Battle of the Atlantic Notes

It was a battle between the Americans and Japanese that happened on the 4th of June in 1942. To the Americans their nemesis, the Japanese looked brave and vicious. There have been very few battles to match this one including the battles of Trafalgar, Salamis, and Armada, other than those few battles this was the most decisive naval warfare in history (Ballard, 1999). Because the Japanese had so many more forces, they were expected to win (Wildenberg,2006). Midway was selected by Yamamoto because he wanted a larger area to protect Japan, he figured it would be better for them because it is closer to Japan not America. He also knew that America would try to protect it with their aircrafts so they were prepared (Krasner, 2014). Although, Admiral Nimitz of the United States Navy said that the battle is what made everything achievable

Another 'ace' that the British had up their sleeve was HF/DF (High Frequency Direction Finder or 'Huff-Duff). This detected U-boat radio transmissions thereby estimating their position and

The crushing defeat and ultimate failure of the Axis Powers was caused by significant events that had a great impact on the war. The Allies were victorious in 1945 due to the sheer military power of the United States, the infamous Soviet Transformation and the ‘Battle of Moscow’, the crushing fall of Japan and the vast resource differences between the Axis Powers and the Allies. These major events that took place during World War 2 helped shape the victorious outcome for the Allies, by not only weakening the German’s military force, but also its confidence.

The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands was a naval battle between the United States Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy. This was one of a hand full of naval battles that happen within visual range of each other. The first strikes of the battle took place on 26 October 1942. The two fleets pulled out of range from each other on 27 October 1942. The battle took place in the Pacific Ocean around the Solomon Islands. This battle was labeled as a Japanese tactical victory, but later to prove that it was an American strategic victory. Due to the amount of damage and loses that the Japanese Navy took. It took away from the fleets’ involvement in the battle for Guadalcanal, contributing to the Allied victory in that campaign.

It provided the Allied Forces with roughly $45 billion of support, nearly $30 billion of which went to the British Empire. However, even with US aid, Britain was still devastated by bombing raids, which destroyed not only public works but private estates as well. Britain economy steeply declined and luxuries her citizens once took for granted, such as meat, bread, and tobacco, were rationed even post-war. For the first time in history, Britain was a debtor nation (“Lord of the Flies,” World 228-231). Although her economy is relatively stable in the 21st century, the United Kingdom was never as great as she was pre-World War II.

The Germans were losing aircraft and pilots fast; Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion. Germany had lost. The fighter pilots of the battle of Britain had saved Britain from invasion, but many of its major cities were severely bombed. German U boats and surface vessels also began a new campaign.

​But however Britain was the country America did the most trading with, and they had ships traveling over the seas all the time and that became a problem between Germany and the United States. And that is when Germany announced unlimited warfare in the Atlantic ocean against all ships in February 1915. The warning said this “Vessels flying the flag of great Britain, or any of her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters and that travelers sailing in the war zone on ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk” (historyinanhour.com) So all ships neutral or not if they entered the war zone around Britain, they would be attacked by the German U-boats and if they did decide to travel over the Atlantic in the war zone, they did it at their own risk because the warning was made clear. (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-unleash-u-boats)

The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest lasting battle of World War II. The Battle was to control the Atlantic Shipping Lanes and lasted from September 3rd 1939 to May 8th 1945, mainly in The Atlantic Ocean, but later spread to the United States and The Caribbean Sea. The Battle of the Atlantic was originally fought by Britain and Canada against Germany until 1940 when the Italians joined the German side. In 1941 the United States joined Britain and Canada in the battle, leading to the defeat of Germany. A significant even that lead up to The Battle of the Atlantic was when U-30 (U-boat 30) attacked Athenia, the passenger liner, a British auxiliary cruiser, within just hours of the British declaring war on Germany, killing 112 civilians that were aboard. These ships were the ones the submarines were told not to attack by The German Navy. This is what some say was the beginning of The Battle of the Atlantic. The Germans were also humiliated from World War One and felt they had not deserved to lose and have the harsh treatment put upon them, as outlined in The Treaty of Versailles.

Adding to the money problem, the United States had permitted neutral nations to trade freely in American ports carrying American exports to England and Canada and English goods into the US ports. As a result, American food was rolling directly into British military commissionaires, strengthening the enemy’s ability and will to fight.

The outcome of this great battle was decided in the end by true courage and resiliency from the Allied Forces. The front line of their forces was at the time extremely thin, and even got thinner shortly before the German assault began due to some offensive strategies from General Eisenhower. The line was so

The Battle of Britain as a Turning Point in the Defeat of German in World War Two

This is another reason why America was close to joining the war. Germany waged submarine warfare against the United Kingdom when the British

Some of the bloodiest fight of World War II came in the Pacific. Much of that fighting came at the Battle of Guadalcanal. A remote island in the Solomons Island chain, Guadalcanal was not thought of as important, prior to 1942. For several reasons, Guadalcanal was the most significant battle of the war in the Pacific. The Battle of Guadalcanal was the first offensive the United States took in World War II. Because of its location, Guadalcanal pushed back the Japanese defensive ring, and put the U.S. in an aggressive mindset. As an intangible factor, the victory at Guadalcanal provided a much needed morale boost to U.S. servicemen, who had not had a decisive triumph against the Japanese. Most importantly, the U.S. gained control of an important airstrip on Guadalcanal that the Japanese had been trying to utilize.

The Allied Powers, during World War II, recognized the only way to achieve a decisive victory was to work in conjunction, and utilize one another’s strengths and assets. However, Great Britain and the United States had differing views on the proper strategy. The United States believed concentrating its power at the earliest possible moment to attack an enemy’s critical center of gravity was the appropriate course of action (Greenfield, 1963, p. 25). The United States desired to conduct a cross channel amphibious assault and securing the French coastline from German forces. Great Britain viewed American strategy, operations, and tactics as reckless and inexperienced (Greenfield, 1963, p. 43). Winston Churchill preferred his forces to concentrate their efforts in the Mediterranean and North Africa, through more cautious engagements, to preserve economic stability in the region, while allowing the Russians to fight Germany directly and weaken German resolve. Successful unified operations in the Mediterranean were necessary, prior to conducting the cross channel invasion, in order to provide the Allies with increased strategic advantages, as well as increased faith in the commitment to combined war efforts. First, the United States needed to prove to Britain that its military forces were able to plan and execute disciplined combined operational

To what extent did technological advancements contribute to the victory of the Allied powers in the Battle of the Atlantic through 1939 – 1946?