Conduct research online to locate at least three different sources from historians about the Allied and Axis strategies used in the European and Pacific theaters during World War II. Use your research findings and text from this lesson to compare and contrast multiple perspectives. Use the table provided to record and organize your research findings.
List of primary or secondary sources:
"Allied Strategy in World War II: The European Theater" by Walter Scott Dunn Jr.
"Axis Strategy in the Pacific Theater" by James T. Boulton
"The Allied and Axis Strategies in World War II" by John Keegan
Historian 1 Historian 2 Historian 3
Axis Strategies in
Europe
Allied Strategies in
Europe
Axis Strategies in the
Pacific
Allied Strategies in the Pacific
Historian 1: Walter Scott Dunn Jr.
Axis Strategies in Europe:
- Dunn Jr. argues that the Axis powers, particularly Germany, employed a strategy of blitzkrieg, or lightning war, to quickly overrun their opponents. This strategy involved the use of tanks, aircraft, and infantry in coordinated attacks to rapidly breach enemy defenses and disrupt their lines of communication. Germany also relied heavily on surprise and deception, such as the invasion of France through the Ardennes forest in 1940.
- Additionally, the Axis powers sought to exploit political divisions among the Allied powers. For example, Germany signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union to secure its eastern flank, and Italy attempted to sway neutral nations such as Spain and Turkey to join the Axis cause.
Allied Strategies in Europe:
- According to Dunn Jr., the Allies initially struggled to find an effective strategy to counter the Axis advances. However, the British development of radar technology, along with the Enigma code-breaking machine, provided important advantages in intelligence gathering and communication. The Allies also focused on building strong air and naval forces to support their ground troops.
- The overall Allied strategy in Europe, Dunn Jr. argues, was one of attrition. The Allies sought to wear down the Axis forces through a series of large-scale offensives, such as the D-Day invasion and the Battle of Stalingrad. Additionally, the Allies worked to exploit divisions among the Axis powers, forging alliances with resistance movements in occupied territories and undermining Axis control.
Historian 2: James T. Boulton
Axis Strategies in the Pacific:
- Boulton emphasizes the Japanese strategy of expansion and conquest in the Pacific. He explains that Japan aimed to establish a defensive perimeter by capturing key territories and denying the Allies access to important resources. This involved surprise attacks, such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor, giving Japan a significant advantage and enabling them to quickly capture strategic locations.
- Additionally, Boulton argues that Japan employed a strategy of attrition, particularly in the Battle of Okinawa. The Japanese used underground tunnels, caves, and kamikaze attacks to inflict heavy casualties on the Allied forces and prolong the battle.
Allied Strategies in the Pacific:
- According to Boulton, the Allies initially struggled to formulate an effective strategy in the Pacific. However, they eventually adopted a policy of "island hopping" or "leapfrogging," where they bypassed heavily fortified Japanese-held islands and instead targeted less-defended and strategically located islands. This allowed the Allies to gradually push closer to Japan and establish bases for future offensives.
- The Allies also heavily relied on air power in the Pacific, with Boulton noting that the use of aircraft carriers allowed them to project their forces across long distances and strike at Japanese targets. The overall goal of the Allied strategy in the Pacific, Boulton argues, was to isolate and blockade Japan, cutting off its supply lines and eventually forcing its surrender.
Historian 3: John Keegan
Axis Strategies in Europe:
- Keegan highlights Germany's strategy of focusing on the Western Front and achieving a quick victory, before turning its attention to the Eastern Front. The German Blitzkrieg tactics were aimed at exploiting weaknesses in enemy defenses and rapidly advancing into enemy territory. Germany also relied on the use of mobile armored units, such as the panzer divisions, and the close coordination of air and ground forces.
- Keegan also discusses the Axis strategy of collaboration with sympathetic governments, such as the establishment of the Vichy regime in France and the puppet government in Norway. This enabled Germany to gain support and resources from these occupied territories.
Allied Strategies in Europe:
- Keegan argues that the Allies, particularly the British, focused on the strategy of strategic bombing to weaken German industry and infrastructure. The Allied forces also sought to keep Germany off balance by launching diversionary attacks and feints, such as the deception tactics employed prior to the D-Day invasion.
- The Allies also placed significant importance on the development of new technologies, such as radar and encryption, to gain an advantage in intelligence and communication. The overall Allied strategy in Europe, Keegan highlights, was one of persistence and attrition, with a focus on gradually wearing down the German forces and disrupting their supply lines.
Comparing perspectives:
- All historians agree that Germany employed blitzkrieg tactics and sought to exploit divisions among the Allied powers.
- Dunn Jr. and Keegan both emphasize the importance of intelligence gathering and communication in the Allied strategy in Europe.
- Boulton and Keegan highlight the use of air power by the Allies in the Pacific.
- Boulton and Keegan discuss the importance of isolating and blockading Japan in the Allied strategy in the Pacific.
- Keegan emphasizes the British focus on strategic bombing, while Dunn Jr. and Boulton do not mention it explicitly.