Defeat of Germany in WWII
entry of the USA into the war
1) initial isolation regarding Europe
1937 : Neutrality Act
Oct 1937 : Public warning to warmongering nations
2) indirect involvement in the war
21 Sep 1939 : 1937 Neutrality Act renewed -> cash & carry policy
"Arsenal of Democracy"
Mar 1941 : Lend Lease Act
1940 : destroyers for bases agreement
29 Dec 1941 : fireside chat on national security
other forms of aid
economic sanctions on the Axis Powers
escort roles
3) USA formally entered WWII
Contribution of vast resources & manpower
7 Dec 1941 : Pearl Harbour attack of Japan on USA
8 Dec 1941 : USA declared war on Japan
11 Dec 1941 : Hitler declared war on USA
collaboration with Allies on military strategies
control of air
control of sea
6 Jun 1944 : D-Day landing on Normandy
The Ghost Army
Germany's weaknesses & miscalculations
ineffective command structure
1940 : Battle of Britain
7 Sep 1940 - 10 May 1941 : The Blitz
22 Jun 1941 : Operation Barbarossa
inappropriate use of resources & military funds
lack of personnel for military production
lack of appropriate weaponry
heavy reliance on petroleum
1943 onwards : German synthetic oil plants &oilfields was heavily bombed by the Allied powers
war on 2 fronts
Operation Barbarossa (east)
Battle of Britain (west)
war with USA (west)
Allied resistance
reorganisation of USSR
12 July 1941 : Anglo-Soviet Agreement + American Lend Lease Act
Stalin's leadership
reorganisation of the Red Army
5 Jul - 23 Aug 1943 : Battle of Kursk
rebuilding military &economic production
British resistance to German invasion
Battle of Britain
resistance movements in Nazi-occupied countries
The Yugoslav
Polish & Soviet resistance movements
Free French Forces