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As in World War I, Germany's primary downfall was its lack of adequate allies and a war on multiple fronts. Territorially, Hitler came very close in World War II to achieving his quest for lebensraum yet his failure to concentrate his resources proved disastrous. His lack of time spent organizing the conquered territories resulted in wide spread rebellions which in turn separated German forces. The North African campaign absorbed troops that were much needed on the Russian front. The failure of the V 2 rocket in the final stages hindered the German offensives. The Allies combination of well-organized troops, weaponry, resources and a little luck in the closing stages of the war placed pressure on the already weakening Germany.
Despite the early successes from Poland to France, the Battle of Britain and the invasion of Russia assured the fatherland of a war against the world. A war almost impossible to win. German preparation began well before the eve of war in 1939 with the invasion of Poland. When Hitler came to power in 1933 he was able to build, at first secretly, an army, navy and airforce despite the treaty of Versailles disallowing Germany to maintain a proper army. By this time he had built a very powerful war machine. Despite threats from the west the reoccupation of the Rhineland in 1936, the annexation of Austria, Bohemia-Moravia and Memel in 1938 and 1939 happened without retaliation.
The British, after declaring war on Germany on the 1 st September 1939 did little to assist Poland who surrendered three weeks later. This helped to convince Hitler he was immune to international reaction. With the temporally secured threat from Russia on hold, Nazi forces in 1940 occupied Denmark and attacked Norwegian ports, securing iron ore imports from Sweden, which were vital for Germany's war effort. Using overwhelming Blitzkrieg tactics or lightning war Germany's mission was to quickly defeat and occupy a nation before assistance from the west would arrive. After a period of Phony war Holland, Belgium and France were defeated in quick succession (operation case yellow) in 1940 where British forces were forced to evacuate France. After these quick defeats with little resistance the Wer march (German army) was poised to invade England.
In the Battle of Britain, 1940, the Luftwaffe sought to achieve air supremacy in the first major confrontation of the war. Many believe this was the major turning point for Germany. Hitlers order to annihilate the Royal Air Force (RAF) was to prepare the way for Operation See lowe (Sealion) which consisted of three massive armies invading on the south coast of England. It was at this time Germany began to suffer setbacks. Under the orders of the commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Goering began in early June the softening-up attacks on British coastal areas and convoys. By the 13 th of August or Eagle Day the all-out air battle began, yet the Germans failed to destroy vital British air warning and radar systems which were much more advanced than their own.
This was the first phase of the battle and although German losses were twice that of Britain Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Downing (Commanding-in-Chief, RAF Fighter Command) was facing difficulties as replacement fighter numbers dwindled. It was at this time Germany adopted a new approach and reasoned that by attacking the airfields in the southeast they could force the RAF to expose its remaining strength in its defense, which in the beginning seemed promising yet the plan from the start was a gamble. As Wagener stated with the prospect of achieving complete air superior in sight, an enemy hardly able to resist any longer was given an invaluable breather The 15 th September marked the Battle of Britain Day and the Luftwaffe failed to defeat the RAF, having persistently underestimated the capacities of the British fighter defense. Hitler had pushed the date of Operation Sealion back until it was deemed too risky and the Soviet Union took precedent over Britain in Hitlers agenda.
It was a silent victory for Britain; it enhanced Britains position internationally and boosted anti-German feeling amongst its people, which was vital for a total war effort against Germany. Germany had taken its first step back and the Luftwaffe never fully recovered throughout the war. The German army failed to evade England and it had also failed to capture 338 000 British soldiers who due to the miracle of Dunkirk were able to escape back to the shores of England. Britains silent victory boosted her confidence; its small number of bombing planes with fighter backing began raids on Germany, which over the next three years destroyed much of the German war industry. Other chinks in the German armour began to appear which at first seemed insignificant. The occupied territories began to resist, guerrilla fighters began to emerge causing sabotage and in particular in Greece, tying up fighting divisions.
Hitlers biggest mistake perhaps was to declare war on Russia which had never successfully been invaded before. The Russians had three advantages; the size of the country, its large army and its ally the Russian winter. Before the attack Hitler signed a new German-Russian treaty and as a result Russia was unprepared for the German onslaught. As Ronald Heifer man stated Never had deception so brilliantly been achieved When Germany invaded Russia (Operation Barbarossa) they did so in the mistaken belief that war would be over in a few months and were equipped only for summer fighting. The attack was launched on three fronts, in the north towards Leningrad, in the south towards the Ukraine and centre towards Moscow with initial surprisingly successful advances. Within ten days the Luftwaffe had already won air supremacy, the Germans were encircling Russian defenders and the Nazi legions had already captured 1200 tanks, 600 big guns and 150 000 prisoners.
Hitler sought much needed resources in Russia and Germany's main objective was to capture the Leningrad-Moscow-Volga line. This three-pronged attack was aimed at capturing production centres in Ukraine and the Done basin securing oil, mineral deposits and grain while also possessing the command of the Black and Baltic seas. On the 3 rd July Russian citizens were called upon to adopt a scorched earth policy where if forced to evacuate nothing of value was to be left behind. As German morale dwindled with the changing weather and increased resistance the Russian partisan groups were becoming more active as they exalted heavy tolls on supply convoys. The Germans captured Riga, Smolensk and Kiev and in August 1942 they attacked Stalingrad to secure the oilfields of Caucasus. After Hitlers orders to split his forces in 1942 the sixth army, was directed to capture Stalingrad where others moved south.
The sixth army was forced to surrender in January 19...
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Research essay sample on Battle Of Britain German Army
