The World War II Multimedia Database

At the time of Pearl Harbor, the US Navy fleet submarines designed in the 1930's had a standing order: sink whatever you can of the enemy's military and merchant fleet. Yamamoto had a different standing order for his boats: save your torpedoes and go for the capital ships. Both strategies had very different implications for their navies.

In the spring of 1942, Adolf Hitler had taken direct command of his Army Groups in the Soviet Union and outlined his plan for the coming campaign season. He intended to throw everything into taking Moscow, except for a smaller operation to capture Leningrad. Then he would turn south, capture Sevastapol, and march on Stalingrad and the Caucasus oil fields. Then, he would move on India and possibly link up with the Japanese if they invaded India from Burma. He could also attack Allied positions in Egypt through the Middle East.

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Cast

Introduction

In July 1936, Spain was ruled as a monarchist republic. Strikes and political maneuvering marked months of economic turmoil. Into this cauldron stepped Spanish Army General Francisco Franco, commander of the armies of Spanish Morocco. He attempted a coup de état in late July 1936, coming to Madrid from Morocco borne by German and Italian aircraft.

After the Battle of Kursk in July 1943, the Germans took up defensive positions and fell back in an orderly retreat.The Red Army, now with aggressive, confident commanders like Georgi Zhukov and Vasily Chuikov backed by increasing quantities of tanks, aircraft, planes and men, supplemented by deliveries from the United States and the United Kingdom, created a very large force that the Soviets were able to convert from defense at Kursk to offense almost immediately.

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In fierce naval action, the Americans and Japanese suffered greatly. Here the Americans lose the USS Hornet. October 26, 1942. Movie

When Guadalcanal was secured, the Solomons were still largely held in Japanese hands or deserted. To the north, the major Japanese base on New Britain, Rabaul, could control the entire area with its large complement of aircraft and its excellent naval anchorage. The Allies held Guadalcanal, with its expanding airfield, and were beginning to grow in strength all through 1943.

As a result of the first Sino-Japanese war (1895) that also made Korea a part of Japan, troops had been garrisoned along a railroad from the rich resources of Manchuria to Korean ports-of-trade. Raw materials and finished goods would roll down this railway to docks in Korea to be shipped to Japan. The Japanese Army, who controlled this railroad, wanted more of Manchuria’s resources and didn’t want to pay for them.

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The Japanese sink HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse. December 10, 1941. Movie

In making plans for war, the Japanese coveted the tin and rubber of Malaya. The islands were rich in resources, and nearby Java had badly needed oil. The American embargo had left Japan with enough oil to last through 1944 if consumption was reduced.