World War II in North Africa, Mediterranean and The Pacific After Battle of Britain Carving Up Eastern Europe Trouble for Greece And Then They Fell

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1 World War II in North Africa, Mediterranean and The Pacific After Battle of Britain Things got increasingly bad for the Allies Looked as though Nazi s would be taking over very soon Luftwaffe was still attacking on multiple fronts Trade routes under increasing pressure (UK relied on food and arms coming from Americas and Dominions) German submarines were operating from based close to England Germans had upper hand in battle of the Atlantic Carving Up Eastern Europe August 1940, USSR took over Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and sections of Rumania Hitler occupied in West. Hitler gained cooperation of Hungary and Bulgaria by letting them take a part of what was left of Rumania Then gave guarantee to Romania that the rest of her territory would be protected 27 Sept. 1940; Germ., Japan, and Italy signed Tripartite Pact Promised to support each other if either of them attacked by new enemy Germ. and Japan thinking of USA Hungary, Slovakia and Romania joined for protection against USSR Bulgaria joined in March 1941 Trouble for Greece Mussolini invaded Greece, Oct Failed as Italians quickly forced back into Albania Greeks also called for aid from British Brit. sent aircraft and occupied Crete Hitler saw this as threat to Romanian oil supply Decided to take out Greece and push out the Brits Needed to control roads in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia to finish Greece Yugoslav gov t agreed to back Germ. Resulted in overthrow in revolt by air force and some army leaders Hitler decided to attack Greece and Yugoslavia at same time Launched on 6 April And Then They Fell Yugoslav troops surrendered on 16 April Belgrade bombed Exacerbated as nearby towns and villages had emptied out into the capital city to celebrate Palm Sunday Brutal attack resulted in death of 17,000 civilians Yugoslavia's airfields were also bombed, destroying most of its 600 aircraft Resistance groups kept going however 24 divisions and 1,200 tanks drive into Greece Allies (mostly Australian and New Zealand) outnumbered and outgunned Greek Army surrendered 20 April made a devastating air attack on Piraeus (Athens's port) Evacuation of 50,000 troops began 24 April (took 5 nights to complete) Athens fell to Germans on 27 April Crete was attacked beginning 20 May Germans used paratroopers; suffered heavy losses in allied troop attacks Allied troops overwhelmed and 15,000 were evacuated 1

2 ,000 allied troops became German POW s Crete captured on 2 June The Pacific Situation in USA Still isolationist Let Europeans fight amongst themselves Roosevelt running for election had to tread carefully However, fall of France shocked Americans Gov t sent aid to Brit. in form of 50 old destroyers in exchange for rent-free naval bases in British colonies Roosevelt elected for 3 rd term in Nov March 1941 Congress passed the Lend Lease Act Gave president power to lend or lease materials to any country whose defence the President deems vital to the defence of the U.S.A.. Stipulated that American ships couldn t enter combat zones Most of aid meant for Britain Billions of dollars in materials shipped to Europe 1 billion dollar credit was also extended to USSR Japan Biggest threat to America at time 1941, occupied French Indo-China Bases in South East Asia threatened Western Imperial holdings Dutch East Indies, British Malaya and Burma, and American Philippines Roosevelt froze all Japanese cash and property in US General Hideki Tojo became Japanese PM, and prepared for war Already had a large army, and powerful modern navy Signed non-aggression pact with Russia April 1941 Pearl Harbour 7 Dec b/w 6:00 and 7:15, 360 aircraft launched from 6 carriers 440km north of Pearl Harbour 7:55, first wave of dive bombers and torpedo bombers attacked American fleet 8:40, second wave hit; all over by 10:00 Of 8 American Battleships 4 destroyed, 4 severely damages 10 other ships sunk, or out of action 188 planes destroyed, another 159 damaged 2,403 Americans killed, 1,178 injured Only American carriers escaped (out to sea at time) Japan only lost 29 aircraft 8 Dec., USA and Brit. declared war on Japan Joined by Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Cuba, Guatemala and Panama 11 Dec., Germany and Italy declared war on USA At Same Time 8 Dec. Japan; Bombed American positions in Philippines 2

3 Attacked British in Hong Kong by land and air Invaded Thailand in prep. for invasion of British Malaya and Singapore (naval base) 10 Dec. Japanese aircraft attacked Brit. Warships traveling to intercept troop transports 2 battleships sunk (Prince of Wales and Repulse) Japan invaded Burma in mid-dec. Battle of Hong Kong Dec. 8; Japanese attacked using heavy artillery 2 Brit. relief ships sunk Invasion took place at nightfall, 17 Dec. strength of invasion quickly overwhelmed defenders Defenders gave heavy resistance but were outnumbered Dec. 18, Japanese executed, 20 gunners despite the fact that they surrendered Many other executions followed in captured areas soldiers, medical staff Fell on 25 Dec., 3:15pm 12,000 prisoners Takeover Continues 6 Jan. 1942, Dutch East Indies fell Japan pushed through Malaya into Singapore Attacked naval base 8 Feb. Surrendered a week later By first week of March 110,000 Dutch East Indies troops had surrendered 6 May, USA abandoned Philippines Lost 110,000 Filipino and 30,000 American troops Japan finally had the empire they had been dreaming of North Africa Italy Gets into the Game Mussolini declared war on Brit. And Fr., 10 June 1940 Felt war was almost over convinced by German victories in May and June Churchill stated, People who go to Italy to look at ruins won t have to go so far as Naples or Pompeii again. Italy in reality was not ready for war Almost no anti-aircraft guns Only enough fuel for 7 months Running short on rubber, coal and steel Army of 800,000 men was poorly equipped and led Good Start Evaporates Quickly August saw Italian troops take over British Somaliland British forces too small to resist much Pushed on to take Egypt Should have been easy (had a force of 240,000), but made slow progress Italians made began to attack the smaller British force (36,000) from Libya Stopped in their tracks and forced to retreat In 2 days the British took 38,000 prisoners; sustained only 624 casualties British forces were in Egypt protecting access to Suez Canal 3

4 More Bad News Nov British attacked Italian naval fleet at Taranto Torpedo bombers from aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious crippled fleet 3 of 6 Italian battleships severely damages, 1 sunk Only 2 torpedo bombers shot down Jan Haile Selassie returned to Abyssinia and led successful uprising against Italians Feb ,000 Italian troops captured by British Send in the Desert Fox Hitler sent General Rommel to North Africa with a light armoured division in late Feb Another 100,000 Italian prisoners had been taken by time he reached Libya Rommel was a master in tank warfare Respected by his troops and enemies for his abilities Known for being humane and professional Ignored orders to kill Jewish prisoners, civilians and captured commandos Led the Afrika Korps never accused of war crimes, and soldiers captured during his Africa campaign were reported to have been treated humanely Rommel Turns Tide March 1941 Rommel s Afrika Korps drove British out of Libya By May 1941, British had been pushed back into Egypt Only kept control of Tobruk; looked doubtful they would keep it June 1941, Operation Battleaxe was initiated by the British to aid Tobruk Commanded by General Wavell Wasn t ready to take offensive British offensive was halted at Halfaya Pass Heavily defeated Wavell was replaced by General Auchinleck Toing and Froing Gen. Auchinleck launched offensive to aid Tobruk, 18 Nov Operation Crusader Afrika Korps fell back; Tobruk relieved on 7 Dec. First Brit. victory over Germans of war Rommel reorganized and began another offensive, stopped at Gazala May 1942 Battle of Gazala Rommel was outmanned and outgunned British 8 th Army had 100,000 troops and 843 tanks; Rommel had 90,000 troops and 560 tanks Despite perception Afrika Korps were not elite troops (they were regular Wehrmacht troops, nor did they have any special training June 1942, Tobruk fell in 1day (35,000 prisoners taken by a force of 30,000) 80,000 Brit. Prisoners by end of June Allied forces were pushed back to El Alamein 4

5 Less than 100km from Alexandria El Alamein Rommel attacked in July 1942 Attacked slowed because he ran out of supplies (most importantly fuel) North Africa wasn t high on Hitler s priorities, and supplies were being poured into Russia at time Supply lines further damages by attacks from the Special Air Service and Long Range Desert Group Bernard Montgomery was put in charge of British 8 th Army (the Desert Rats) By Oct. 1942, Monty had consolidated his forces Monty had 230,000 men and 1400 tanks Rommel had 80,000 men and 500 tanks "The battle which is about to begin will be one of the most important battles in history. It will be the turning point of the war." - Montgomery Battle of El Alamein Began 23 Oct. 1942, with a massive barrage by 800 artillery of the German lines During barrage, Brit. infantry attacked Rommel forced to retreat Monty never let up to give Rommel time to regroup Wasn t one sided however Many Brit. tanks were picked off by German artillery gun Result of traffic jam of tanks trying to get through area cleared of mines Overwhelming # of Brit. tanks is what tipped balance to allies Australian troops attacked German s by Mediterranean Forced Rommel to move tanks north (ferocious fighting where Rommel commented on the rivers of blood ) Brit. And New Zealand troops then made attack from south 75% of the Brit. 9th Brigade was lost to German artillery picking them off 2 Nov. 1942, Hitler ordered Afrika Korps to fight to the last man 4 Nov. Rommel began his retreat End of War in North Africa 8 Nov. Anglo-American joint landings in Algeria and Morocco (both held by Vichy armies) Drove through defenders; Vichy troops surrendered Made Hitler angry and resulted in German occupation of Vichy France Rommel s forces were now sandwiched, and pushed into Tunisia attack by Allied artillery, aircraft, infantry, and tanks was launched on the two-mile front of the Medjerda (Majardah) Valley Germans line of retreat severed by an armoured division May 13 Remainder of Afrika Korps surrendered Rommel was flown out of Africa, Hitler refused to evac. Troops 250,000 prisoners taken, including 125,000 German troops May 1943 war in North Africa was over Exposed southern Italy to invasion 5