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Sea Power and Maritime Affairs. Lesson 13: War in the Atlantic, North Africa, and the Mediterranean 1935-1945. Lesson 13: War in the Atlantic, North Africa, and the Mediterranean 1935-1945. Lesson Objectives.
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Sea Powerand Maritime Affairs Lesson 13: War in the Atlantic, North Africa, and the Mediterranean 1935-1945
Lesson 13: War in the Atlantic, North Africa, and the Mediterranean 1935-1945
Lesson Objectives • Comprehend the internal political situation in the U.S. during the period prior to December 7, 1941 relative to the U.S. involvement overseas. • Know that Germany was the greatest threat to European and North American security. • Know the U.S. attempts to remain neutral prior to 1941. • Comprehend the absolute priority given to keeping the sea lanes to British open. • Know the relationship between Roosevelt and Churchill in the establishment of the United Nations and the broad concept of Allied strategy.
Lesson Objectives (cont) • Comprehend the confrontation between German U-boats and Allied anti-submarine convoys in the Battle of the Atlantic. • Know the German surface raider effectiveness • Comprehend the differences between British “War of Attrition” versus American plans for a direct confrontation with Germany. • Comprehend how Allied amphibious landings assisted in ending the war in Europe.
Germany’s Invasion of Europe • Sept 1939, Germany invades Poland. England and France declare war on Germany • 1939-1940 brings inconclusive results on the western front • Britain moves to blockade Germany • Germany begins commerce raiding with U-boats and surface raiders
Germany’s Invasion of Europe: • Germany invades Norway, April 1940 - Action designed to keep Britain from tightening blockade by mining northern approaches • May 1940 Germans launch attack on “low countries” and France • Outflank the Maginot line • France falls June 1940 • Britain withdraws troops from Europe
British Convoy Strategy • Strategy adopted from the outset • Recognizes the importance of keeping the lines of communications open with the U.S. • Dönitz organizes U-boats to hunt in “Wolfpacks” to prey on convoys. Was very effective when based out of France and Normandy. • U-Boat sinkings climax in fall of 1940.
17 Sep 1939: U-29 sinks carrier HMS Courageous;U-47 sinks Royal Oak.
Enlisting American Help: • British acquire more escorts and the ability to break the German Ultra Code • The U.S. drifts into undeclared war with Germany; attempts to maintain neutrality, 1939-1941 • FDR an internationalist/ interventionist • Congress influenced by isolationist and “America First” propaganda. • FDR runs for third term under isolationist platform. Later passes the first peacetime draft. • FDR knows a German victory would threaten US security because it would destroy British sea power which was thought to be the “Shield of the Republic.”
Enlisting American Help • US sends “Neutrality Patrols” to help British ASW. • “All aid to Britain short of war” includes “destroyer-bases deal” and “Lend-Lease” program. • FDR concedes this is not Wilson’s neutrality in thought and deed.
U.S. Enters War: • U.S. officially enters war after attack on Pearl Harbor • Germany U-boat offensive moves to the U.S. East Coast • As the Convoy Strategy becomes more effective, Doenitz moved his U-boats south (“tonnage strategy”) • Doenitz shifts U-boats back to North Atlantic in 1942. U.S. counteracts with escort carriers and HF/DF locations of Wolfpack • Doenitz forced into Central Atlantic as allies strengthened convoys and developed ASW tactics. Hunter-Killer groups run out of U-boats to sink
Germany’s Surface Fleet • Germany used surface raiders with moderate success. No large surface battles in Atlantic, as German surface fleets had a hard time breaking out into the Atlantic.
Competing Allied Strategies. • British preferred a peripheral strategy • War of Attrition • North Africa • Egypt • Sicily • U.S. preferred direct attack on Germany through western France • Operation Roundup
US went with Brits • Allowed U.S. to pursue Pacific War • Drew German resources off the Western Front, weakening them for an eventual cross channel invasion • Allies checked German advances in Egypt; stalemated on Russian front; attacked Italy beginning in July 1943
Competing Allied Strategies” • Sequence for pursuing peripheral strategy in the Mediterranean • Operation Torch • Operation Husky
Operation Torch: • General Dwight D. Eisenhower • Western Naval Task Force • Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt • Major General George S. Patton • D-Day 8 November 1942 • Target is Casablanca
Operation Husky • Invasion of Sicily • Same General Officers as “Torch” • More sophisticated amphibious landing • LSTs, LCTs, LCIs • Night landing • Mussolini falls from power
Competing Allied Strategies: • Allies spend next year building up in England for cross channel invasion • Normandy Overlord • invasion (June 1944) • Southern France Dragoon • (August 1944) • succeed in pushing Germans back into its borders. • Spring 1945: War ends in Europe.
Lesson Objectives: • Comprehend the internal political situation in the U.S. during the period prior to December 7, 1941 relative to the U.S. involvement overseas. • Know that Germany was the greatest threat to European and North American security. • Know the U.S. attempts to remain neutral prior to 1941. • Comprehend the absolute priority given to keeping the sea lanes to British open. • Know the relationship between Roosevelt and Churchill in the establishment of the United Nations and the broad concept of Allied strategy.
Lesson Objectives (cont): • Comprehend the confrontation between German U-boats and Allied anti-submarine convoys in the Battle of the Atlantic. • Know the German surface raider effectiveness • Comprehend the differences between British “War of Attrition” versus American plans for a direct confrontation with Germany. • Comprehend how Allied amphibious landings assisted in ending the war in Europe.
Discussion Next time: The War in the Pacific, The Defensive Phase
Terms & events you might want to know… Scapa Flow
