Transcript 18: WW II: Global War

Lesson 19
WW II -- Global War, Global Strategy
Lesson Objectives
• Be able to recount the chains of events in the 1930's
that led to the opening of hostilities in Europe and Asia .
• Understand the genesis and significant features of the
strategies of each major combatant:
• Germany and Japan
• Britain, France, Soviet Union, U.S.
• Be able to recount and discuss the major events in
World War II through the end of 1941.
• Understand the role of the advances in military
technology since the end of The Great War on the events
of the first two years of World War II.
Events
September 1, 1939
Germany invades Poland
September 3, 1939
Britain, France declare war on Germany
“Phony war” begins
April 9, 1940
Germany invades Denmark & Norway
May 10, 1940
Germany invades Belgium, Netherlands,
Luxembourg
May 27-29, 1940
Evacuation of Dunkirk
June 4-22, 1940
Battle of France
June 22, 1940
France Surrenders
Britain Stands Alone
“Very well, Alone!”
Events
September 27, 1940
Axis Tripartite Pact
Meanwhile ….
In the Western Pacific
Japan had been at war with
China since 1931
Japanese Expansion
Empire of Japan - 1910
Conquest of Korea
1910
Second Sino-Japanese War
1937 - 1945
Japan had been at war with China since 1931
Conquest of Manchuria
September 1931
Second Sino-Japanese War
1937 - 1945
Japan had been t war with China since 1931
Japanese Conquest
1937-1941
Nanking Massacre
December 1937
“The Rape of Nanking”
Over 300,000 people butchered
Background
Yangtze River Patrol
US Navy had a presence on Yangtze River 1856-1941
• Fallout from the “Unequal Treaties” negotiated by Western
powers after the Opium Wars (1839-1842 & 1856-1860)
Yangtze Patrol began 1922 as part of US Asiatic Squadron
• Protected US interests (shipping) along the river
Attack on USS Panay
December 12, 1937
USS Panay sinking - 12 Dec 1937
Attack on USS Panay
December 12, 1937
2:15
:
Preliminary Events
Attack on Ship
Sinking of Ship
Thesis
The grand scope of World War II was
determined by a battle you never heard of
fought before the war in Europe began.
Japan’s Next Step
After China
Two factions in Japanese government
• “Northern” Faction (Northern Strike Group)
• Led by Army
• Favored move north into USSR
• “Southern” Faction (Southern Strike Group)
• Led by Navy
• Favored move south into Dutch East Indies
Events
July-August 1939
Battle of Khalkin Gol (Nomonhan)
The most significant battle you’ve never heard
of!
A
Events
July-August 1939
Battle of Khalkin Gol (Nomonhan)
Soviet victory
Significance:
• Japan abandoned northern strategy
• Turned south
• Set up confrontation with US
• USSR able to divert resources
toward the west and Germany
• Established Gen. Georgi Zhukov
as armor commander
Reader’s Companion to Military History: Khalkin Gol
Japan’s Path to War
Increase in Militarism in Japanese society
( 5:50 )
Events
July-August 1939
Battle of Khalkin Gol (Nomonhan)
September 1, 1939
Germany Invades Poland
A
A World in Turmoil
Arthur Szyk, 1941
Japan’s Path to War
Increase in Militarism in Japanese society
US moves Pacific Fleet to Hawaii (May 1940)
Great East-Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere declared (Aug 1940)
Move into northern French Indochina (Sep 1940)
Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis formed (Tripartite Pact, Sep 1940)
US embargos iron & steel exports to Japan (Sep 1940)
Vichy government accedes to Japanese request for bases in
southern Indochina (July 1941)
Japan Occupies
Indochina
Japan’sSouthern
Oil Lifeline
1941
Cam Ranh Bay
(major fleet anchorage)
.
Japan’s Path to War
Increase in Militarism in Japanese society
US moves Pacific Fleet to Hawaii (May 1940)
Great East-Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere declared (Aug 1940)
Move into northern French Indochina (Sep 1940)
Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis formed (Tripartite Pact, Sep 1940)
US embargos iron & steel exports to Japan (Sep 1940)
Vichy government accedes to Japanese request for bases in
southern Indochina (July 1941)
US embargos shipments of oil to Japan (Aug 1941)
Japan’s Decision for War
Japan’s Objective: Preeminence in Asia
“Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”
Shortage of oil was the key to Japan's Grand Strategy
Major consideration in preparing for war, yet
Key reason for going to war
Japan’s Decision for War
By 1940,
War in China had been dragging on for three years
Growing size of Japanese military was draining scare resources
Defeat at Khalkin Gol (1939) had discourage expansion into Siberia
Japan saw a move to the south as its only option
Would need to occupy, exploit Southeast Asia and East Indies
Fall of Netherlands, France in May-June 1940 provided opportunity
Planning for war with western powers began Summer 1940
Realized this might force confrontation with US
Japan’s Decision for War
Considered possibility of not going to war with US
Initially believed:
• War in Europe favored Japan’s position
• Germany would never invade England , and
• US would not focus on Japan with European war in doubt
Finally convinced themselves US would go to war if they went south
Japan’s Decision for War
Japanese Strategy
• Neutralize US Pacific fleet and threats from the Philippines
• Establish defensive perimeter
• Use new resources to build capability to defend indefinitely
Felt US would be unwilling to pay cost of overcoming these defenses
Felt US would compromise, allow Japan the dominant position in Asia
Japan’s Decision for War
Decision:
Decisive preemptive attack on US Pacific fleet
Based on expectation that US would rather negotiate than fight
• Did not seek total defeat of US
• Had no intention of invading
• Planned to fight a war of limited objectives
(Slide 4)
Having secured objectives, Japan would set up a defense in depth
Felt US would negotiate rather than fight a long, costly war
Japan’s Decision for War
Calculated Risk or Risky Calculation?
Japanese Rationale
Convinced by trade embargoes US was dedicated to thwarting Japan
Felt Japan had no future without preeminence in Asia (PM Tojo et al)
• Preeminence required going to war for resources
• Japan needed to go to war while it still had the power (oil)
• Believed defeat would be better than “humiliation and submission”
Decision to go to war made July 2, 1941 by an Imperial Conference
Japan’s Decision for War
Calculated Risk or Risky Calculation?
Japanese Miscalculations
Did not anticipate US reaction to Pearl Harbor attack
Assumed US would accept Japan’s limited war objectives
Assumed they could keep the war limited
One man’s limited war may
be another man’s total war
Japan’s Road to War
Japan and the Quest for Oil
( 9:50 – 19:38 )
Pearl Harbor
October 1941
Planning for attack began in January 1941
under Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Story Behind the Movie
Events
December 7, 1941
US Pacific Fleet attacked at Pearl Harbor
Japanese Decision to War
Calculated risk?
or
Risky calculation?
Instruments of National Power
Diplomacy
Information
Military
Economic Power
Resolve
What did the Japanese miss?
Instruments of National Power
Economic Power
Allied and Axis GDP
http://www.onwar.com/articles/f0302.htm
Economic Power
Wikipedia
Instruments of National Power
Diplomacy
Information
Military
Economic Power
Resolve
What else did the Japanese miss?
Instruments of National Power
Diplomacy
Information
Military
Resolve
Economic Power
Resolve
What else did the Japanese miss?
Japanese Decision to War
"One can search military history in vain for
an operation more fatal to the aggressor."
Samuel Eliot Morison,
History of United States Naval Operations in World
War II, Vol. III, The Rising Sun in the Pacific
To be continued …
Lesson 20
WW II – 1940: Battle of Britain
Lesson Objectives
• Be able to describe and analyze the German strategy in
the Battle of Britain.
• Describe the impact of new technology on the Battle of
Britain.
• Begin to understand the implications of strategic air
warfare in World War II.
End