis Presley, who had recently finished a two-year stint in the U.S.
Army, performed a benefit concert at Pearl Harbor’s Block Arena
that raised over $50,000, more than 10 percent of the USS Arizona
Memorial’s final cost. The monument was officially dedicated on
May 30, 1962, and attracts more than 1 million visitors each year.

Hitler Declares War on the United States
To the dismay of his generals, Hitler declared war on
the United States on Dec. 11, 1941 to support Japan.
•Hitler’s personal train was called, “Amerika.”
•The NY phone book had [22] listings for Hitler before WWII. After WWII, the NY phone book had [0] entries for the name
Hitler.
Germany declared war on the United States on Dec. 11, 1941. Hitler wanted to show
support for his military ally, Japan. The German army was beginning its third year of
fighting the Second World War when the United States joined the allies.
Recording

Allied Powers
The military alliance between the United States, Great Britain, and the
Soviet Union.
Stalin
Roosevelt
Churchill

Failure in the Philippines [Dec. 8, 1941]
Approximately three hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese planes
began a day-long attack on American facilities in the Philippines. (Because the
islands are located across the International Dateline, the local Philippine time was
just after 5 AM on December 8.)
News of Pearl Harbor reached U.S. forces in the Philippine Islands less than half an
hour after the attack (about 2:30 A.M., December 8, in the Philippines, corresponding to
8:00 A.M., December 7, in Hawaii). Nine hours later, unopposed Japanese attacks
caught General MacArthur’s bombers and fighters on the ground like sitting ducks.

Japanese Onslaught in the Pacific [December 1941]
With the destruction of the United States fleet at Pearl Harbor, the Japanese
steamrolled throughout the western Pacific and Southeast Asia. By the spring of
1942, Japan was dominant throughout Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific.
• Thailand 12/08/41
• Guam 12/10/41
• Hong Kong 12/12/41
• Borneo 12/16/41
• Wake Island 12/23/41
Banzai!!!
Not to be out done by its partner Germany, Japan conducted its own blitzkrieg in December
1941, and became dominant throughout Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific with a series
of major victories.

Japanese-American Internment Camps
After the attack at Pearl Harbor, national unity was strong and strong anti-
Japanese prejudice had seized the country. There was the belief that Japanese
Americans might aid the enemy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. State
representatives put pressure on President Roosevelt to take action against those of
Japanese descent living in the U.S. On February 19th 1942 Roosevelt signed
Executive Order 9066.
Under the terms of Executive Order 9066 some 120,000 people of Japanese descent
living in the US were forced to sell their homes, businesses, and placed in
internment camps. The US justified their action by claiming that there was a
danger of those of Japanese descent spying for the Japanese. None had ever shown
disloyalty to the nation.
Executive Order 9066 authorized the
War Department to designate “military
areas” that excluded people considered
to be a danger to the United States.
Specific target was the 120,000
Japanese Americans living along the
West Coast.

Japanese Internment Camps in the USA
Gila River, AZ
Opened July 20, 1942.
Closed Nov 10, 1945.
Peak Population 13,348.
Rohwer, AR
Opened Sept 18,1942.
Peak population 8,475
Poston AZ
Opened May 8, 1942.
Peak population17,814
Granada (Amache), CO
Opened: Aug 24, 1942
Closed: Oct 15, 1945.
Peak population: 7,318.
Minidoka, ID
Opened Aug 10, 1942.
Closed Oct 28, 1945.
Peak population 9,397.
Manzanar, CA
Opened Mar 21, 1942.
Peak population 10,046.
Jerome, AR
Opened Oct 6, 1942.
Closed June 30, 1944.
Heart Mountain, WY
Opened Aug 12, 1942.
Peak population
10,767.
Topaz UT
Opened Sep 11, 1942.
Closed Oct 31, 1945.
Tule Lake, CA
Opened May 27, 1942.
Closed March 20, 1946.
Peak population18,789.

Life in the camps was hard. Internees had only been allowed to bring with then a few
possessions and given just 48 hours to evacuate their homes. In some cases family
members were separated and put in different camps.
Some internees died from inadequate medical care and the high level of emotional
stress they suffered. Those taken to camps in desert areas had to cope with extremes
of temperature.
Internees were housed in barracks and had
to use communal areas for washing, laundry
and eating. It was an emotional time for all.
More than two thirds of those
interned were American citizens
and half of them were children.
During the entire war only ten people
were convicted of spying for Japan
and these were all Caucasian
Americans.
"I remember the soldiers marching us to the Army tank and I looked at their rifles and I was just terrified because I
could see this long knife at the end . . . I thought I was imagining it as an adult much later . . . I thought it couldn't
have been bayonets because we were just little kids."
From "Children of the Camps"

Video: Japanese Relocation and Detention

Korematsu v. U.S. (1944)
The 1944 case of Korematsu v. U.S. the Supreme Court upheld the government’s
right to act against the rights of Japanese Americans living on the west coast and
affirmed the constitutionality of the camps.
In December 1944 Public Proclamation number 21, which
became effective in January 1945, allowed internees to return to
their homes. The effects of internment affected all those
involved. Some saw the camps as concentration camps and a
violation of the Act of Habeas Corpus; others though, saw
internment as a necessary result of Pearl Harbor. At the end of
the war some remained in the US and rebuilt their lives, others
though were unforgiving and returned to Japan.
In 1991, the United States admitted
fault and President Bush issued a
public apology on behalf of the United
States government.
The United States government made
$20,000 reparation (financial)
payments to each camp survivor.

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