...From the beginning of the Second World War, Adolf Hitler had a set of goals that he looked to accomplish; establish the Aryan Race as the supreme race over all others, abolish the Treaty of Versailles, expand German territory (Lebensraum), and defeat Communism. To manipulate the German people, he utilized propaganda regarding previous grievances such as Germany’s outcome from World War I and the economic situation of Germany to twist the general consensus into the hatred of Jews, “gypsies”, and other races deemed inferior to the Aryans. As for military strategy, Hitler felt that the best way to go about gaining territory was keep it as a “one-front” war, because it would keep the Wehrmacht from spreading out itself too much and overextending it’s supply lines. In addition, he devised the Blitzkrieg or “lightning war”, which meant that his forces were concentrated into a cohesive unit, so that the Panzer tanks would swoop in first, causing panic among enemy soldiers, and then these tanks would continue moving while the German foot soldiers took advantage of the confused enemy and pick them off. While both his propaganda and innovative military strategies worked for a stretch of the war, Hitler’s strategy’s began failing from 1940 until his suicide in 1945 that were ultimately responsible for Germany’s loss in World War II. Hitler’s first began making mistakes when, in 1940, Hitler missed two major opportunities to defeat Britain when it was weakest. In June, when the allied...
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...the summer of 1944 catapulted their advanced through France, moving them closer to Germany. With the German Army in disarray from the success of D-Day, Allied Command became complacent, believing it was only a matter of time before the Third Reich collapsed. In mid-December 1944, Germany would attack Allied Forces as they were stretched out over 100 miles of the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxemburg. The Germans called the offensive “Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein” or Watch on the Rhein. Media...
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... and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism. A political movement that employs the principles and methods of fascism, especially the one established by Mussolini in Italy. Benito Mussolini: Benito Mussolini served as Italy’s 40th Prime Minister from 1922 until 1943. He is considered a central figure in the creation of Fascism and was both an influence on and close ally of Adolf Hitler during World War II. In 1943, Mussolini was replaced as Prime Minister and served as the head of the Italian Social Republic until his execution by Italian partisans in 1945. Adolf Hitler: Adolf Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany from 1933 until his suicide in 1945. Hitler was responsible for starting World War II and for killing more than 11 million people during the Holocaust. He was know as the Führer of the Third Reich. As dictator of Germany, Hitler wanted to increase and strengthen the German army as well as expand Germany's territory. Although these things broke the terms of the Versailles Treaty, the treaty that officially ended World War I, other countries allowed him to do so. Since the terms of the Versailles Treaty had been harsh, other countries found it easier to be lenient than risk another bloody European war. When the Nazis attacked Poland World War II began. Nazism: "Nazi" is an abbreviation for the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP), known in English as the German National Socialist Workers Party, as it existed under the control of...
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...power in Germany from January 1933, began to challenge the Treaty of Versailles and adapt an aggressive foreign policy, which heavily contributed to the outbreak of World War Two. Some historians argue that Britain and France were to blame for the Second World War because they did not stand up to Hitler.The historian AJP Taylor argued that Hitler simply continued the aggressive foreign policy but others point out that he did not initially intend to the take back Germany's former colonies, this theory is known as the Functionalist argument. On the other hand the other theory which is the Internationalist argument, these historians such as Gerhard Weinberg argued that Hitler had a master scheme all along and that he had planned the Holocaust. The functionalist view may argue that Great Britain and France were more to blame as they did not stop Germany, eventually they turned a blind eye. Chamberlain proposed the policy of appeasement which made concessions to the dictatorial powers of Hitler, he had done this because the British armed forces were not ready for a world war with Germany in 1938. However appeasement was wrong because Hitler was a dictator who could not be trusted to keep his word, especially because he had made it clear that he wanted an Empire in the East to give German Lebensraum and would only be stopped by war. Appeasement also made Britain look weak and encouraged Hitler to keep demanding more and more. Not only that but Britain, France, Italy and Germany agreed...
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...act that significantly alters the turnout of a conflict. In 1939 Adolph Hitler led Nazi Germany on a crusade to dominate all of Western Europe. After crushing Poland, Norway and eventually France with their vicious and relentless “Blitzkrieg” or “Lightening War” tactics Germany had only one obstacle left before it attained total Western European domination; Great Britain. After a humiliating defeat in France, the British Expeditionary Force, or B.E.F. as it was better known, was faced with a terrible choice. Either stay to fight the German advance and risk encirclement, or pull back to the beaches of Dunkirk, and attempt to get as many men as possible back to Great Britain. Eventually the British and French commanders decided that France was lost and that they should evacuate as soon as possible. What followed was a mass withdrawal using as many floating vessels as were available. Under heavy bombardment from both land and air, cargo ships, freighters, battleships and even fishing boats were used in an attempt to pull the B.E.F. and the “Free French” army back to the relative safety of Dover, leaving almost all their valuable equipment behind. With his empire in the West relatively safe, Hitler turned his attention to the East, and Russia. Under the control of Communist dictator Premier Josef Stalin, Russia although a country of Fascism haters had previously been an ally of Germany during...
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...view of the growth of Nazi Germany and its deliberate scrapping of the postwar settlement in the 1930s ---World War II was largely made possible by the failure of Britain and France to oppose strongly flagrant German violations of the Treaty of Versailles A. The Role of Hitler 1. WW II in Europe had its beginnings in the ideas of Adolf Hitler, who believed that only Aryans were capable of building a great civilization 2. Hitler was a firm believer in the doctrine of Lebensraum which stated that a nation’s power depended on the amount and kind of land it occupied 3. Hitler thought that the Russian Revolution created conditions for Germany’s acquisition of land to its “racially inferior Slavic” east (Mein Kampf spelled out Hitler’s desire to expand eastward and to prepare for the inevitable war with the “Bolshevik Jew-led” Soviet Union) 4. Hitler always returned to his basic ideological plans for racial supremacy and empire as keys to the blueprint for achieving his goals 5. Hitler’s desire to create an Aryan empire led to slave labor and even mass extermination on a scale that would have been incomprehensible to previous generations of Germans (or anybody else outside of Uncle Joe’s reach) B. The “Diplomatic Revolution” (1933-1936) 1. between 1933 and 1936, Hitler and Nazi Germany achieved a diplomatic revolution in Europe 2. For Hitler, it was most important that Germany build a large army and seek...
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...foot soldier during Bodies were laying about on the beach, some wounded, some dead. Soon after the attacks on the beach, Germany relented, almost making it back to the sea. The beachhead between all of the forces involved was finally established on June 12 through some of the most deadly fighting in the war. After the beachhead was established, they encountered firm resistance in the French country known as the bocage. As there was grueling fighting shortly after the landing, all Germans occupying Cherbourg had been fought off by June 28 and a new port was immediately...
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...The Sources of Japanese Militarism Source: J.B. Crowley, “A New Deal for Japan and Asia: One Road to Pearl Harbor” (1970)1 Introduction While the events of Pearl Harbor (1941) became “a date which will live in infamy” for the Americans, it is doubted by many if the attack was to be expected due to the rigid U.S. policy toward Japan. Crowley argues that by not acting against the 1931 Japanese intervention in Manchuria the U.S. “condemned itself to Pearl Harbor and the Pacific War”. In the perspective of the Vietnam War the aspects of Asian nationalism, the heritage of colonialism, communist ideology & national movement emerged. America’s role in Asia should be reassessed, and a better understanding of Asian racism and nationalism is needed. In this perspective Pearl Harbor will be seen as a by-product of Asian nationalism and as a conflict between an Asian country and the Occidental nationalism. As he assumes for the Japanese Pearl Harbor portrayed “a blow against the efforts of the Occidental powers to strangle Japan”. He quotes Tokutomi Sohō’s comment on the Imperial Declaration of War: “We must show the races of East Asia that order, tranquillity, peace... can be gained only by eradicating... [the Anglo-Saxons] ...and by making Nippon the leader of East Asia.” The essay of Crowley aims to help the better understanding of nationalism, colonialism, communism and imperialism in the Asian setting. The post-WW1 situation 1 Besides this essay, I relayed on the Wikipedia...
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...AU/ACSC/0609H/97-03 A MILITARY LEADERSHIP ANALYSIS OF ADOLF HITLER A Research Paper Presented To Dr. Richard Muller Air Command and Staff College In Partial Fulfillment of the Graduation Requirements of ACSC by Major Paul A. Braunbeck, Jr. March 1997 Distribution A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited Disclaimer The views expressed in this academic research paper are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US government or the Department of Defense. ii Contents Page DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................................ ii PREFACE ...................................................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................... v HITLER’S POLITICAL DECISION MAKING PROCESS.............................................1 Personality and Goals..................................................................................................1 Hitler’s Grand Strategy?..............................................................................................3 HITLER AS A MILITARY LEADER.............................................................................9 Strengths........................................................................................
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...The Nazi Economy: The Economic Background: * Hitler’s position depended on bringing Germany out of depression and so during 1932 the Nazi leadership had begun to consider a number of possible approaches to the management of the economy. * The policy of autarky envisaged a scheme for the creation of a large trading area in Europe under the dominating influence of Germany, which could be developed to rival the other economic powers. It was the aim for self-sufficiency in the production of food and raw materials, especially when at war. * No coherent plan had emerged by January 1933 as Hitler had no real understanding of economics and to a large extent the implementation of economic policy was initially left to bankers and civil servants. From the start there was a lack of real direction, suggesting that economic policy tended to be pragmatic. It evolved out of the demands of the situation rather than being the result of careful planning. * Germany had faced continuing economic problems since the end of the First World War. Economic Recovery 1933-6: * In the early years, Nazi economic policy was under the control of Hjalmar Schacht, President of the Reichstag and Minister of Economics (1934-7). * Schacht was a respected international financer because of his leading role in the creation of the new currency in the wake of the 1923 hyperinflation. * The heart of economic recovery lay in the major revival of public investment, which embarked on a large...
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...How far would you agree that allied support was the main reason for the Russian victory in the Second World War? PLAN (POINT EXPLANATION EVIDENCE) 1.INTRO(WHO ARE WESTERN ALLIES) 2.ALLIES CREATING WAR ON TWO FRONTS 3.THE U.S, SUPPLY FOR THE USSR 4.THE USSR ITSELF 5.THE AXIS MISTAKES 6. CONCLUSION Allied forces consistent from countries which opposed the Axis powers. The main policy makers of Allies were the U.S.A., USSR and British Empire. These coalition and its cooperation helped the USSR, but importance of allied support for the USSR victory is arguable as there are several factors which oppose that statement. Allied forces were crucial for the USSR victory in the 2 World War as they created war on two fronts, which did not allow German to use all its power against the USSR. After defeat of Germans in Moscow, the USSR army advanced on the east, defatting Germans in Stalingrad, Leningrad and Kursk. However, even when Eastern was the biggest front in the 2 World War, and the USSR was fighting against bigger proportion of German soldiers, allies created pressure on Nazi army from the West and in North Africa. If the USSR would have fought against the hole Reich Army, the war for it would be lost. Also the allies were highly advanced in technology, what resulted in a lot of bombing operation from the USA and Britain. This allowed the USSR to meet less german tanks and avoid German airfares in their full presence, as the USSR was not able to produce aircrafts...
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...AU/ACSC/0609H/97-03 A MILITARY LEADERSHIP ANALYSIS OF ADOLF HITLER A Research Paper Presented To Dr. Richard Muller Air Command and Staff College In Partial Fulfillment of the Graduation Requirements of ACSC by Major Paul A. Braunbeck, Jr. March 1997 Distribution A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited Disclaimer The views expressed in this academic research paper are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US government or the Department of Defense. ii Contents Page DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................................ ii PREFACE ...................................................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................... v HITLER’S POLITICAL DECISION MAKING PROCESS.............................................1 Personality and Goals..................................................................................................1 Hitler’s Grand Strategy?..............................................................................................3 HITLER AS A MILITARY LEADER.............................................................................9 Strengths........................................................................................
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...The Battle of Stalingrad The battle of Stalingrad may have very well been the most important battle over the course of World War II. Not necessarily remembered for its course of fighting, the battle is more known for its outcome. Not only did the battle turn out to be a major turning point in the war, it may have saved most of Eastern Europe from incomparable destruction. The battle included two of the biggest political and military icons of their time, Stalin and Hitler. World War II was seen around the globe as a war to end all wars. Combat like this had never been experienced before and it was the largest scale battle in recent history. The death tolls for all sides skyrocketed to heights that had never been reached in any battle ever before. There was one man at the center of it all, one man who came to personify the root of living, breathing evil. That man was Adolf Hitler and to the rest of the world, he was a superhuman military machine who had no other goal but to achieve world domination through destruction. But the roots of the Battle of Stalingrad all began in 1941 when Hitler launched operation Barbarossa. Hitler’s powerful army marched across the east, seemingly unstoppable to any force. Stalin’s Red Army was caught completely off guard and their lines were completely broken apart. A majority of the country’s air force was destroyed when airfields were raided and many of the planes never even got the chance to leave the ground. Hitler’s army finally came...
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...units of the division were sent to cross a heavily guarded river under the cover of nightfall, in order to gain Allied control over Liri Valley. General Walker had extreme uncertainty with the operation, due to the swiftly moving current of the river, its muddy banks, and lack of equipment needed to bridge the river. Despite this, the battalion was sent to cross the river, suffering severe losses. The attempt to cross the river was known as a “two-day hell”, with the Thirty-Sixth encountering icy conditions, large-scale retaliations, and lack of ammunition, with supply and reinforcements being made nearly impossible due to the nature of the attack. With the number of wounded in the hundreds, the crossing of the river was ultimately deemed a failure. Even after the tragedy that was Rapido River, the Thirty-Sixth continued to push on. The division’s ability to remain unfazed in the wake of danger was entailed by reporter C. L. Sulzberger, "They call the 36th a 'hard luck' division because it has never had an easy assignment. This writer saw one of its battalions when what was left of it clambered back across the Rapido. They were tired but they remained, in essence, fresh-faced boys from Texas. Their eyes mirrored no peace." The Thirty-Sixth continued to assist in the Italian Campaign, playing a role during the Battle of Monte Cassino, where the T-Patchers, alongside the rest of the fifth army, landed at Anzio and prepared for a large-scale attack to breakout from the beachhead...
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...The Edexcel International GCSE in History Schemes of work We are happy to provide these new enhanced schemes of work for you to amend and adapt to suit your teaching purposes. We hope you find them useful. Practical support to help you deliver this specification Schemes of work These schemes of work have been produced to help you implement this Edexcel specification. They are offered as examples of possible models that you should feel free to adapt to meet your needs and are not intended to be in any way prescriptive. It is in editable word format to make adaptation as easy as possible. These schemes of work give guidance for: * Content to be covered * Approximate time to spend on different key themes * Ideas for incorporating and developing the assessment skills related to each unit. Suggested teaching time This is based on a two year teaching course of five and a half terms with one and a half hours of history teaching each week. This would be a seventy week course with total teaching time of approximately 100 hours. The schemes suggest the following timescale for the different sections: * Paper 1: 20 hours for each of the two topics: Total 40 hours. * Paper 2 Section A: 20 hours for the topic: Total 20 hours. * Paper 2 Section B: 25 hours for the topic since it covers a longer period in time. Total 25 hours. * Revision: 15 hours. Possible options for those with less teaching time * 20 hours for Section Paper 2 Section B ...
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