Microsoft Close Combat manual Sunday Surprise The Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbor

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 133

Finally, on December 5 Hitler agrees with his commanders he must suspend the offensive against Moscow. The next day, Stalin orders a counteroffensive. The Soviets attack all along the 500-mile front. Their objective is to quickly drive two wedges deep into Army Group Center, isolate the Germans, then beat them in detail. From the beginning the attacks meet with success; the Germans are exhausted and overextended.

Enraged by the turn of events on the Eastern Front, Hitler replaces both Rundstedt and Bock. Then he dismisses General Walter von Brauchitsch as Commander in Chief of the German Army; Hitler himself takes the post. From this point forward, he will personally direct the German Army.

At first Hitler makes a wise move: He commands all units in Russia to stand fast and defend their ground. This stiffens resolve and prevents the Red Army from routing the Germans, who are able to fall back and establish defensive positions they will hold until spring. But this success leads Hitler to believe that his commanders are worth- less; from now on he will often disregard their advice.

By year’s end, the losses on the Eastern Front are staggering. The Red Army has endured at least 5,000,000 casualties and the Germans have taken 3,000,000 prisoners. The loss of materiel is also immense 30,000 guns and 20,000 tanks. The Wehrmacht (German Army) has also suffered huge losses. The difference is that the Germans have not destroyed the Soviets’ ability to rearm, both from within and through Lend-Lease shipments from the United States.

Sunday Surprise The Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbor

A form of National Socialism took root in Japan in the 1920s; by the late mid-1930s Japan has invaded Manchuria in search of resources and cheap labor. Tensions escalate as the United States uses trade sanctions to cut off oil supplies to Japan. While negotiations continue between Tokyo and Washington, the Japanese mobilize for war. When diplomatic efforts fail to produce results acceptable to both sides, the Japanese government decides to take action.

On Sunday, December 7 at 0755 local time, Japanese carrier-based planes attack the U.S. Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Japanese achieve complete surprise. Resistance is token; the Japanese lose only 29 planes. In a matter of hours, five American battleships, three cruisers, and three destroyers are sunk, and

Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941