Sea Power and MaritimeSea Power and Maritime Affairs Affairs

Lesson 5.10: World War II: U.S. Navy in Lesson 5.10: World War II: U.S. Navy in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the

Atlantic, 1938-1945Atlantic, 1938-1945

Enabling ObjectivesEnabling Objectives• Illustrate the absolute priority given to keeping the Illustrate the absolute priority given to keeping the

sea lanes to Britain open and the effect of U.S. sea lanes to Britain open and the effect of U.S. attempts to remain neutral prior to 1941.attempts to remain neutral prior to 1941.

• Understand German U-boat strategy versus Understand German U-boat strategy versus Allied convoy strategy in the Atlantic.Allied convoy strategy in the Atlantic.

• Distinguish the differences between “British War Distinguish the differences between “British War Attrition” versus American Plan for a direct Attrition” versus American Plan for a direct confrontation with Germany.confrontation with Germany.

• Recognize Allied amphibious landings, Operation Recognize Allied amphibious landings, Operation Torch to Operation Overlord, that assisted in Torch to Operation Overlord, that assisted in ending the war in Europe.ending the war in Europe.

Fascism Spreads in EuropeFascism Spreads in Europe

•19321932: Japan invades : Japan invades ManchuriaManchuria•19331933: Adolf Hitler and : Adolf Hitler and Nazi Third Reich replaces Nazi Third Reich replaces Weimar Republic.Weimar Republic.•19351935: Italy invades : Italy invades EthiopiaEthiopia•19371937: Japan renews war : Japan renews war with China.with China. Adolf Hitler and Benito Adolf Hitler and Benito

Mussolini during Hitler's Mussolini during Hitler's visit to Venice from 14–16 visit to Venice from 14–16 June 1934.June 1934.

““Peace In Our Time”Peace In Our Time”

• March 1938March 1938: Germany : Germany annexes Austria.annexes Austria.

• Sep 1938Sep 1938: Munich Crisis: Munich Crisis

• March 1939March 1939: Germany : Germany occupies Czechoslovakiaoccupies Czechoslovakia

• April 1939 April 1939 Italy occupies Italy occupies AlbaniaAlbania

Prime Minister Neville ChamberlainPrime Minister Neville Chamberlain

1 Sep 1939: Germany Invades 1 Sep 1939: Germany Invades PolandPoland

War in EuropeWar in Europe• April 1940April 1940

– Germany invades Denmark/NorwayGermany invades Denmark/Norway• May 1940May 1940

– Germany invades Netherlands, Germany invades Netherlands, Belgium, and FranceBelgium, and France

• June 1940June 1940– France Falls to HitlerFrance Falls to Hitler– Soviet Union annexes Baltic StatesSoviet Union annexes Baltic States– Soviet Union invades FinlandSoviet Union invades Finland

• Summer 1940Summer 1940– Battle of BritainBattle of Britain

Germany Invades Soviet UnionGermany Invades Soviet Union

•June 1941: June 1941: Operation Operation BarbarossaBarbarossa•3 million soldiers3 million soldiers•3580 tanks3580 tanks•7184 artillery guns 7184 artillery guns •1830 planes  1830 planes  •750,000 horses 750,000 horses •Winter in Russia…Winter in Russia…

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Prime Minister Winston ChurchillPrime Minister Winston Churchill“We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be.

We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!” - 4 June 1940

Enlisting American HelpEnlisting American Help

• U.S. neutrality, 1939-1941U.S. neutrality, 1939-1941• March 1941, Germany 1March 1941, Germany 1stst

Strategy.Strategy.• Lend-Lease ProgramLend-Lease Program• U.S. Navy Neutrality Patrols U.S. Navy Neutrality Patrols

in the Atlanticin the Atlantic– Admiral Ernest J. King in Admiral Ernest J. King in

commandcommand– Undeclared naval war in the Undeclared naval war in the

Atlantic against U-boatsAtlantic against U-boats– Destroyers escort convoysDestroyers escort convoys– Anti-submarine patrol aircraft Anti-submarine patrol aircraft

used to locate U-boatsused to locate U-boats

• German U-boats hunt German U-boats hunt allied shipping in wolf allied shipping in wolf packs.packs.

• Very effective when Very effective when based out of France and based out of France and Normandy.Normandy.

• Feb 1941: 500k tons of Feb 1941: 500k tons of UK shipping sunk by U-UK shipping sunk by U-Boats!Boats!

Allied Convoys vs Wolf PacksAllied Convoys vs Wolf Packs

Competing Allied StrategiesCompeting Allied Strategies

• U.S. preferred direct attack U.S. preferred direct attack on Germany through on Germany through western Francewestern France

• Russians desperately want Russians desperately want a second fronta second front

• British preferred a British preferred a peripheral strategyperipheral strategy– Attack Germany’s weak Attack Germany’s weak

underbelly.underbelly.

General George S. PattonGeneral George S. Patton““When we land against the enemy, When we land against the enemy, don't forget to hit him and hit him don't forget to hit him and hit him hard. When we meet the enemy we hard. When we meet the enemy we will kill him. We will show him no will kill him. We will show him no mercy. He has killed thousands of mercy. He has killed thousands of your comrades and he must die. your comrades and he must die. If your company officers in leading If your company officers in leading your men against the enemy find your men against the enemy find him shooting at you and when you him shooting at you and when you get within two hundred yards of him get within two hundred yards of him he wishes to surrender – oh no! he wishes to surrender – oh no! That bastard will die!”That bastard will die!”

Patton SpeechPatton Speech

Operation TorchOperation Torch

• November 1942 – Feb 1943November 1942 – Feb 1943• Western Naval Task ForceWestern Naval Task Force

Operation Husky and Operation Husky and AvalancheAvalanche

July 1943July 1943 September 1943September 1943

Operation Overlord – D DayOperation Overlord – D Day

• Operation Operation OverlordOverlord– 6 June 19446 June 1944– 5,000+ ships5,000+ ships– 150,000 Allied troops150,000 Allied troops

• Paris LiberatedParis Liberated– 25 August 194425 August 1944

War TerminationWar Termination• 12 April 1945 12 April 1945

– FDR dies FDR dies

• 30 Apr 1945 30 Apr 1945 – Hitler commits suicideHitler commits suicide

• 4 May 19454 May 1945– Doenitz, sues for peaceDoenitz, sues for peace

• 7 May 19457 May 1945– General Alfred Jodl signs General Alfred Jodl signs

surrender documentssurrender documents

• Midnight 8 May, 1945 Midnight 8 May, 1945 – War in Europe endsWar in Europe ends

Yalta Conference, 4-11 Feb 1945Yalta Conference, 4-11 Feb 1945

Battle History VideoBattle History Video

1938-19451938-1945- Chapter 2 “Fire and Chapter 2 “Fire and

Water”Water”- Time 34:00 - 40:48. Time 34:00 - 40:48.

Enabling ObjectivesEnabling Objectives• Illustrate the absolute priority given to keeping the Illustrate the absolute priority given to keeping the

sea lanes to Britain open and the effect of U.S. sea lanes to Britain open and the effect of U.S. attempts to remain neutral prior to 1941.attempts to remain neutral prior to 1941.

• Understand German U-boat strategy versus Understand German U-boat strategy versus Allied convoy strategy in the Atlantic.Allied convoy strategy in the Atlantic.

• Distinguish the differences between “British War Distinguish the differences between “British War Attrition” versus American Plan for a direct Attrition” versus American Plan for a direct confrontation with Germany.confrontation with Germany.

• Recognize Allied amphibious landings, Operation Recognize Allied amphibious landings, Operation Torch to Operation Overlord, that assisted in Torch to Operation Overlord, that assisted in ending the war in Europe.ending the war in Europe.

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Questions ?Questions ?

Next time: World War II: The US Navy in Next time: World War II: The US Navy in the Pacific, 1941-1945the Pacific, 1941-1945

Questions?

Official Official Navy PhotoNavy Photo