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MH-13: Germany Triumph

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WWII: Germany Triumph:Strategic Overview

• WWII=> 1Sept1939 - 2Sept45 (6 years): in Europe:– 50M Killed: 15 M Military and 35M Civilians killed

– 6M Jews exterminated by Nazis

– 25M Russians homeless

• Asia: Sino-Japanese war + famine, disease, war =>– Toll: 10s of millions

– Tokyo fire bombings and Hiroshima => 100K each

• WWII => total war & far beyond all others before it:– War’s Major Participants:

• Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) vs.

• Allied western democracies

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Strategic Continuum? • WWII started in Europe => spread to rest of world;

– Perhaps the best way to view WW2 is as Continuum:• Lasting from 1914 => 1945 - why?

– Political, social, economic impact on Germany: – Did Treaty of Paris really end WWI? – (Reality: WWI ended only in ?____________________)

• In fact=> both WWI & II shared several characteristics:– Tactics & weapons innovations were based on what?

• 1918 WW1 Battle ?____________________ & Lessons ?____________• German ?____________________ tactics of 1918 evolve/refined:

– Applied directly to tactics used for WW2’s Blitz?_____________ =>

• So what is key difference between the two Wars?

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Key Difference Between Two Wars• Unprecedented scale of total war & its destruction

– Extensive integration of each state’s =>• industrial resources & economic capacity

– Every aspect of Nation’s full potential exploited:• Everything dedicated totally to the war effort

• Following 1918 Armistice=> uneasy 20 yr peace followed:– Europe used the time to prepare for war in uneven manner:– In general, winners tend to fall back on their success:

• Military doctrine/strategy based primarily on weapon capabilities:– Simply integrated into old concepts of last war!

– Losers (Germans) study the lessons of why they lost: =>• Made key changes & prepare for next time => focus: improved mobility

• Germany in particular made major changes early on:– Outline the major military advances during1918-39:*

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Military Developments (1918-1939) - Germany

• Germany’s focus of tactical innovation & change?– The ?____________________

• Review & study latter part of WWI=> develop framework– Emphasis: tactical battlefield mobility

• Weapons refinement & its adaptation to mobile warfare:– Tank, Aircraft & their impact on & use in infiltration tactics

• Result: Germany adapts mobile warfare=> Blitzkrieg;– Die Truppenfuhrung – developed German Military Doctrine:

– Doctrine was summary of WWI analysis & Lessons Learned:• Decentralized execution

• Speed & exploitation => initiative

• Integration & coordination of Combat arms

• Leadership from the front

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Blitzkrieg Doctrine

• Who is most responsible for shaping future German Blitzkrieg doctrine?– General Hans von ?____________________

• WWI tactician

– Focused Army on highly mobile offensive operations – why?

• Force structure limits dictated by Armistice settlement– Long defensive campaign not feasible

– Must therefore rely on mobility & surprise

• Basic elements required for tactical success?*

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The Basics of Tactical Success

• Speed – Surprise – and…• Tactics of Maneuver:

?____________________!

Blitzkrieg Tactics

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Germany’s Rearmament• Germany’s rearmament began in 1933:

– Hitler’s role & aggressive foreign policies• Renounced Treaty of Versailles • Hitler’s Grand Strategic Aim?

– More than just a roll back of Treaty of Versailles to pre-1914 borders– Major Change: Greater Germany as articulated in Meine Kamph – So called “Lebensraum” to the East

• Army’s initial reaction to Hitler?– They thought they could control him

– What was their reaction to Hitler’s early aggression?

– ?____________________ at first –Why?*

– Feared ?_________________ expected reaction

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Tactical Refinements Following Poland• Tactical doctrine & conversion to Panzer Divisions• Combined arms doctrine for highly mobile battles

– Indoctrination of German officer corps:• Initiative, flexibility, and aggressive leadership from the front

– All units fought & trained to set doctrine & standards• (But doctrine applied as guide not dogma) – New tactics called?

• ?____________________ => emphasized:– Commander’s intent always considered:– Individual initiative to achieve mission at lower echelons– Mission accomplishment trumps all other considerations

• German command environment & its focus:– Decentralization of unit action & initiative at tactical level– HQ: centralized direction, authority, & coordination at Op level– Stress is on battlefield mobility throughout all levels

• How did rest of Europe’s military development during the interim war period compare?

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Military Developments (1918-1939)- Britain• Strategic attitude of Brits toward war in Europe?

– Avoid wars on ?___________ (ostrich approach)=> isolation• Military attitude toward change?

– ?______ change (early attempts by J.F.C. Fuller & Liddell Hart)– Example: 1932 study on tank employment based on WWI L/L– Action by British Chief of General staff?– ?____________ it- Old traditional ways & tactics prevail – why?

• ?____________________!

• Promotion in British Army based on what?– ?______ & ?_______ standing => impact on innovative thought?– Stifled – Army stuck in tradition & established class structure

• Status of common doctrine or tactical framework?– Combat arms evolved ?_______ in isolation from other branches

• Was British tank study & its Lessons used at all? By who?– ?_________________!

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Military Developments (1918-1939)- France• Key Lesson Learned by French

during WWI?– “back to the future”? (WWI)

– Classic case of fighting the last war!

– Focus: Defensive position warfare

• French strategy to implement this derived lesson of WWI?– ?________________ defense Line & its

strategic purpose?• Connected systems of underground Forts

& strong defensive points

• Protect high value areas & channel attackers into avenues protected by limited French armed forces

• Belgium extended line to north w/Fort system along Albert Canal– Along its eastern border with Holland

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Interwar Military Developments- Key Questions• Key Questions for French military operational & tactical

employment: – 1. How did the French decide to use their tanks?– 2. What was the French doctrine for fighting battles?

• French Tanks: spread available units across entire army:– Not concentrated as a stand alone Armor force– French objective: Defeat themselves in detail?

• French tactical & C2 Doctrine=> static warfare of 1917:– Highly centralized & tightly controlled C2– Battles to be fought by phase lines (in sequence)- ala WWI– HQ calls all the shots=> Problem?– Stifles ?___________, flexibility, & ?___________ at the front

• The very opposite of the German’s tactical doctrine

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Military Developments (1918-1939)- USSR• Following Civil War & Foreign Interventions:

– Priority of government: loyalty to Bolshevik revolution• General Tukhachevskii’s early effort to

form elite force:– 1931: 1st armor divisions created– Large scale parachute operations conducted– Emphasis on increased operational & tactical mobility

• Traditional appeal of conscription to Soviets & its effect– Dampened military’s professionalization

• Stalin’s 1937 purge of military leadership:– Impact of purge on Tukhachevskii’s

reforms & doctrine?• Die with military leaders at the firing squads

– Impact on Russia when Barbarossa launched?• ?___________- Soviets totally ?____________________• Very little effective competent military leadership of flag officer rank

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Military Developments (1918-1939)- U.S.• National Defense Act of 1920s-

– Framework for development of coherent US military force structure– Not implemented when GOP comes to power

• GOP under President Harding takes over Whitehouse: – GOP’s focus: strong domestic economy=> back to “normalcy”

• Impact of “normalcy” on the Defense Budget?– Business thrives while Military Budgets & force structure & equipment ?____

• Impact of the Great Depression of 1930s?– Worsens condition and status of US Army even more– Armed Forces’ relative capability at lowest in our history (3rd rate power)

• Key exception: US military’s education system– Emergence of future military leadership (Marshall & Nimitz)– Major contrast between German & US officer corps?

• Emphasis & expertise in: Tactics & Operational Art versus Strategy & logistics

• Who excels best in what & why is it significant?– German ?____________ & ________________advantage for short war– U.S. ?_______________ & __________________advantage for long war

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Air Warfare- A Summary• RAF’s mission: Strategic Bombing (enemy population)

– Strategic Aim: Devastate enemy’s working class=>

• Who in turn would force their Government to sue for peace

– Key proponent of strategic bombing: Air Marshall Hugh ?_______________

– RAF view of Navy & Army’s future wartime role: need not apply

• US Air Corps: Air power 1st-then=> strategic bombing– Key Difference: target economic nodes vice enemy population

– Key proponent: BG Billy ?_______________

– View of Navy & Army’s future wartime role?

• German Luftwaffe: more balanced air doctrine developed– Experience gained during Spanish Civil War

• Strategic Bombing proved ineffective

• No popular collapse of Spanish population as predicted by theorists

– Therefore: Luftwaffe put emphasis more on CAS to Army

• (In contrast to RAF & US doctrine of strategic bombing)

• Initial CAS problems: lack of C3 to direct A/C to follow-on targets

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Naval Warfare- A Summary

• British: Strategic Priority: Command of the Sea – Big guns & Battleships (Alfred T. Mahan)

– Attitude toward SS threat? (Impact of ASDIC?)

• Germans: same strategic priorities & attitudes (SS threat)– Problem? => Big guns/Battleship match up with British Navy?

– Also a rift with Goring & Luftwaffe hampers air support for Navy

• US Navy: also embrace Mahan’s Command of the Sea– Big guns & Battleships & initially ignores SS threat (initially -no convoys)

– But Billy Mitchell antagonized Navy Brass to develop a Navy Air capability

• Built primarily around Aircraft Carrier (CV)

• Japan: held similar strategic priorities & attitudes as US– Ignored SS threat & aggressively pursued CV Air

• By start of WWI, Japan had world’s best pilots & fighter- the Zero

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World War Two’s Outbreak • Origins of WWII & Hitler’s role:

– Hitler’s strategic vision for 3rd Reich:– Hitler’s strategy: Mein Kampf

• Major historical events leading to War (1933-1939):– Jan 1933: Hitler becomes Chancellor:

• Consolidates power & withdraws from League of Nations

– 1935: conscription & Luftwaffe established

– 1936: remilitarization of Rhineland;• Commences rearmament

– Mar 1938: Anschluss (?)*

Anschluss• Anschluss meant a union of Germany and Austria– Mussolini had initially blocked Hitler’s ambitions in Austria– Hitler tried again in 1938– Now he had better diplomatic relations with Italy• Hitler attempted to take control of Austria– He used propaganda, intimidation, & threats- but all failed• Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg

announced his intent to hold a plebiscite– Aim: Test voters’ real preferences toward

Hitler’s Anschluss on 13 Mar’38– Hitler’s view toward Austria’s

holding plebiscite? * • Hitler knew he would lose any

plebiscite held by wide margin– So instead Hitler invaded Austria on 12

March 1938• Nazi supporters cheered invading German army

• Major strategic significance of Anschluss?– First real indication of ?________ intent toward

expansion in blatant defiance of Versailles Treaty– And… after Anschluss, Czechoslovakia was surrounded

• And with whom France was committed to protect in an alliance!

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Czechoslovakia• Hitler’s motive toward Czechoslovakia (CZ)

– Hitler considered the very existence of CZ an affront to Germany

– Cz was democratic, liberal, & pro-West

– It was explicitly created as check on Germanys potential eastern expansion

– It was also allied with France & USSR (Germany’s arch enemies)

– Finally: 3.5 million ethnic Germans resided in the Sudetenland

• What was Hitler’s ultimate aim toward Cz?* – ?_______________ it

• Britain’s PM’s position on Sudetenland?*– ?__________ Hitler to avoid war at all costs

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Sudetenland- Never Enough!

• Sept 12, 1938: Hitler made a provocative speech– Results in ethnic German riots in Sudetenland– Government of Cz declared martial law

• Hitler’s intervention appeared imminent– Meanwhile Chamberlain pursued appeasement– Traveled to Berchtesgarten & later accepted Hitler’s demand– Sudetenland was to be surrendered to Hitler w/o a fight

• Britain & France then forced Cz government into compliance– The allies even threatened to abandon Czechs if they failed to agree

• In reality they already had as Chamberlain prepared to tell Hitler good news

– Hitler then declared to a stunned Chamberlain the Sudetenland was not enough and demanded immediate German occupation of CZ

• Upon Chamberlain’s return, Britain, France & CZ prepared for war – When Hitler realized the German people were averse to war, he back

away from his harsh rhetoric & indicated his readiness for more talks 20

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Munich Conference & Betrayal• Chamberlain surrendered Sudetenland (w/o a shot fired)- Sep 1938)

– Leaves Czechs completely defenseless against Germany (from West) – This action represented the pinnacle of Appeasement to Hitler

• Upon return from Munich Conference, Chamberlain announced: – “I believe it is peace in our time”– Europeans cheered him as a savior- – Wanted peace- it seemed at any price

• Then in March 1939: Hitler invaded Prague & rest of Cz– Appropriated Czechoslovakia’s $$$ & industrial resources – Blatant attempt to offset Germany’s domestic distress– Churchill was a lone voice against appeasement and until Hitler’s

invasion it was ignored; now he finally started to get through

• West finally reacted & begins to rearm (too little too late)– Chamberlain then rashly guaranteed Poland’s independence

• Then Germany pulled off major coup with Russia (?)– Non ?_______________ Pact of Aug 1939

• Secret agreements for division of Poland

• Allowed Russia to take Baltic states

– Significance: free hand in Poland w/o USSR threat

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Invasion of Poland • German Order of Battle:

– Army Group North (von Bock)– Army Group South (von Rundstedt)

• German Battle Plan & execution– Germans strike simultaneous from

NW & West, and from the SW– Tactical Objective: overwhelm

Polish defenses (and they did)• Poland had limited defense options:

– Forced to spread its army out to defend forward to- which was to Germans’ advantage

• Impact of Blitzkrieg on Poland:– Polish Army HQ completely overwhelmed &

all C2 lost by Sept 7– Soviets then pile on from the East &

the Poles have no where to go• Speed of German conquest of Poland

shocked the allies- but it had only just begun– “Phony war” was conducted through the winter – Germany soon seized Denmark & Norway – USSR took Finland, Estonia, Latvia,& Lithuania

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Invasion of Poland- Results

• Results: German tactical & operational success– Casualties: Poles: 70K KIA, 133K WIA, & 700 POWs

• Germans: 11K KIA, 30K WIA, 3400 MIA

• Germans conducted rigorous After Action Review – (Down to Regiment level):– Lessons Learned & corrections made: – All units then train to meet set standard at all levels

• Reason for German success:– Coherent doctrine & well trained forces w/high morale

• Speed, exploitation, effective combined arms, • decentralized C2, & initiative at lowest level of command• Leadership from the front

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French Campaign • Following the “phony war” in Scandinavia, Hitler turned

Hitler’s gaze turned toward France• Hitler’s political assumptions about allies:

– And especially his assessment of Chamberlain?– “They’re all ?_______________”– Key Assumption: without Britain => France will not fight alone

• Hitler’s grand strategy- Wehrmacht to launch Fall attack:– Seize low countries & Northern France to Somme– Then conduct Air & Naval attacks on Britain if Brits still resist

• Strategic Objective:– Drive Brits out of the war (followed soon after by France)– Hitler wants operations to commence ASAP– OKW caught by surprise without a contingency plan

• Focus until now was on Poland invasion

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Wehrmacht (OKW) Operational Plan • Outflank Maginot Line to north of “impassible”

Ardennes– Bulk of German Army attacks through Holland &

Belgium– Smaller force to negotiate way through Ardennes

• Cross Meuse just to North of Sedan into Eastern France

• Problem: predictable move- why? – Recall von Schlieffen Plan of WWI– NTL OKW still expected tactical surprise– Generals only problem is timing, readiness, & OPSEC

• More time needed to upgrade Army’s readiness & prep• Later- OPSEC compromised (A/C crash exposed plan)

• Critics of plan proposed reversing OKW attack priorities

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Revised Plan• OKW Plan’s Operational Concept

reassessed: – Hitler’s instinct & preference for attack on center– Reinforced by alternative plan proposal

• FM Manstein – (Army Group-A) & General Guderian (XIX) proposed revised plan:– Attack through “impassible”

Ardennes with 3 Panzer Divisions– Then drive across Meuse to NW &

flank French from the South– Advantage: Armored attack

through Ardennes would split allies

• OKH’s initial resistance: Plan is too risky & ambitious – Then Hitler steps in– Plan embraced & significantly expanded

OKW Plan

Revised Plan

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French Plan & the Maginot Line • British & French coordinated strategy

– French to hold Maginot Line (assessment?)• Effectiveness in accomplishing intended objective?• As intended- initially protected most vulnerable & valuable French areas

– Alsace & ?_____________ • Br/Fr combined forces to advance into Belgium (ala 1914)

– Aim: Stop expected German move around allied LF– Few forces stationed along Ardennes (why- assumption?)

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French Operational Concept• France prepared to fight a rigid highly centralized battle

– General Gamelin failed to understand OPTEMPO of mechanized forces

– Worse: deployed his 10th Army (his only Operational reserve) to the North

– Ordered to link up with Belgium forces to protect allied Left Flank

• Significance of this move? Nothing left to plug into ?_____________if attacked

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Operational & Tactical Objectives• Army Group B tasked to fix

French & BEF in the North:– Reinforce Allied assumptions– Prevent allied redeployment to

center when Group A attacks

• Army Group A to conduct main attack once Allies are committed & engaged in the North– Sweep around Allies

& cut them off

• Army Group C hold French along Maginot Line– Work around garrisons when

required & ordered

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Battle of France - Execution 10 May 1940• May 10, 1940: Army Group B’s

18th & 6th Armies attack in North– Focuses allied attention to North (as

planned)– French & British take the bait

• Luftwaffe hits key targets:– Attack Airfields, transportation,

logistics in Holland & all along western route of advance

– Paratroops seize & secure key bridgeheads & choke points

• Attack through Belgium: – Key tactical objective: Eben Emael– Assumed to be impenetrable &

critical to Group B’s advance– Spectacular air assault by glidermen

(SOF) prevails (examine further)

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Eben Emael- Location

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Eben Emael- The Fort

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Eben Emael- the Aircraft

• Large German gliders transported the four assault detachments to their objectives: 3 key bridges & the guns of Fort Eben Emael– Each glider capable of transporting a squadron of 7-8 combat

troops & their equipment

– Engineer platoon of “Granite” was tasked to destroy Eben Emael’s guns

• Stuka Dive bombers provided CAS

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The Main Attack Begins• Shortly after Army Group B

fixed the allied force commitment in the North– Army Group A attacked– 4th & 12th Armies executed

almost exactly as planned– Overcome initial stiff resistance

from French ground & air forces blocking Meuse

• 3 Panzer Corps finally break through– Cross Meuse and drive NW in

giant flanking movement– Key roles played by Reinhardt,

Guderian, & Rommel

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French Response • As German attack advances,

French response is slow, confused, & uncoordinated:– Some French infantry fought

bravely• Slow German attack down

(but can not stop it)

– Many (artillery units) panic • Run after only token resistance

• Allied aircraft strike pontoon bridges across Meuse;– Meet severe resistance

from Luftwaffe

– Both sides suffer high casualties

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Loss of Nerve at the Top• Operations appear to go too smoothly

– Headquarters command staff becomes overly worried

• Kleist orders Guderian too halt:– Concerned left flank potentially exposed

• (Just as Moltke was concerned about whom during start of WW1?)• Von Kluck’s 1st Army getting too far out ahead

– Guderian threatens to resign– Rundstedt approves “reconnaissance in force” advance – German advance continues (HQ element to stay temporarily

put)

• 7 Armor divisions advance along 40 mile corridor– As Guderian & others press Allies back twd English Channel:

• Hitler, OKW, & OKH become panicky once again:• Ordered halt on 23 May:

– Panzers considered strategic force => to be used later to attack SW

• Goring tells Hitler Luftwaffe can handle rest of attack & seals it

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Dunkirk • As BEF (Commanded by General John Gort)

retreat toward the Channel’s coast:– Gen Gort informed London that the BEF may

have to redeploy back to England– Situation becoming more desperate by the hour– London orders Flag Officer Dover (Adm Ramsay)

to prepare to evacuate BEF & issues Warning Order

• Meanwhile French High command seemed almost paralyzed (NO Command & control)– Gen Gamelin is replaced by General Weygand

• But it’s too late & he’s too tired to retrieve situation• (Arrived just in from Syria to virtual chaos)

• Then things get even worse for French– Germans halt as poor weather gives allies valuable

time to establish perimeter for their evacuation– Germans close in to within 1 1/4 mile of coast– Allies withdraw to form pocket around Dunkirk*

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Operation Dynamo • London orders Flag Officer Dover to

execute evacuation from Dunkirk:– Major logistics redeployment challenge– Pull off historic amphibious op in reverse:

• Save 340K Brit & allied troops to include 110K French (2/3 BEF force saved)

• Conducted under heavy fire – – Primarily from Luftwaffe

• RAF flew 2739 aggressive sorties in defense

• French very reluctant to leave:– Desire to conduct counter-attack

• (At least in theory)

– Ground truth dictates otherwise

• Dynamo was successful – even beyond expectations:– But successful evacuations do not win wars

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French Collapse • As disaster compounds disaster =>

– French Premier brings Petain back from Spain • Germans continue rapid advance

– Wehrmacht redeploys Panzer divisions to southwest– Objective: Neutralize remaining French forces

to the South & East• German forces- numerical advantage:

– 119 Divisions (3 Army Groups) vs. • 55 French Divisions

– French belatedly modify tactics => – Show stiff resistance- but too little too late– Rommel (7th Panzer) outfights opponents

• Captures 100K POWs & 277 guns• Defeated French IX Corps & British 51st Div

• Paris falls 14 June 1940– 16 Jun : Petain assumes power of Vichy government – Requests Armistice – begins collaboration with Nazis– Signs surrender in same rail car used by Foch on 11

Nov 1918 to accept Germany’s surrender

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Assessment

• Germans restored tactical mobility to the battlefield– Illustrated impressively by Blitzkrieg– Swift victories in Poland, Norway, France (1939-40)

• German tactical improvement significant:– Based on solid analysis of WWI Lessons Learned– Applied improved weapons technology & tactics (of 1918)

• Developed effective doctrine for mobile warfare:– Based on effective integration & employment combining:

• Infantry, artillery, aircraft, & tanks– Clear & pervasive doctrine throughout all German combat arms

• Common doctrine basic to all branches at the core:– Speed, exploitation, decentralized C2– Aggressive independent leadership from the front;– Initiative with full knowledge of commander’s intent

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Assessment- 2

• Downside also evident:– German hybrid & mismatched military organization:

• 80% Army based on WWI equipment

• Horse drawn guns, supplies, & baggage=> basic transport

• Serious potential supply & logistics problems existed throughout German Army

– Germany’s poor logistics systems remained the weak link:• Despite striking early victories, German failed to see its serious logistic

problem

• This would be deciding factor if war lasted longer than expected

Back-up Slides

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Air Warfare- British RAF

• Strategic priority & the role of British Air Marshall Hugh Trenchard:– Trenchard’s view of the anticipated impact of

strategic bombing on the enemy population?• Devastate enemy’s working class

– Impact of working class reactions & demands?• Force government to end war quickly

• RAF view of Navy & Army’s role in future wars?– None need not apply

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US Air Corps

• Compare & contrast US & British views of air role:– Similar with some key exceptions

• View of Navy & Army’s role in future wars?– Chief Air Corps spokesmen: BG Billy Mitchell

• Utter disdain for Navy & the feeling was mutual

• US Air Corps Strategic priority:– Achieve Air power 1st => then Strategic bombing:

• US Strategic Bombing Doctrine:– US Target priority (in contrast with RAF?

• US: Critical economic nodes vs. cities & population (RAF)

– Critical assumptions required to make doctrine valid?• Bombing will have major impact on enemy’s economy:

• Assumed enemy $$$ fragile & easily damaged:

• Air strikes will force the desired strategic reaction from enemy

– Also- Bombers (w/o fighters) can always get through to their targets

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German Luftwaffe

• Goring & Germany’s production & design problems:– Major problem from the start- incompetence & inefficiency– Had negative impact on strategic bombing doctrine as result

• Net Result: more realistic & balanced air doctrine developed:– Influence of experience gained during Spanish Civil War?

• Strategic bombing’s effectiveness reassessed• Due to actual Spanish reaction to German strategic bombing• No popular collapse of Spanish population as predicted by theorists

– Therefore: Luftwaffe put emphasis more on CAS to German Army • (In contrast to RAF & US doctrine of strategic bombing)

• Problems hampering Luftwaffe’s support of Army?– Lack of C3 following initial air strike's planned tactical targets– Situation gradually improved as communications technology

improved

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Naval Warfare- British

• Strategic Priority: Command of the Sea – Fight and win a major battle at sea (Alfred T. Mahan)– Emphasis: Big guns & Battle Ships=> victory at sea

• SS threat- conclusion about future threat? – No longer the threat it once was - Why? – (Recent invention?)

• ASDIC (SONAR)

• RAF takes over role & mission of Navy aviation– Brit Naval Air assets (Maritime Patrol craft) acquired– All maritime air patrols flown by RAF (to this day)

• RAF pilots wear uniforms with stripes on sleeve (like Navy)

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Naval Warfare- Germans

• Germany’s assessment about future of SS warfare?– Accept British conclusion about SONAR eliminating SS threat

• Also focus on Battleships & big guns– (To their distinct disadvantage) - Why?

• Match up between British and Germen Navies? (No contest)

• German interest in Naval air power? – Problem?– Goring, service infighting, & potential for Luftwaffe support

• German Navy & Luftwaffe at constant loggerheads

– Mutual coordinated support between two seriously unlikely

– German Navy decides to rely on the big guns of its Battleships

• Concludes there’s little hope for air support from Luftwaffe

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Naval Warfare- U. S. Navy

• Impact of Billy Mitchell’s attack on Navy Leadership?– Conservative Battleship Admirals decide to develop Carrier Air

• Result: CV air program becomes a seriously funded Navy project

• (Similar reaction of Navy Brass also occurred during 1980s when US Army wanted Navy SEALs to be assigned to newly formed Joint SOF Command)

– Objective: dedicated Navy air support of the Fleet• (Air Corps need not apply)

• Navy developed own separate air program built around what?

– Aircraft Carrier (CV)

• Development of Naval Amphibious Doctrine:– In close coordination with USMC

– Continued to improve doctrine based on hard lessons during WW2• Bitter experience at Tarawa in particular (and the birth of UDT)

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Naval Warfare- U. S. & Japan

• US Navy’s defense against submarine threat?– Initially USN failed to fully appreciate or

prepare for German U-boat threat

– DD & convoy tactics developed (eventually) following steep learning curve at war’s start

• Japan: compare & contrast with US Navy’s priorities both wrt SS & Navy Air:– Very similar: (ignored SS & pursued CV Air)

– Japan’s CV air pilots would be recognized as the best in the world by start of war

– (At right- photos of Japanese CV pilots & A/C prepare to attack Pearl Harbor- 7 Dec 1941)

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Scandinavian Campaign (Fall 1939-late June 1940)

• Soviet demands for bases & subsequent moves against Baltic republics:– Stalin demands use of bases in Lithuania,

Latvia, Estonia • All Soviet demands acceded to

– Finland resists demands & Stalin invades– Poor Soviet planning, execution, & leadership

bungle initial attempts– Fins conduct effective GW on skis– Ultimately Soviet numbers overwhelm Fins

who are forced to surrender & accede to Stalin’s demands

• Germany’s attack on Denmark & Norway:– German Navy covet Denmark & Norway for

their potential strategic value– Denmark executed as planned– Success with it’s attack on Norway is mixed

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Norway: Execution & Results• Norway becomes significant challenge:

– German OPSEC compromised – Brits aware attack is coming:

• But Brits fail to respond effectively• Royal Navy does sink several capital ships

• German execution:– Paratroops of Luftwaffe secure major airports

• Ultimately this is key to German success– German Navy takes key ports

• Allied response: retreat and withdraw to countryside– Brit Navy continue to exact heavy toll on Germans:– Sink 2 Battle cruisers, but lose CV

• Results: no real strategic gain at a significant cost:– 100K German Troops tied down to no significant

strategic purpose