Operation Market Garden

Operation Market Garden, fought in the Netherlands and Germany, was an unsuccesful Allied invasion from September 17th to the 25th. The failure of the Allies to get their troops across the Rhine and control the German forces caused a delay in the war and the failure of it ending before Christmas.

Battle of the Bulge

After the successful D-Day invasion of Normandy, World War II seemed to be coming to a close in late 1944. However, the German army launched a counteroffensive attack on December 16th that would test the strength of the Allied forces and become known in infamy as the Battle of the Bulge.

Over 200,000 German troops and nearly 1,000 tanks took part in Hitler's last stand against the Allies.

1944
December 16th

The German Army launch their Ardennes offensive against elements of the American US VIII located between Aachen and Bastogne.

1944
December 16th

Initial progress on the assault is good for the Germans, however, the US 2nd and 99th Divisions hold fast at Elsenborn and Malmedy.

1944
December 16th

Bad weather soon sets in over the Ardennes region, limiting Allied air support to counter the German advances.

 

1944
December 17th

Allied prisoners of war are executed in cold blood by elements of the 6th SS Panzer Army. Some 87 prisoners are killed where they stand on direct orders from German Colonel Joachim Peiper.

1944
December 17th

The town of Stavelot is lost to the invading German Army.

 

1944
December 19th

By this date, two components making up the US 106th Division at the Schnee Eiffel region are surrounded by the Germans.

1944
December 19th

Some 6,000 Allied troops surrender to the encircling German Army at Schnee Eiffel.

 

1944
December 19th

Along the Ardennes line, US forces reform into intense defensive lines and some forces eventually mount counter attacks against the invading Germans.

1944
December 19th

The town of Stavelot is recaptured by the Allies.

 

1944
December 19th

Allied generals agree to commit elements of the Saar Front against the southern flanks of the German advance, this in the area between Bastogne and Echternach.

1944
December 20th

By this date, the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne is completely encircled by the German XLVII Panzer Corps.

1944
December 20th

The US 10th and 19th Armored Divisions are completely encircled by the German advance.

 

1944
December 20th

British General Montgomery is charged with heading up the progress along the north line of defense while American General Bradley is given command of the south.

 

1944
December 22nd

As the German advance continues, supply lines are stretched to the limit and flanks become over exposed prompting German General Rundstedt to ask Hitler to halt the advance - Hitler refuses.

1944
December 23rd

The foul weather over the Ardennes begins to clear.

1944
December 23rd

2,000 Allied air sorties are launched in improving skies against the Germans on the ground.

1944
December 23rd

Supplies are dropped from Allied transport planes to the beleagured forces held up at Bastogne.

1944
December 23rd

Allied ground attack fighters target and destroy German ground vehicles and troop concentrations. Without air support of their own, there is little that the Germans can do in response.

 

1944
December 25th

After achieving 60 miles of territory - the farthest march of the German Ardennes Offensive - the 2nd Panzer Division under Lieutenant-General von Lauchert is stopped by a combined force of British and American armor made up of the British 29th Armored Brigade and the American 2nd Armored Division.

 

1944
December 25th

German losses on Christmas Day include 3,500 infantrymen and 400 vehicles, 81 of these being tanks.

 

1944
December 26th

The American 4th Armored Division makes its way to the beleagured 101st Airborne forces at Bastogne and the situation at the village is stabilized.

 

1944
December 28th

Hitler orders a halt to the advance - but no retreat - leaving his exposed and tired units at the mercy of the replenished Allied forces across the Ardennes Front.

 

1945
January 1st

Weeks of fighting see German forces destroyed, taken prisoner or sent packing as the Allies regroup and respond.

 

1945
February 7th

By this date, all of the German gains of the Ardennes Offensive have been erased.

 

1945
February 7th

The German loss of life is a staggering 82,000 men, matched only by the 77,000 casualties suffered by the American

 

Information courtesy of the staff writer at secondworldwarhistory.com

Iwo Jima

The following is a first hand account of Alvin B. Orsland, who fought at Iwo Jima in the Marine Corps when he was only 19 years old. 


"I’ll never forget a major who was speaking to us midway through our US Marine Corps basic training in California in the summer of 1944 saying. “You might think this is child’s play, but you better be prepared because it won’t be many months and you’ll be over there doing the real thing.” We all laughed at that. A few months later, we found ourselves in “the real thing” on Iwo Jima and the laughing stopped.

I was 18 when I enlisted in the Marines on June 15, 1944, two weeks after graduating from high school. Earlier, a whole group from our football team went to Seattle and saw the movie Tarawa [the Marine Corps documentary on the bloody 1943 invasion]. Oh boy, we were “gung ho.” Three of us joined up and were sent to San Diego for boot camp. The training was fantastic, we just didn’t have enough of it. There was such a hurry to start the men—the boys, really—to the war.

In November, we were sent to Hilo, Hawaii, for more training at Camp Tarawa. Then, on January 7, 1945, we shipped out to the invasion staging area at Saipan. On February 17, we left for Iwo and arrived on D-Day, February 19. The 28th Marine Regiment on our ship was sent in immediately, but we stayed aboard. We were held back as the island couldn’t take three full divisions at once.

The top brass told us it would be “all over in 72 hours.” Sure enough, at D+4 at 10:35 a.m., as I looked anxiously from our ship to the barren, heavily shelled island, we saw Old Glory being raised on the highest point, Mt. Suribachi. “That’s it!” we thought, “We’ve done it! Got those bastards licked!”

Everybody started screaming and whooping it up, thinking the battle was over, just like the brass had promised. A fellow next to me gushed, “Boy, we’re going in and sightsee!” I never saw him again after we landed.

We landed on D+5, February 24, and the beach was a mess of wreckage. There was still a lot of Japanese shelling but it wasn’t accurate. We spent several days on the beach, unloading ammunition and pulling guard duty. Then, some of us were “volunteered” to replace the 5th Marine Division Graves Registration unit whose personnel had nearly all been killed. This was one of the most horrendous things I ever faced. We placed the corpses of dead Marines into body bags and put them into trenches dug by big bulldozers. We would pick up fellows by the arms and, suddenly, you’d be left holding only an arm. We’d try to pick them up by their legs, and you’d be left holding only a leg. It wasn’t much fun.

On March 9, things were so bad at the front that they sent us up to the 5th Marine Division and I joined H Company, 26th Regiment. I spent 30 days on Iwo Jima, 15 of them in combat with H Company. There are so many memorable and moving, sad and horrific experiences that my H Company buddies and I had in that awesome battle. One thing that had a profound effect on me was the unrelenting, nauseating smell of putrid sulfur permeating the island. The sulfur smell was everywhere, a bad omen and constant reminder that this stark place was a waiting graveyard on the road to Hell."

Battle of Leyte Gulf

The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also known as the Second Battle of the Philippine sea, is considered to be the largest naval battle lf World War II, and possibly the largest naval battle in history.

US and Australian armies combined against the Imperial Japanese Navy in the waters near the islands of Leyte and Samar from 23rd-26th of October 1944, with the ultimate goal of isolating Japan from other Asian countries they had occupied.

Notable battles include Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, Battle of Surigao Strait, Battle off Cape Engano, and the Battle off Samar.

The following is a first hand account by Archie Wallace Killough, a Captain aboard the USS Samuel B Roberts in the San Bernardino Straight:

" On October 25, 1944 just after the landing on Leyte Island, my ship the Samuel B. Roberts was in a group of ships consisting of about six aircraft carriers, about eight destroyers and destroyer escorts.

 General Quarters were sounded on this day at 0600 and secured at 0640.  Men who were not on watch were called to the upper deck to watch a force of ships in the distant horizon.  Because of low clouds and mist we were unable to identify them. We believed them to be Jap.  Our belief was confirmed when shells began to fall around us.  It was just five minutes after securing when General Quarters again sounded at 0645.

 The force attacking us was four Jap battleships, eight heavy cruisers, and a large number of destroyers.  Knowing it impossible to encounter such a force we tried to escape with as many ships as possible.  This started a battle that continued for about two and one half-hours.

 Two destroyers and the destroyer escort, Samuel B, Roberts, were given the task of first laying a smoke screen for the fleeing ships and then turn and make an almost suicide torpedo run into the Jap force.  By zigzagging we were able to keep from being hit by enemy torpedoes.  We released our torpedoes making some damage to the enemy.  Finally their shells found their mark.  First, Gun 2 AFT, was hit killing all but three of a crew of twenty-seven.  Gun 42 was shot completely off the ship, killing all of its crew.  Then we were hit severely on the port side amid ships aft.  Lower handling room on Gun 1 was hit.  A shell passed through Chiefs Quarters then upper handling room on Gun 1.  This was my battle station and I was blown against a bulkhead causing injury to my right knee.  My knee gave me considerable pain.  Water was pouring into the lower handling room endangering the crew in the upper handling room.  With the help of another sailor we dogged the hatches between the two compartments.

 Abandon ship was given, as the ship was certain of going down.  I climbed topside and was making for the side when shellfire tore my life belt nearly off.  Reserve belts were kept in Gun 4 so I went there but found none.  Remembering that a small belt had been made for our mascot dog and kept in the forecastle I made for there.  The belt was there; I slipped it over one arm and jumped over portside.

 Water rushing into a large hole in the side of the ship was drawing me towards the hole.  I fought hard and finally pulled way.

 The closest life raft was a considerable distance out.  It was also the one I was assigned to.  I swam for it but was tiring.  Noticing a large wooden block, I made for it.  A shell hit nearby forcing me underwater.  Coming up I again tried to make for the life raft.  A short distance from the raft, there was a terrific explosion.  It felt as though I were being torn apart.  I turned to see the stem of the ship rise straight in the air.  A Jap cruiser pulled towards it and shelled it some more and it soon settled.  The cruiser then came for us.  Just then two Hellcats over strafed the cruiser causing it to turn and run.  A number of our planes then encountered a number of Jap planes, which approached the scene.  I saw one Jap plane go down.

The water all around was heavily covered with oil.  The oil was also all over my body.  My eyes were swelled nearly closed and the pain in my leg was terrible.  Hanging onto the life raft I heard someone yelling.  About one hundred fifty yards out was a radio technician second class suffering from exhaustion and out of his head.  I swam out and brought him to within a few feet of the raft.  Exhausted and in pain I asked for help and two sailors came to our aid.

After spending fifty-two hours in the water we were rescued by PC623.  We were about dead when they picked us up.  One sailor died just as he was to be taken aboard.  Shortly after being taken aboard we were attacked by Jap aircraft but no damage was inflicted.  We were taken to Leyte Island and transferred several times to different ships on our way to New Guinea.  Aboard one ship I hap shrapnel taken from my hand and both legs.  I am mighty thankful to be alive."

Okinawa

The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa from April to June 1945. The 82 day long battle was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific in World War II.

After the imfamous Island Hopping campaign, the allies needed a place strategically positioned to move onto mainland Japan. Okinawa, only 340 miles away from the mainland was used as a base for air operations.

This battle has also been referred to as the "Typhoon of Steel", due to the number of Allied ships, armored vehicles, and kamikaze attacks from the Japanese side.

This battle was not won without great casualties. Japan lost over 100,00 troops and the Allies suffered more than 50,000 casualties. Tens of thousands of civilians on the island were either killed, wounded or committed suicide.

Japan POWs after the battle.

http://www.life.com/gallery/41302/image/3242263/wwii-battle-of-okinawa

Coral Sea

The Battle of Coral Sea lasted from May 7th to 8th in 1942 off of New Guinea. It was the first  naval battle fought with just carrier based planes. The whole battle was fought almost entirely with planes. The modern technology at the time allowed the tactics of World War 2 to be different from World War 1's trench warfare. 


Japan's plan for this battle was called "Operation MO", because the force they used for attack was called Task Force MO. 
Goals of Operation MO:
1. Isolate Australia so that New Guinea could be used as a platform to attack Fiji, New Caledonia, and Samoa.
2. Prevents attack on Port Moresby.
3. Admiral Yamamoto wanted a full attack on U.S. aircraft carriers in the Pacific, because he believed the U.S.  could win the war with them.


The conclusion of the battle was a strategic victory for America, and a tactical loss for Japan. This was the first stoppage of Japanese offensive, and the first time the Japanese had not reached their goals in a World War 2 battle. If the Japanese had won, they could have captured New Guinea. This could have isolated Australia from ally support, and made it more open to Japanese attack. 


After Coral Sea, Japan claimed and informed their public of a Japanese victory. They believe the won the battle because of the great damage they caused to U.S. carriers, especially the USS Lexington. The Lexington was very large and considered to be 25% of U.S. carrier strength.    
 

Erwin Rommel

Erwin Rommel was one of Germany's great military leaders during World War 2. He was nicknamed "The Desert Fox" by the British, because he constantly improved plans and used tricks to defeat enemies.


In 1941, Rommel was appointed by Hitler to be in charge of the German soldiers that were going to be fighting in North Africa. Some of Rommel's greatest achievements were his victories against the British in Gazala in May 1942, and the taking of Tobruk. His greatest defeat was at El Aghelia.


"What difference does it make if you have two tanks to my one, when you spread them out and let me smash them in detail?" - Erwin Rommel to a captured British officer


When Germans were starting to experience losses in North Africa, Rommel refused to follow Hitler’s commands to fight until the last German is killed. He not only respected his men so much that he disobeyed Hitler to save their lives, but he also believed that prisoners of war should be well looked after and not abused. This is an usual belief for a Nazi general to hold during wartime, because they usually lost their morals and became very corrupt.


 “In view of the tenseness of the situation, and the sluggishness of the Italian command, I decided to ignore my orders and to take command at the front with my own hands as soon as possible - at the very latest after the arrival of the first German units.” Erwin Rommel


Rommel was known for his quick thinking, ability to use enemy's confusion to his advantage, and unusual tactics. A great example of this is when he dug 88mm Flak guns in a U-shaped formation in the ground. The Flak guns only appeared slightly over the sand, and then a tent was put around them to make them look like sand dunes. The Flak guns were able to shoot planes in the sky without the enemy pilots knowing where the shots are coming from. He also found blitzkrieg "lightening war" an effective tactic.