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 Lesson 13: War in the Atlantic, North Africa, and the Mediterranean 1935-1945Mediterranean 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

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

1 Sep 1939: Germany Invades Poland

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

•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.

British Convoy Strategy

17 Sep 1939: U-29 sinks carrier HMS Courageous;U-47 sinks Royal Oak.

HMS Courageous

HMS Courageous sinking

Hitler giving awards for sinking of HMS Courageous

HMS Royal Oak

HMS Royal Oak

HMS 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.

German Battleship Bismarck

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

Rommel, I read your book!!!

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