Lesson 19

WW II -- End of the War in Europe

Lesson Objectives

• Describe and analyze the logistics issues that defined the Allied thrust through France and into Germany.

• Describe and analyze the political issues that defined the Allied thrust through France and into Germany.

• Describe the differences in the operational strategies of Patton and Montgomery.

• Analyze Operation Market Garden, comparing its objectives with its outcomes.

• Describe the major events leading to the end of the war in Europe.

Loose End

The Landing

“You will enter the continent of Europe … “

June 6, 1944

BBC: World War Two

Battle for Normandy

Capturing the Cherbourg Peninsular

BBC: World War Two

Port of Cherbourg heavily damaged by Germans

Battle for Normandy

The Battle in the Hedgerows

BBC: World War Two

Battle for Normandy

Use of heavy bombers to support ground forces

BBC: World War Two

The Breakout: Operation Cobra

Battle for Normandy

Germans counter attack August 6th

BBC: World War Two

The Falaise Pocket

Allies reply with massive air strikes, ground thrust from north

Liberation of Paris

BBC: World War Two

Allies closed Falaise Gap August 17th

Germans lost 10,000 killed, 50,000 captured; Allies lost 6,000

Liberation of ParisAugust 25, 1944

Liberation of ParisAugust 25, 1944

German POWs n Paris

Liberation of ParisAugust 25, 1944

BBC News

Charles de Gaulle on the Champs Elysees.

Campaign in NW Europe

A Case Study in Military Logistics

Attacking GermanyThe Plan

British 21st AG - Montgomery

US Third - Patton

US First - Hodges

US 12th AG - Bradley

US Seventh– Patch

Attacking GermanyThe First Problem: Logistics

Only Ports

September 1944

Logistics Challenges

Only operational ports: Cherbourg & Normandy beaches

Supply lines stretched over hundreds of miles

• Not enough trucks to fill pipeline and provide needed supplies

Units in combat required huge amounts of material

• One division in combat required 700-750 tons/day

• Average of 28 divisions north of the Seine after Paris liberated

Problem: How to deliver the goods with the trucks available?

Red Ball Express

Convoy System to expedite delivery of supplies

Solution: Change the Process

Red Ball Express

Used two, one-way highways restricted to military vehicles only

Red Ball Express

Other innovations:

• En route maintenance points

• Remove the governors from the trucks

Operated August – November 1944

(Port of Antwerp opened)

Historivia

What is this?

Historivia

Jerry CansGerman soldiers, Russia, 1941

HistoriviaJerry Cans

Original German

Early British Container“The Flimsy”

U.S. Version

Historivia

U.S. Jerry Cans By the ThousandsRed Ball Express, France, 1944

Attacking GermanyProblem: Who gets the supplies?

British - Montgomery

US - Patton

Montgomery & PattonMonty & George

VideoThe Prize: Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power

Part 4: War & Oil

The Battle for Gasoline

"The Circle of Modern War" and logo© Thomas D. Pilsch 2007-2013

( 38:01 – 42:45 )

The Prize, Part 4: “War & Oil”

Attacking GermanyDefenses

Siegfried Line

Ardennes Forest

Operation Market-Garden

Combined (US-British) attempt to flank the Siegfried Line

• Operation Market: airborne assault to secure bridges

• Operation Garden: ground ops to relieve airborne within 4 days

17–25 September 1944

Operation

Market - Garden

September 17-25, 1944

Air Drop

Arnhem Bridge

“The Bridge Too Far”Video Excerpt

10:49 – 18:06

Market-GardenAfter Thoughts

Underlined the precarious nature of all airborne assaults

Major considerations:Airlift available for initial insertion & resupply

Likelihood of timely relief by ground forces

Intelligence

Availability of fire support (organic or air)

WEATHER

Success = Good Planning & Luck!

Western Europe December 1944

Western EuropeDecember 1944

Average Daily Tonnage Offloaded: Channel Ports: 18,450 Antwerp: 16,600

Battle of the BulgeSituation, December 1944Objective of German Counteroffensive

Primary Objective: Capture port of Antwerp

16 December 1944 – 26 January 1945

Battle of the Bulge16 Dec 44 - 24 Dec 44 - 26 Jan 45

Battle of the Bulge

Newsreel (7:59)

Documentary19:45 – 30:27

Eastern FrontDecember 1944

Fall of Germany

Battle of Berlin

Battle of Berlin

Video (7:38)

German SurrenderMay 7, 1945

Fall of Germany

Timeline

Significant Events in Liberation of Western Europe

6 Jun 44 Operation Overlord, invasion of Western Europe, begins

25 Jul 44 Operation Cobra & breakout from Normandy begins

25 Aug 44 Paris is liberated

17 Sep 44 Operation Market-Garden begins

16 Dec 44 Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes) begins

7 Mar 45 US Forces cross Rhine River at Remagen, Germany

7 May 45 Germany Surrenders

What Mistakes Did Hitler Make?( Beside invading Russia? )

Lesson 20

WW II: The Pacific War

Next:

Lesson Objectives

•  Understand the Japanese and American strategies for the war in the Pacific and Asia.

•  Analyze the impact of the military revolution during the interwar years on the war in the Pacific theater.

•  Become familiar with the timeline of events in the Pacific war.

•  Understand the significance of the Battle of Midway and the role of signals intelligence in the outcome.

End