Practices_Land

Compare and contrast land based technology, battles and tactics in WW1 and WW2 toc

 By Olivia, Ned and Miranda

Major land battles of World War Two: ** Significance of battles: **
 * They displayed the differences in warfare between ww1 and ww2
 * WW1 was a defensive war - trenches, barbed wire, massed artillery, machine guns
 * This resulted in huge casualties if one side tried to advance on enemy defensive positions.
 * The invention of the tank later in ww1 lead to a more offensive nature - however, tanks were very slow and often broke down.


 * WW2 was a much more offensive war - Tanks, planes, improvements in technology, use of divisions instead of mass armies, blitzkrieg (see down below for more info)
 * Operation Barbarossa showed how effective lightning warfare could be
 * Battle of Kursk (largest tank battle in ww2) illustrated the reliance on tanks in ww2
 * Many of the battles in ww2 were decisive in the outcome of the war
 * Battle of Moscow weakened the German war machine. Following this, the Battle of Stalingrad resulted in huge casualties for Germany - it was after this battle that Russia was on the front foot and Germany lost much of its power.
 * Battle of Kursk - huge consequences for the Germans, and was their last major offensive in Russia.
 * It is due to the outcomes of these battles that the German invasion of Russia failed. Ultimately, it can be seen that these battles dictated the outcome of the war, whereby the losses suffered by Germany lead to their defeat.

Battle of Gazala
Where:  North Africa, specifically around the port of Tobruk in Libya When:  26 May – 21 June 1942 Who: What: Why: Aftermath:
 * Axis side:
 * Panzer army Afrika, which was made up of both German and Italian troops, commanded by Colonal-General Erwin Rommel
 * Allied side
 * The 8th Army, commanded by Lieutenant-General Neil Ritchie
 * The Allies had maintained the strongly defensive line at Gazala that ran 65km south of the Mediterranean coast. Made up of extensive minefields and fortified fortress like structures.
 * Rommel advances his forces South, during the night of 26th May, to engage the British forces from the rear of the Allied defences.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Despite heavy losses, the engagement could be seen to be semi-successful. However, Rommel was in a precarious position – now a long supply route due to interference to supply lines from the southern end of Gazala.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rommel pulls back into a more defensive position, avoiding the minefields. The British cannot ignore, as the position is still dangerous.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ritchie (8th Army) attacks this position, and is completely decimated by the German and Italian force.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rommel keeps pressure on, and in a single day manages to break through defences and capture Tobruk – a resounding victory for the Axis side.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">British were pushed back into Egypt.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Interfere/damage/eradicate the British operation in North Africa.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Capture Tobruk
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Both sides suffered heavy losses, possibly more so the allies.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">With the capture of Tobruk, Axis side gains a port nearer supply vessel route and a large amount of British supplies
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Loss of Tobruk a huge blow to the morale of the Allies
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Led to the conflicts at El Alamien

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">First Battle of El Alamein
<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">When: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 1-4 July 1942 <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> North Africa (Egypt: near Egyptian coast city of El Alamein) <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who: What: In Short:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Axis:
 * oRommel’s Panzer Afrika army (German/Italian)
 * Allied:
 * oAuschinleck’s 8th Army (Bernard Montgomery)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Allies halt Axis drive into Egypt. This was followed by a tense standoff lasting until the Second Battle of El Alamein, with neither army giving up much ground.
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Long:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">After the defeat at Gazala, 8th Army retreats to prepare a new defensive line in Egypt.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Both sides were tired and lacking resources. Furthermore, the 8th Army suffered a severe lack of morale. Churchill was desperate for an Allied victory, as the war had not gone very well for Britain thus far.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">El Alamein was a last stand for the Allies in North Afrika. If the Axis powers seized Egypt, the ability of the Allies to supply themselves would be greatly inhibited.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Before the Battle, Churchill replaced Auschinleck (not very popular) with Bernand Montgomery (respected by the men, restored morale).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Montgomery had received info about reduced supply lines of Rommel (only 33% of what Rommel needed) and about Rommel’s line of attack (in the South)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Montgomery was ready when Rommel attacked during the night on 1 July – mines destroyed tanks, artillery was effective, Allied fighter planes also picked off tanks.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rommel was likely to be wiped out, however a sandstorm provided some time, and he was able to retreat. Montgomery failed to go on the offensive and follow this retreat (stayed defensive).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rommel was likely to be wiped out, however a sandstorm provided some time, and he was able to retreat. Montgomery failed to go on the offensive and follow this retreat (stayed defensive).

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Second Battle of El Alamein
<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">When: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 23 October – 11 November 1942 <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Near Egyptian coast city of El Alamein, ‘Western Desert Campaign’. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Same as the First Battle of El Alamein <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">What:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Montgomery carefully planned an assault on Rommel’s defences that had been set up after their retreat.
 * Operation Lightfoot – engineers to clear mines, allow for routes through defences. Infantry would then advance through
 * Heavy bombardment of Axis lines
 * Rommel suffering heavily from lack of supplies.
 * Montgomery started advance on the night of October 23, heavily bombarding axis lines and opening routes for infantry with the engineers.
 * Axis powers began to counterattack – however, British remained successful.
 * Major tank engagement was fought
 * Over the next week fighting continued, and Rommel was very low on supplies and fuel
 * Montgomery difficulty with breakthrough due to Axis anti-tank guns. However, after many slightly successful breakthroughs, situation for Rommel was indeed lost.
 * Rommel began to retreat in early November – Montgomery continued to attack; taking out many tanks and eventually overran Rommel’s forces.
 * Rommel forced to abandon many of his divisions.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aftermath:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Axis threat in Egypt and the Suez Cana was destroyed.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Allied victory revived their morale, being the first major offensive against the Germans since the start of the war in 1939 in which the Allies achieved a decisive victory.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">It may almost be said, "Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat." —Winston Churchill

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Battle for Moscow
<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">When: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Started on October 2nd 1941 <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Russians and Germans <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Hitler believed that once Moscow had been taken over, the whole nation would collapse. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">What: <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aftermath:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Operation Barbarossa had initially been very successful for the Germans
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Blitzkrieg had been very effective against the Red Army – Hitler began to believe that Russia would fall.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">However, Germany were also suffering - By one month into Barbarossa, the Germans had lost over 100,000 men, 50% of their tanks and over 1,200 planes. War on two fronts meant that these casualties were significant.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">As a result of Hitler’s confidence, he gave little consideration of the Russian winter. Despite this, ‘Operation Typhoon’ (surge/attack on Moscow in two places, north and south) began in ideal weather conditions on October 2nd 1941. Involved were 50% of all the German men in Russia, 75% of all the tanks and 33% of all the planes.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The attacks started well for the Germans. The Russians found communication difficult and they frequently lacked the air/artillery to face German tanks. Furthermore, large pars of the Red Army (made of divisions) became encircled by the advancing German forces.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">These trapped armies caused problems for the Germans – they couldn’t simply leave them behind, and so had to take them on. This slowed down their advance significantly, and gave the Red Army enough time to reorganise itself and its defences.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Zhukov (Russian) prepared defences along the ‘Mozhaysk Line’. On October 10th Germany attacked the line and managed to break through in a number of places. Soon after, a stalemate developed some 45 miles away from Moscow’s centre.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">On Novermber 13th, decision was made to make a second assault on Moscow. During the stalemate, the Russians had sent 100,000 more men to defend Moscow with an extra 300 tanks and 2,000 artillery guns. Moscow had been turned into a fortress, with anti-tank ditches, barbed wire, firing points and resistance groups.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Russian supply lines were superior to the Germans at this point
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Germans began a very focused assault. However, they met fierce Russian resistance. By the end of November, the forward momentum of the Germans had stalled.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Huge causalities on both sides - in just 20 days of the second offensive, the Germans lost 155,000 men (killed, wounded or a victim of frostbite), about 800 tanks and 300 artillery guns.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">By December, Russians began to counter-attack. The attacks were very effective against the weakened Germans who were hit hard by the harsh winter - frostbite etc.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">By January 1942, the threat to Moscow had passed. Hitler responded by moving 800,000 men from Western Europe to the Eastern Front – forever ending chance of Russian invasion.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Total casualties between 30 September 1941, and 7 January 1942, are estimated to be between 174,000 and 400,000 for the Wehrmacht (Germany) and between 650,000 and 1,280,000 for the Red Army.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Battle is considered among the most lethal battles in world history, with atrocious suffering and casualties.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">German invasion of Russia is stopped, and the loss of German control of Europe is now in motion.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Battle of Stalingrad
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> German Army (Wehrmacht) and Russian Red Army <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> City of Stalingrad <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">When: During the winter of 1942 to 1943 – advance began in September 1942 <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why (defeat of Germany):
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Russian supply lines were stable – working from their home base. The German blitzkrieg of rapid advancement meant that they lacked the industry to deliver supplies – their supply lines were not as good. They also did not have reserves of manpower.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">German industry was suffering from allied bombing.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Russian winter – harsh conditions.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">What:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Considered by many to be the turning point in WW2 in Europe
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The battle bled the German army dry – they were then in full retreat.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ironically, there is the belief that the city did not have to be attacked. If not attacked, it could be seen detrimental to have left it standing and then advance forward, but many saw the attack as unnecessary.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">September 1942 the Germans advance on the city of Stalingrad. Primary objectives were to secure oil fields and to take the city. It was also an important target as it was Russia’s centre of communications as well as manufacturing.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">For simple reasons of Morale (Stalingrad = Joseph stalin) the Russians could not let the city fall.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">German Army || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Russian Army ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Led by Paulus || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Led by [|**Zhukov**] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">1,011,500 men || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">1,000,500 men ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">10, 290 artillery guns || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">13,541 artillery guns ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">675 tanks || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">894 tanks ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">1,216 planes || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">1,115 planes ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Strengths of armies:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The battle was one of the most brutal in ww2. Germans took a great deal of the city but failed to assert complete dominance. A constant shift in control of the city occurred.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">There were some 250,000-300,000 men defending inside the city. Zhukov sent large divions around the city in the North and the South to surround the Germans.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The German army could have broken out of this trap of encirclement, but Hitler forbid such action. “Surrender is forbidden… hold their positions to the last man and the last round and by their heroic endurance…”
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Germans also had to face winter. Furthermore, food, ammunition and heat were in short supply. By the end of January 1943, the Germans had no choice but to surrender.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Although many were captured prisoner, many were in retreat on the Eastern Front from February 1943.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aftermath/significance:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The failure of the German Army was a complete disaster. With such a catastrophic loss of manpower and equipment, the Germans did not have enough manpower to cope with the oncoming Russian advance towards Germany.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Highlights Hitler’s deterioration judgement/capability for effective military strategy. In his fury, Hitler ordered a day’s national mourning in Germany, not for the men lost at the battle, but for the shame von Paulus had brought on the Wehrmacht and Germany – highlights his ‘mental state’.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Fall of Singapore
<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Japanese army (General Tomoyuki Yamashita), British (General Arthur Percival) <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Singapore, southern end of the Malay Peninsula. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">When: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Fell on February 15th 1942. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">What:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Singapore was considered impregnable as a fortress. It was also vital to the British Empire, as it was a key military base to the protection of their empire in the Far East.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Japanese 25th army invaded from the north of the Malayan peninsula on 8th December 1941. This was simultaneous with the attack on pearl harbour.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Air raids and bombing on strategic sites in Singapore were conducted from 29th December onwards. Anti-aircraft fire was the only measure by which the British could stop the bombers totally devastating the island.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Japanese commanders were strategically smart. Their forces were superior in close air support, armour, coordination, tactics and experience. Furthermore, the Japanese were skilled and practiced fighters.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The British believed that the Malayan jungle was impassable, and so had much of their defences pointed out to the sea. However, the Malayan jungle was the exact route that the Japanese took.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Japanese had a more experienced and better-equipped air force, and so gained air supremacy. The Allies had no tanks/armoured vehicles, and so were disadvantaged.
 * Two allied battle cruisers and four destroyers reached Malaya early during the Japanese invasion in order to deter their attacks. However, the Japanese aircraft sank the capital ships, which allowed the Japanese to continue their amphibious landings into the peninsula.
 * The Japanese forces advanced down the Malayan peninsula overwhelming the defences, despite their numerical disadvantage. They were brutal and ruthless, murdering those who would have been left behind, while also torturing villagers who had helped the allies. The Japanese used bicycles and light tanks, allowing for fast and rapid advancement. This rapid advancement disallowed the allies to regroup. The Japanese relied on speed, ferocity and surprise.
 * On 31 January Allied forces left Malaya and retreated to Singapore, while blowing up the causeway that went to Singapore (Johor Strait).
 * On 8th February 1942, the Japanese attacked across the Johor Strait. The Allied defences were disjointed, spread too thinly and lacked communication. The Japanese were able to use their speed and ferocity to quickly overrun the defensive measures set up by the Allies. The Japanese quickly advanced towards Singapore.
 * On 15th February, the Japanese broke through the last lines of defence. The allies were very low on food and ammunition; the anti-aircraft guns had run out of ammo, and were unable to repel any Japanese air attacks, which threatened to cause heavy casualties.
 * Percival was forced to formally surrender late on 15th February.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aftermath:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Many ethnic groups in Singapore, including the Chinese, were killed in the Sook Ching massacre. The residents suffered great hardships under Japanese rule.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Many Allied soldiers were taken prisoner – around 100,000. They were mistreated, and many were sent to other areas to for manual labour.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The fall of Singapore was a humiliation for the British government.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The fall is considered one of the greatest defeats in the history of the British army, and probably their worst in ww2.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The fall of Singapore highlighted the strength, speed and savagery of the Japanese, and their means of fighting in the Far East.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Battle of Kursk
<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">When: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> July 1943 <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Germany and Soviet forces <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> On the Eastern front near the city of Kursk (450km southwest of Moscow) <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">What: <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Significance:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Operation Barbarossa had showed the power of armoured warfare when Blitzkrieg was unleashed on the Red Army. The combination of the Wehrmacht tanks and the Luftwaffe had devastated the Russians.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">After the defeat at Stalingard, the German army had been in retreat. However, they considered a retreat to be a sign to their enemies that their military power had been weakened significantly after their defeat. So, for the morale of the German army, the Germans organised a massive offensive against Russia to prove they were still a strong force.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Germany hoped that a victory in an engagement with Russia would weaken Russian relations with the western world.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">By the summer of 1943, the Wehrmacht (tanks) and Luftwaffe (aircraft) were increasingly well armed. German industry had been able to produce an increasing number of tanks, aircraft and ammunition despite Allied bombing in Germany.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Men were moved from the western front, and by 1943 two-thirds of the German army was in Russia.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Russians had been steadily advancing east. A bulge of Russian forces occurred at the city of Kursk, To eradicate this bulge in preparation for a push east, the Germans centred their attacks here (Operation Citadel). Furthermore, if these forces were not attacked, the Russians would be able to launch an attack on the Germans from behind.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Germany put 1/3 of its army in a concentrated force towards Kursk, and prepared heavily with reconnaissance in preparation for the battle. Russian intelligence alerted them of a huge offensive, and so they began their preparations. A vast number of Russian men and equipment were placed in the Kursk bulge - 1.3 million soldiers were based there, 20,000 artillery pieces, 3,600 tanks and 2,400 planes. The Russians calculated the likely movements of German tanks and prepared anti-tank artillery, trenches, anti-tank traps, trenches, mines, while up to 300,000 civilians repaired roads and dug trenches. The preparations were greater than at either Stalingrad or Moscow. The defences at Kursk were considered the most extensive defensive works ever constructed.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">On July 5th, Germany started their attacks. They attacked vigorously with tanks, aircraft and infantry. However, due to the Russian defences, Germany sustained heavy losses in men and tanks.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The greatest tank battle of WW2 took place on July 12th. A total of 1,500 tanks were involved in the battle around 50 miles southeast of Kursk. The Germans had not achieved the desired breakthrough and had lost a further 350 tanks and 10,000 men. When the German forces had exhausted themselves against Russian defences, the Russians counter-attacked the Germans, whose strength had been significantly lowered.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">By July 23rd the Germans had been pushed back to where they started their attack. The Germans were on the back foot and began to fall back to try and regroup.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Partisans, who destroyed rail lines, slowing the Germans down while the Russian air force targeted them, hindered the German retreat. The Germans could not move their men around easily.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Red Army retook Orel and Belgorod on 5th of August and Krahkov on 23rd of August. The retaking of the city of Kharkov is seen as the end of the Battle of Kursk.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Huge consequences for the Germans – it was their last major offensive in Russia. 500,000 men were killed and vast amounts of armour had been lost.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The three immense battles of Kursk, Orel and Kharkov, all in the space of two months, heralded the downfall of the German army on the Eastern Front." –Winston Churchill
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">For the first time, a major German offensive had stopped before achieving a breakthrough. Despite their decisive victory, the Red Army lost considerably more men and material than the Wehrmacht (German armed forces). Germany was now reacting, rather than attacking, as the initiative had been passed to the Red Army. Furthermore, Russia had the manpower and industrial production to recover fully, while bombing in Germany and the opening of a front in Italy hindered Germany’s ability to recover.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Crisis for the German war machine in Russia.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Battle of Arnhem
<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Around the Dutch town of Arnhem <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">When: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 17-26 September 1944 <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Allies, Germany <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">What: <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why did the British lose? <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aftermath:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Allies were ready to enter the Netherlands after sweeping through France and Belgium in the summer of 1944.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Field Marshal Montgomery (allies) favoured a single thrust of the lower Rhine River, allowing the British army to bypass the Siegfried Line and attack the Ruhr.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Operation Market Garden was launched on 17th September – paratroopers were dropped in the Netherlands to secure key bridges/towns along where the Allies would advance.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">British landed forces quickly met resistance from the Germans. After nine days of fighting, the British airborne forces withdrew, sustaining heavy casualties.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Allies were unable to advance further, and the front line stabilised soth of Arnhem.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Severe lack of communication
 * oRadios only worked over 3 miles, and the British forces were spread over 8.
 * oCommanders failed to communicate with each other well
 * Maps of the Arnhem region were inaccurate
 * German tactical awareness and speed of organisation.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Arnhem was a victory for the Germans, and a major defeat for the British.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Germans counter-attacked in October, but were repulsed. Consequently, the front line in the Netherlands was stabilised until after the winter.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Battle of the Bulge
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">When: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Started on December 16th 1944 <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Nazi Germany and the Allies (Britain, France and America mainly) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where: Densely forested Ardennes region (Belgium, France and Luxemburg) on the Western Front <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">What: <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Also known as the Ardennes Offensive; the initial attack created a bulge in Allied front line (hence the name)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">A major German offensive campaign – Hitler planned a massive attack that used three armies on the allies. On paper, the attack was absurd.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The attack was planned with the upmost secrecy. The attack managed to completely surprise the allies due to Allied overconfidence, preoccupation of offensive planning and poor aerial reconnaissance. Furthermore, the Germans attacked a weak part of the Allied line, and an overcasting of fog prevented the Allies from using their superior air force on German tanks.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The surprise caught the Allies completely off guard and became the battle with the highest casualties for the United States, whose forces took the majority of the attack.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">However, fierce resistance in the North and the South hindered the attack, and the terrain favoured the defenders. As a result, the Germans were behind schedule, allowing the Allies time to reinforce troops.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once the weather cleared, the air force of the Allies was employed, attacking German forces and supply lines. This sealed the failure of the offensive.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Germany had the goal to split the British and American Allied line in half, and then to encircle and destroy four allied armies, forcing the Allied armies to sign a peace treaty that would favour Germany. Thereafter, Hitler could focus entirely on the Eastern front with Russia.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aftermath:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">USA lost somewhere from 70,000-108,000 soldiers.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Following the battle, the Allies had the upper hand and pressed their advantage.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The German losses were very significant; the last of the German reserves were now gone, the Luftwaffe had been shattered and the remaining German forces in the West were being pushed back to the defences of the Siegfired Line.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">"The Ardennes battle drives home the lesson that a large-scale offensive by massed armour has no hope of success against an enemy who enjoys supreme command of the air. Our precious reserves had been expended, and nothing was available to ward off the impending catastrophe in the east." – German General von Mellenthin.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Battle of Berlin
<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">When: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Starting on 12 January 1945, battle lasted 20 April until 2 May. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The Red Army (Russia), Germany <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Overrun German front, then towards Berlin. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">What:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">On the 12th January 1945, the Red Army breached the German front (Vistula-Oder offensive) and quickly advanced towards Berlin.
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Germany || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Russia ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Soldiers || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">1,000,000 || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">2,500,000 ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Artillery || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">10,400 || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">41,600 ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tanks || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">1,500 || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">6,250 ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aircraft || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">3,300 || <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">7,500 ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Russian fighting force completely outnumbered the Germans. The fear of the Russians in Germany was so strong that the old and the young were put on the front line to defend. 45,000 defenders were either old age pensioners or children.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">With such a huge advantage, getting to the capital was easy for the Russians, as they were constantly advancing, while Germany was on the back foot. However, they knew the battle for the actual [[image:http://www.ushmm.org/lcmedia/map/lc/image/ber99060.gif align="left"]]city would prove more difficult
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Over 2 million artillery shells were fired into Berlin and the surrounding area in three weeks.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">German defences were depleted, badly equipped and disorganised.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Close quarters combat raged.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Russian tanks did little in the Berlin streets. Also, Germans used hit and run tactics, equipped with anti-tank weapons. Casualties were high on both sides. However, the city could not last long, and on May 2nd 1945 Berlin surrendered and the war in Europe was over.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Before the battle was over, Adolt Hitler and a number of his followers commited suicide.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aftermath:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Russians lost 80,000 men and 275,000 wounded or missing. 150,000 Germans were killed during the battle.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Zhukov (Russian military leader) suffered high casualties because Stalin insisted he race towards the capitol, rather than executing a planned campaign. One theory is that Stalin wanted to beat the Allies to Berlin. Furthermore, it is believed that Stalin was desperate to get his secret police into Berlin to discover documents about Germany’s nuclear research programme.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Guadalcanal Campaign (Naval, air and land)
<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">When: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> August 1942-February 1943 <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Island of Guadalcanal in the pacific (Solomon Islands). <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> United States & Pacific Allies, Japanese Empire. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">What (mostly land):
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Allied first major offensive in the pacific – 6,000 U.S Marines landed on 7 August 1942 on Guadalcanal to seize a nearly complete airfield. They seized the airfield, surprising the 2,000 Japanese.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Both sides then began reinforcements by sea, and a lengthy struggle followed while fighting between the two continued in the island’s jungles.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The US air force was effective at hindering the Japanese effort to build and maintain ground forces.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Climate was miserable. The US had superior ground firepower, were determined and well trained. They exposed the weakness of the Japanese ground combat. The Japanese were unable to retake the airfireld.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">At sea, naval battles were fought as both sides sought to land naval reinforcements.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Both sides suffered high losses in ships and aircraft, but the US was able to replace and replenish their forces, while the Japanese were not.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">By November, the US were able to land reinforcement on the island faster than the Japanese. By February 1943, badly outnumbered, the Japanese were forced to evacuate.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aftermath:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The campaign consolidated on the foundation laid a few months earlier in the Battle of Midway, which had brought Japan’s Pacific offensive to a halt.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">After Guadalcanal, the Japanese were forced into a long and costly retreat.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The battle marked a turning point in favour of the Allies in the Pacific War.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Battle of Iwo Jima
<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">When: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 19 February – 26 March 1945 <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> United States, Japanese Empire <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Island of Iwo Jima in the Pacific <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">What:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Major battle in which the US captured the tactically important island of Iwo Jima. The island had 3 significant airfields which provided a staging area for attacks on the Japanese main islands.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Japanese positions on the island were heavily fortified. However, the US had naval artillery at their disposal and maintained complete air supremacy from the onset of the battle. These two assets of the US war machine were able to deal damage onto the Japanese troops.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The island was ‘softened up’ for two months before the actual amphibious assault.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Japanese defended with no thought to surrender. They vowed to fight to the death. However, the Americans possessed an overwhelming superiority in power and numbers
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The landings commenced on February 19th, 1945. The Marines took heavy casualties, as the bombing had proven ineffective – only giving Japanese more ‘hiding-holes’ for snipers (big artillery holes everywhere) and US movement was slowed due to uneven terrain.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The US met fanatical Japanese resistance. They advanced slowly due to the tenacity of the defenders. However, by March 16th, the Island was declared secure and all resistance had ceased by the 26th.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aftermath:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bloody fighting and severe casualties on both sides – marines lost 6,891 men/18,070 wounded. Of 22,000 Japanese, only 212 were take prisoner.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Significantly, the battle showed how determined the Japanese were to defend their country. The battle influenced the decision made to drop the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The airfields that the US obtained on the island provided them with an area to stage attacks on the Japanese main islands.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Battle of Okinawa
<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">When: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">April until mid-June 1945 <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Pacific theatre, Ryukyu islands of Okinawa near Japan <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The US (Allies) and the Japanese <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">What:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Largest amphibious assault in the Pacific war of WW2.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">After a long pacific campaign in which small islands were taken, the Allies were approaching Japan and wanted to capture the island of Okinawa to use as a base for air operations on the invasion of the Japanese homeland.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The invasion of Okinawa was supported by naval, amphibious and tactical air forces.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kamikaze attacks were being experiences by the American navy anchored off of Okinawa. Many of these kamikaze planes were destroyed, but those that got through did significant damage.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The first landing of marines took place of April 1st. At first, they met little resistance.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The real battle was in the south of the island. On 4th April US troops ran into the Machinato line, which was not breached until April 24th. They then ran into other lines of defence (the Shuri Line) which further slowed the US advance.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Together with the success of kamikazes, US forces experienced heavy losses.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fighting continued in May. It became obvious in June that the Japanese had lost the fight, and it was only on July 2nd that Okinawa was declared secure.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aftermath:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heavy toll on both sides. The Japanese lost 107,000 while the Allies suffered more than 65,000 casualties of all kinds.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">US also lost 36 ships, and 368 ships were damaged. 763 aircraft were destroyed.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Over 4,000 Japanese aircraft were destroyed.

=<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 28px;">Military Technology WW2: =

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Germany’s initial progress in WW2 early days was very successful <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Early days of WW2 were much more successful for Germans than the Great War <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Modern weaponry grew even more destructive than it had been in WW1 <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Major difference of both wars was the speed and decisiveness of battles <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Rapid and decisiveness relied on technological developments and industry productions <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Tanks and air warfare very key in the rapidness of battles

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Major Areas of Innovation:
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Weaponry: vehicles, artillery, rocketry, small arms; and biological, chemical, and atomic weapons <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Logistical support: vehicles necessary for transporting soldiers and supplies, such as trains, trucks, ships, and aircraft <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Communications and intelligence: devices used for navigation, communication, remote sensing, and espionage <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Medicine: surgical innovations, chemical medicines, and techniques <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Industry: the technologies employed at factories and production/distribution centres

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Inter-War Period:
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- War technology used in WW2 was mostly developed during the late 1920s and early 1930s as part of the arms race leading up to the war <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Both Germany and Russia were dissatisfied with peace arrangements and assisted each other in military training and development <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- (such as training soldiers on each other’s lands to skirt the ToV limitations) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Offering mutual training programs for future pilots of the Luftwaffe and tank piloting <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Air power was a major concern of Germany and Britain <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Britain sold hundreds of airplanes to German firms - which used them in a first generation of aircraft, and then improved on them much for use in German aircraft

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tanks:
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Were used in WW1 but arguably more relied on in WW2, as the tank wasn’t actually invented until the later days of WW1 <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Produced by British in WW1 <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Produced by British, American, Russian, German <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Innovated for WW2 to improve: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Armament <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Control Systems <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Reliability (whether they would break down or not) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Distance travelled <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Best tanks of all countries involved were Germans and Russians. All of Germany’s tanks were very effective, but Russia had one particular model of tank that was also very effective. <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Tanks were useful because they could easily overcome ground obstacles like trenches and fixed encampments

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rockets/Missiles:
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Were invented prior to WW2 but were innovated upon during the late 1920s <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- German missiles most effective <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- One specific model of rocket, the V2, built for WW2 was so superior, its design wasn’t surpassed for decades and was used as a basis of the Soviet and American rockets during the Space Race (1950s-1960s)

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rifles:
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- All countries involved had different specialities of weapons <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Rifles and powerful handguns were common throughout most nation’s arsenal <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Rifles used: <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Bolt-Action Rifles <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Sniper rifles <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Sub-Machine Guns <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Semi-Automatic <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Assault Rifles (developed by Germans and were a notable innovation)

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Changes between Wars:
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- WW1’s weaponry area was dominated by machines guns and artillery shells <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Tanks and airplanes were heavily developed between the wars and were relied upon much more in the second war. This was because they could cover a lot more ground than infantry men and could carry large weapons. <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- WW2’s most common area of weaponry was favouring non-infantry roles such as more of a reliance on aircrafts, tanks and bombers. <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">- German and Axis powers initially dominated WW2 because of superior tactics and weaponry, whereas in WW1, the German and Central Powers forces overestimated their weaponry’s effectiveness and their tactical speed