Germany’s early successes in World War II resulted from carefully coordinated strategies, leadership decisions, and exploiting weaknesses in Allied defenses. Analyze Germany’s key military campaigns and strategic decisions during the early years of the war and how these shaped the broader conflict by addressing one of the following questions. Identify which question you are responding to in your post.
What factors (on both sides) enabled the Germans to defeat the French and British and conquer France so quickly in May-June 1940? Consider the training and doctrine of the two sides; German objectives and strategies; the French defenses; as well as the tactics, leadership, and successes and failures on both sides (including the British) and how these factors affected the outcome. What specific commanders were behind these decisions (one German and one French or British)? Discuss their role in how the above was affected by their choices.
Why did Germany become involved in Africa and the Balkans? Did they achieve their objectives? Consider Mussolini and Hitler's objectives and Italian and German successes and failures in each area.
Why did Hitler decide to invade the USSR in 1941? Consider his military, political, and philosophical motivations.
The initial post employs correct Chicago-style bibliographic citation where required.
Readings
Murray & Millett, A War to be Won
- Chapter 4: Germany Triumphant, 1940
- Chapter 5: Diversions in the Mediterranean and Balkans, 1940-1941
- Chapter 6: Barbarossa, 1941
Bell, Twelve Turning Points of the Second World War
- Chapter 1: Hitler’s Triumph: The Collapse of France, May-June 1940
- Chapter 2: ‘Finest Hour’: The Battle of Britain, July-September 1940
- Chapter 3: Operation Barbarossa: The German Attack on the Soviet Union, 1941
Coetzee & Coetzee, The World in Flames
- Chapter 2
- "Only Movement Brings Victory" Blitzkrieg (1938) p. 32
- France's Collapse (1940) p. 42
- Strange Defeat (1940) p. 46
- De Gaulle's Appeal to France (1940) p. 52
- French Collaboration (1940) p. 53
- Occupied Poland (1940) p. 54
- Air Raid on Southampton (1940) p. 56
- London Is Burning (1940) p. 58
- Chapter 3
- The Widening War (1940-41) p. 61
- Desert War (1941) p. 87
- Survival in North Africa (1941) p. 89
- Germany Strikes East p. 91
- "The Criminal Orders" (1941) p. 94
- Saving Moscow (1941) p. 96
- Combat on the Russian Front (1941) p. 98
- Hitler's Obstinance (1941) p. 100
- Chapter 4
- Factories on Rails (1941) p. 110
- Producing for Victory (1942) p. 112
- Ford's Willow Run (1941) p. 114
- Chapter 6
- Siege of Leningrad (1941) p. 190
- Panzer Warfare in the East (1941) p. 192
- Soviet Tactical Doctrine (1941) p. 194
- Chapter 9
- The Nazi New Order (1941) p. 268
- Civilians Under Stress (1940-41) p. 281
- Revival of Russian Orthodoxy (1941) p. 285
- Chapter 10
- Atrocities in Karmenets-Podolsky (1941) p. 319
- The Youngest Victims (1941) p. 322
- A Polish Witness to Massacre (1942) p. 327