TAKING THE WAR TO

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TAKING THE WAR TO EM
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Battle of the Coral Sea, 7-8 May 1942
Fought in the waters southwest of the Solomon
Islands
Though the Japanese could claim a tactical
victory, it was an operational and strategic
defeat for them.
Japanese intended to capture Port Moresby, on New
Guinea. An air base there would threaten
northeastern Australia. Japanese forced to cancel
Port Moresby invasion. In the fighting the
carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku's were badly damaged
and eliminated from the Midway operation.
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Battle of the Coral Sea, 7-8 May 1942
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Battle of Midway, 4-7 June 1942
Fought over and near U.S. Pacific base at Midway.
Prior to this action, Japan possessed naval
superiority. After Midway, the two opposing
fleets were equals. Japanese tried to draw out
and destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet's aircraft
carrier, which had embarrassed the Japanese Navy
in Doolittle Raid and at Battle of Coral Sea.
The intended surprise was thwarted by
intelligence. This allowed Admiral Chester W.
Nimitz, to establish an ambush by having his
carriers ready and waiting for the Japanese.
Japan lost four irreplaceable fleet carriers,
U.S. lost only one. The base at Midway remained
operational.
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Midway's airfield
Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu
Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu
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Battle of Guadalcanal August 7, 1942 - February
7, 1943 Marked the first significant ground
victory by Allied forces over Japanese forces in
the Pacific theatre. Often referred to as a
"turning point" in the war. Guadalcanal campaign
was costly to Japan both strategically and in
material losses. Japan lost control of the
Solomons Islands and the ability to interdict
Allied shipping to Australia. The greatest single
factor reducing troop effectiveness on
Guadalcanal was disease, particularly malaria.
For every man who became a casualty in combat,
five fell to malaria.
Japan 24,600-25,600 dead (ground), 3,543 dead
(naval), 1,200 dead 38 ships sunk, 683-880
aircraft destroyed
U.S. 1,768 dead (ground), 4,911 dead (naval), 420
dead (aircrew) 29 ships sunk, 615 aircraft
destroyed
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(No Transcript)
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U.S. Marines come ashore on Guadalcanal on August
7, 1942.
The U.S. carrier Wasp burns after being hit by
Japanese submarine torpedoes.
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Dead Japanese soldiers on the sandbar at
Guadalcanal.
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North African Campaign
Strategically important for both the Allies and
the Axis powers. The Allies used the campaign to
open a second front against the Axis powers, and
ease Axis pressure on the Russian front. The
Axis had planned to dominate the Mediterranean
through control of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal
and planned a campaign in North Africa with a
strike to the rich oil fields of the Middle East.
This would have cut off nearby oil supplies to
the Allies, and would have tremendously increased
the oil supplies available for the Axis war
machine.
Libya, November 27, 1941. A British Crusader tank
passes a burning German
Afrika Korps panzers advance during the North
African campaign.
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Erwin Rommel
He was the commander of the Deutsches Afrika
Korps and also became known by the nickname "The
Desert Fox Sent to North Africa in January 1941
to the assistance the Italians, he won the
reputation as a strategist. He took the
initiative in the fight with the British until
the summer of 1942, when the balance of force
shifted decisively in their favor. He made
Montgomery pay a high price for British victory.
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Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery
The hero of North Africa. He was one of the most
inspirational military commanders of World War
II. Montgomery was also the senior British
military commander at D-Day. The defeat of the
Germans at El Alamein, was the first they had
experienced and within North Africa, the Germans
could only retreat and they quit North Africa in
May 1943.
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George Smith Patton
Was a leading U.S. Army general in World War II
in campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, France, and
Germany, 19431945. He soon became famous for his
daring assaults, rapid marches, and use of armor.
He also, however, slapped a hospitalized enlisted
man suffering from shell shock (Patton accused
him of cowardice). His immediate superior, Gen.
Dwight Eisenhower, refused to bow to popular
pressure and dismiss Patton but did order him to
stay quietly in his headquarters in occupied
Sicily. Brilliant field commander, had little
understanding of strategy but could win battles.
Jealous and ambition he was difficult to deal
with, and Eisenhower and Montgomery had their
hands full with him, especially Montgomery, whom
Patton despised.
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Old Blood and Guts
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The Battle of Stalingrad
Fought during the winter of 1942 to 1943. In
September 1942, the Germans Sixth Army advanced
to Stalingrad. Primary task was to secure the oil
fields in the Caucasus and, Hitler ordered the
taking of Stalingrad. The Battle is considered
to have been the turning point in World War II.
The battle bled the German army dry in Russia.
German Sixth Army did not need to fight for
Stanlingrad. They were well on their way to the
Caucasus in south-west Russia, when Hitler
ordered an attack on Stalingrad. Hitler ordered
the taking of Stalingrad simply because of his
hatred of Joseph Stalin. For the same reason
Stalin ordered that the city had to be saved.
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The failure of the German Army was nothing short
of a disaster. A complete army group was lost at
Stalingrad and 91,000 Germans were taken
prisoner.
With such a massive loss of manpower and
equipment, the Germans did not have enough
manpower to stop the Russian advance.
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Scorched Earth Policy
When Germany attacked the Soviet Union in 1941,
Joseph Stalin ordered both soldiers and civilians
to initiate a scorched earth policy to deny the
invaders basic supplies as they moved eastward.
The process was repeated later in the war when
retreating German forces burned or destroyed
farms, buildings, weapons, and food to deprive
Soviet forces of their use.
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In the Atlantic
German sub warfare threatened to destroy the
supply line of ships that was vital to British
resistance. By the spring of 1943 U.S. used
radar, aircraft coverage, sonar, more escorts,
better training, and improved intelligence to
avoid attacks.