Big Picture Short History of World War | Microsoft Close Combat

Chapter 7

The Big Picture:

A Short History of World War II

The seeds of World War II were sown at the end of World War I the “war to end all wars.” The armistice signed by Germany (the Versailles Treaty) contains provisions that restrict its territory, limit German military buildups, and impose reparations. These reparations are the most devastating blow; the Allies essentially force Germany to pay the victor’s war debts. The strain on the German economy causes wide- spread unemployment and rampant inflation a wheelbarrow of paper money might buy a loaf of bread.

This grim economic climate proves ripe for the growth of a fiercely nationalistic party called the National Socialists. Led by a former German Army corporal, Adolph Hitler, the National Socialist movement gains popularity and power throughout the late 1920s. When Hitler becomes chancellor in 1933, he quickly consolidates his power. In August 1934, he proclaims himself Führer leader and forces Germany’s military to proclaim personal loyalty to him.

In March 1936, German troops occupy the Rhineland, a direct violation of the Versailles Treaty. The German High Command opposes the occupation, but Hitler envisions a passive Allied response; when there is no military action by the British or French, Hitler is proven right. The Führer assumes supremacy over his military commanders.

In January 1937, Hitler formally renounces the Versailles Treaty in a speech at the Reichstag. He claims that no great world power can accept such restrictions. In November, Hitler explains his intentions for Germany at a party conference. His chief aim is to obtain Lebensraum “room for living” in Eastern Europe. He knows it will be necessary to use force; his first targets are Austria and Czechoslovakia. The Führer has no specific timetable, preferring to wait for a ripe opportunity.

In March 1938, Germany annexes Austria. One year later, Czechoslovakia comes under German control. Now Hitler looks east toward Poland.

"Peace in our time": British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returns from Munich

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Microsoft Close Combat manual Big Picture Short History of World War

Contents

Game Reference CloseCombat About Close Combat Close Combat Game Theory You Lead Human Beings, not Superheroes Taking Other Realistic Factors into Account Dynamic Play Balancing Means No Two Games Play the Same Who’s in Control? You Choose To set up Close Combat in Windows 95 if AutoRun is disabled Installation and SetupTo set up Close Combat in Windows To launch Close Combat in Windows System Requirements To set up Close Combat on the MacintoshMinimum Windows Minimum Macintosh System Configuration To launch Close Combat on the Macintosh Close Combat Game Types Playing Close Combat-An Overview Going to Boot Camp Monitors and Toolbars Quick Tour of Close CombatViewing Terrain Infantry Strategies Maneuver Play Campaign Play Replays Menu Bar Command ScreenReconnoitering Close Combat Game Buttons Level Of Difficulty Buttons Side ButtonsNumber Of Player Buttons Status Bar Game ScreenScrollable List Begin Button Toolbar Command MenuToolbar Game Play Mode Deployment Game Screen Monitors Team Monitor Attribute Description Leader Rank Enemy Threat Indicator State Description Soldier MonitorAbility Description Vehicle Team Panel Status field Description Infantry Team PanelCondition text Text Color Soldier Panels Current action Description Function Description Fatigue level Description Health DescriptionEmotional state Description Zoom Monitor Message MonitorOverview Monitor Ammunition type Description Score Summaries Debriefing ScreenVictory Information Details Button Historical Timeline Command Screen ButtonDebriefing Details Screen Save Replay Button Debriefing Table Return ButtonColor Scale Setup and Game Play Close Combat To start maneuver play Starting GamesStarting Maneuver Play To select American strength Refining the Level of DifficultyAmerican Strength German Strength To make German units always obey orders To make American units always obey ordersTo make American units are fearless To make German units fearless To make enemy intelligence always available Starting Campaign PlayTo make enemy units always visible To start a new Campaign To start a Replay Starting ReplaysTo start a saved Campaign Killed or Americans Wounded Winning Close Combat GamesScoring Killed or Germans Wounded Deploying Teams To issue a Move command Issuing CommandsIssuing Move and Move Fast Commands Issuing Fire and Smoke Commands To issue a Move Fast command To issue a Fire command To issue a Smoke command Issuing a Defend Command To issue a Hide command Issuing a Hide CommandTo issue a Defend command Toolbar in Deployment Mode Using the ToolbarDeployment Mode Game Play Mode Toolbar in Game Play mode Using the View Area Monitoring the Game Using the Message Monitor Using the Team MonitorUsing the Soldier Monitor To use the Overview monitor Pausing a GameUsing the Overview Monitor Stopping a Game Ending GamesEnding a Game To end a game To stop a game Saving GamesExiting Close Combat To exit Close Combat from Windows To choose options in Windows Using the Options MenuTo save a battle as a Replay To choose options on the Macintosh Turning Videos On/Off Turning Sound On/OffTurning Music On/Off Expanding the View Area to Use the Entire Screen Minimizing Close Combat Removing/Displaying Trees from the MapRemoving/Displaying Soldiers Killed In Action Getting Help TroubleshootingPlaying Head-to-Head Finding a Topic in the Help FilePage Shoot It Out Basic TacticsFlanking Frontal Assault Game Play Tips Infantry Tips Tactics Vehicle Tips Tactics Weapons Tips Tactics General Tips Normandy June 6 General Omar Bradley Evolution of Operation OverlordGeneral Dwight D. Eisenhower Preparations for Operation Overlord British General Bernard Montgomery German Forces in Normandy Fooling the Germans with Fortitude Allies Invade on D-Day Field Marshal Erwin Rommel Soldiers crammed into landing craft Soldiers landing on Omaha Beach Bloody Omaha and Beyond Carentan Off The Beach Soldiers taking cover Behind seawall on Omaha Beach Across The Aure Close Combat Operation German Side Normandy June 13 German Defenses in the Bocage German hedgerow defenses First Encounters in the Bocage Hedgerow Hell Sgt. Bill Davidson, in Yank Troops under fire in the bocage Allied Improvisation in the Bocage Lt. Jack Shea, from Yank Breaking the Impasse Pfc. Bob Sloane, in Yank Going for the High Ground Hill 192 and Purple Heart Draw Purple Heart Draw We did Sgt. Bill Davidson, in Yank Close Combat Operation German Side Taking Saint-Lô at LastHill Close Combat Operation U.S. Side Infantry in Battle Ruins of Saint-Lô Saint-Lô Saint-Lô Patton Unleashed It was one terrible blood- letting Trapped in the Falaise Pocket Falaise Pocket August 13Ð20 Colt .45 model Walther P Effective range 30 m 32 yds Effective range 550 m 600 yds Mauser KarSpringfield ’03 Rifle Gewehr Semiautomatic Rifle Garand Rifle Browning Automatic Rifle BAR M1 Carbine Effective range 75 m 83 yds Thompson Submachine Gun MP40 Machine Pistol Caliber Air-Cooled Machine Gun M1919A4 MG 42 Machine Gun Caliber Air-Cooled Machine Gun M2-HB Grenade Launcher Armor penetration 240 mm 9.4 Armor penetration 230 mm 9 BazookaRocket Launcher Mark II Fragmentation Grenade Egg Grenade SpecificationsGerman Hand Grenades American Hand Grenades Stick Grenade Mm Mortar Mortar 60-mm M2 and Mount M2 Close Combat Mm Antitank Gun Pak M1 57-mm Antitank Gun Inch Gun M5 Armor penetration 122 mm 4.8 7.5-cm Light Infantry Gun Armor penetration 96 mm 3.8 Panzer III L Medium Tank M5A1 Light Tank Mm Sherman Tank Panzer IV H Tank M4A3 76.2-mm Sherman Tank Panzer V Panther Medium Tank StuG IIIG/StuH Infantry Support Tanks Tiger I Heavy Tank M10 Tank Destroyer Marder III Self-Propelled Antitank Gun M36 Tank Destroyer Jagdpanther Hunting Panther Tank Destroyer SdKfz 250 Light Armored Troop Carrier M3A1 Halftrack Armament Various SdKfz 231 Armored Car Jeep Kfz 1 Kübelwagen Terrain Basic Terrain Civilian Terrain Marsh Orchard Barbed Wire Military Terrain Wooden Structures Wood Buildings Stone Buildings Bunkers Big Picture Short History of World War Let Loose the Dogs of War World War II Begins Russia Invades Finland Germany Blitzes West Close Combat 125 Battle of Britain 127 Close Combat Desert Fox The North Africa Campaign General Erwin Rommel in North Africa Barbarossa Begins Germany Attacks Russia Scale of Forces Germans advancing into Russia Hitler and the Wehrmacht Problems of Command Sunday Surprise The Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbor Germany and Italy Declare War on the United States Omar Nelson Bradley Allies Agree to Beat Germany First Dieppe Debacle Long Road to Normandy Convoys and Wolfpacks the Battle of the Atlantic Germany Blitzes East Again War in the Pacific Axis Cracks The German Defeat At Stalingrad Russian soldiers in winter camouflage on the attack Close Combat Monty and Torch The North Africa Campaign British soldiers in North Africa British officer on tank combat near El Alamein Erwin Rommel Bernard L. Montgomery 145 Close Combat Long Formation The Air War In Europe Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill at Tehran Foothold in Europe  Landings in Sicily Fierce Encounters Landings in Italy American First Division fighting in Italy From Yank, an American military publication Problems of Supply On To Rome From Shots Fired in Anger by Lt. Col. John George 153 Close Combat Racing Toward the Rhine End of Festung EuropaOn the Eve of Operation Overlord Red Army Marches To Vengeance Collapse of Festung Europa Last Blitzkrieg The Battle of the Bulge American tanks on the move in Germany American and Russian soldiers Road to BerlinRed Sky in the East the Soviets Capture Berlin Final Surrender And Beyond Photostat of German surrender with Jodls signature World War II ends-and the Cold War begins