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The defeat of Germany in World War Two was due to many factors. All of these factors were influenced by the leadership and judgment of Adolf Hitler. Factors such as the stand fast policy, Hitlers unnecessary and risky decision making in military situations, for example when attacking the USSR, and the declaration of war on the US. Plus other factors, like Hitlers alliance with Italy, despite its obvious weaknesses, and the pursuit of the final solution, can all be attributed to the poor leadership and judgement of the Fuhrer, which would eventually lead to the downfall of the Third Reich. During the early stages of the war, most of Germany's victories were because of the success of blitzkrieg, or lightening war.
Blitzkrieg tactics emphasised mobility and the concentrated use of armour and air power to overwhelm an enemy. Blitzkrieg was especially successful in flat, open countryside and was supremely suited for the Polish campaign in 1939. It was with blitzkrieg, as well as Germany's superior tactics, effective use of armour, airpower and modern equipment, plus with the support of the USSR that the Germans used to overwhelm Poland in only 5 weeks. Two days after the German troops entered Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany. Hitler did not want this because it was a distraction from his main aim, to attack the USSR. After his victory over Poland, Hitler now had his sights on a quick offensive in the west.
Speaking to his Generals in October 1939, Hitler said, If it becomes clear that Britain and under its leadership France also, are not prepared to end the war I am determined to go on the offensive without delay. In April 1940 Germany launched its attack in the west with a surprise invasion of Norway and Denmark, which were neutral states. Hitler took Norway because that guaranteed that vital iron ore supplies from Sweden could be shipped to Germany through the ice-free Norwegian ports. Hitler also occupied Denmark, because it was in the way of the German attack. Hitler then ordered the attack on Belgium, Holland and France. The British and French had predicted that the German attack would come through Belgium.
So the British and French forces moved north into Belgium to meet the German advance. The Germans again used overpowering blitzkrieg tactics and quickly overwhelmed Holland. The main German attack began further to the south, as the bulk of the British and French army prepared to meet the Germans in Belgium. The Germans eventually broke through the French defences, and by May 21, had captured the French and British armies in Belgium. But, by early June some 366 000 of the trapped troops had managed to escape. They had been evacuated back to England by a fleet of small vessels and naval ships.
Although the evacuation was a success, Prime Minister Churchill was quick to dampen the celebration, and told the British people, We must be careful not to assign to this the deliverance the attributes of victory. Wars are not won by evacuations. Germany did not have a numerically superior force on the western front, but bold strategy, careful planning and blitzkrieg tactics set the foundation for the French defeat. In June 1940 Hitler invaded Paris, eight days later the French surrendered.
After the French surrender, Hitler attempted to end the war with Britain. Speaking to the Reichstag in June, he said, I can see no reason why the war need go on. But Hitler was already had his sights set on invading Russia. He now aimed to end the war in the west so he could concentrate on attacking communist Russia in the east. Hitler knew that invading Britain would be difficult, but still he informed his military to leaders to prepare for the operation, Operation Sea Lion, and proceeded in planning a landing operation against Britain. The battle of Britain was fought between July and October in the skies of southern England 1940.
The German airforce attacked British targets from bases in France and northern Europe. The British frontline had a shortage of pilots, but were highly skilled. The Germans were losing aircraft and pilots fast; Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion. Germany had lost.
The fighter pilots of the battle of Britain had saved Britain from invasion, but many of its major cities were severely bombed. German U boats and surface vessels also began a new campaign. As the war progressed, Hitler became more risky in his decision making, and made the crucial error of invading Russia in June 1941. This opened Germany up to communist attack by breaking the Soviet-German non-aggression pact of August 1939, and also a two front war, and Hitler was forced to divert forces to Russia, which could have been spent on defeating Britain. Hitlers aim of invading Russia had been postponed due to the distractions in both North Africa, and also south eastern Europe. Hitler felt an urgency to begin the move to the east, even though the British remained undefeated in the west.
The invasion of Russia was the largest military campaign of the war. The plan to capture the Soviet Union, operation Barbarossa, was initially very successful. The German attack, comprising 134 divisions or just over 3 million soldiers, took the Russians by surprise and they quickly advanced towards Moscow. But the rough country and appalling roads were taking its toll, and the German advance started to slow. Hitler himself took control of the campaign. Hitler was a very determined man.
He was very determined to avenge the loss and humiliation of world war one. Acknowledging the slowing of the German advance, Hitler changed his aims of Barbarossa from capturing Moscow to taking Leningrad and the Donets coal and industrial basin before winter. Originally planned for May 1941, the campaign was postponed, which meant a waste of good weather and also the chance of fighting a battle during the harsh winter months, to help their allies, the Italians in the Balkans. By September, the Germans had reached Leningrad but the Russians put up a strong defence. Winter had set in, and the German army had become immovable. The Germans were freezing, as they were unprepared for the extreme temperatures because Hitler had been so confident when launching the attack that his troops would defeat the Russians before October, that many of the German troops only had summer gear.
As the Russian offensive began, Hitler refused to let the German troops retreat. Even though their opponents, The Red Army, were fully equipped with artillery, armour and reserves closer to the front, plus they were fully prepared for a winter battle. The Germans underestimated the strength of the Russians. Hitler was determined to hold his ground. The swift victory Hitler had demanded did not come. Due to Hitlers own strategic decisions, Germany, with their military resources tied up on the east, plus a battle still raging on the West, was now subjected to a long drawn out two front war, which it could not maintain.
Declaring war on the US was another of Hitlers critical errors as it was unnecessary because the US had not made a single move towards attacking Germany. Germany was now engaging in war against another of the worlds great powers. Germany had invaded Russia well before the Battle of Britain had been won. It had weakened its strength by diverting troops to different fronts, and by declaring war on the United States, Germany was also strengthening its enemies because the US would be able to combine with Britain, plus the US would use Britain as a base for air raids later in the war. These air raids destroyed the German economy, destroying major cities and industrial areas. The US had unlimited resources and manpower plus were geographically advantaged as they were isolated from any attacks.
Declaring war on the United States was a crucial error by Hitler, it was unnecessary and proved very costly for the German war effort. Within six months, Germany had attacked the Soviet Union and declared war on the United States, two world powers who only asked to be left alone The war had now become a world war, no longer a European conflict. In April 1942 Hitler ordered a new summer offensive in Russia. His plan was to push south, capturing the oil fields of the Caucuses while holding the line elsewhere on the Eastern Front. The Germans were resupplied and reinforced and like the majority of the other German battles, they once again enjoyed early swift progress as they pushed towards the south east, taking the Crimean peninsula.
Hitler was very confident in his strength, and made the critical mistake of dividing his southern army. One group would move to take the Caucasus and oil fields, and the other would move east to take the city of Stalingrad on the Volga River. The Germans reached the Volga River and Stalingrad...
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Research essay sample on British And French Battle Of Britain
