Prior to Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor that resulted in the United States formally entering the war in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters, support for the war had been mixed with some noted industrialists (such as the Ford Motor company) providing material support to the Axis, while other elements supported the Allies. Stiff resistance and the onset of bitter winter weather prevented a quick German victory, leading to protracted war on Germany's Eastern Front. Germany boldly attacked the Soviet Union, initially with considerable success. In North Africa Italy attempted an invasion of Egypt but was beaten back drawing Germany into the conflict there. Although Britain was not invaded or subjugated by Germany's intensive bombing campaign, Britain's survival was threatened by an Axis blockade using submarines, warship raiders, and land-based aircraft that undermined her means to continue resisting. Italy joined what she perceived would be a short war in order for her to benefit from the spoils. In 1940 Germany invaded Denmark and Norway, and then the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Germany launched the war in Europe with the invasion of Poland prompting war with Britain and France and the naval blockade of Germany. She initially achieved annexations short of war by unopposed initiatives in Alsace-Lorraine, Austria, and Czechoslovakia. See also: Military history of the United Kingdom during World War II and United States Navy in World War IIĭuring the 1930s, Germany began rebuilding her military from its dissolution following World War I. Īircraft carriers played a major role in winning decisive naval battles, supporting key amphibious landings, and keeping critical merchant shipping lanes open for transporting military personnel and their equipment to land battle zones.Ītlantic war overview (1939-1945) As naval historian Admiral Herbert Richmond stated, "Sea power did not win the war itself: it enabled the war to be won". In both theaters, maritime dominance enabled combatants to use the sea for their own purposes and deprive its use by adversaries. Įffective transport of troops and military supplies between the two war theaters required naval protection for shipping routes around the Cape of Good Hope, through the Suez canal, and through the Panama Canal. Īllied operations in the Atlantic and Pacific war theaters were interconnected because they frequently competed for scarce naval resources for everything from aircraft carriers to transports and landing craft. Without Britain's survival and without Allied shipments of food, materiel and industrial equipment to the Soviet Union, her military and economic power would likely not have rebounded in time for Russian soldiers to prevail at Stalingrad and Kursk. Without the Allied victory in keeping shipping lanes open during the Battle of the Atlantic, Britain could not have fed her people or withstood Axis offensives in Europe and North Africa. Naval battles to keep shipping lanes open for combatant's movement of troops, guns, ammunition, tanks, warships, aircraft, raw materials, and food largely determined the outcome of land battles. Naval historians such as Evan Mawdsley, Richard Overy, and Craig Symonds concluded that World War II's decisive victories on land could not have been won without decisive victories at sea. ![]() Later in the war small escort carriers built on civilian cargo hulls took over convoy protection. Offensive operations began with the Norwegian campaign where British carriers supported the fighting on land.Ĭarriers were important to the Mediterranean and Middle East theatre where they were used to resupply Malta's aircraft and so keep it viable in preventing resupply of Axis forces in North Africa. ![]() Aircraft carriers were used from the start of the war in Europe looking for German merchant raiders and escorting convoys. World War II was the first war where naval aviation took a major part in the hostilities. Main article: Aircraft carrier operations during World War II
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