4. Final Defeat 1944-1945 Flashcards
After Russian counteroffensive, what was it a matter of time of?
before German forces collapsed
despite Allies success, what major setbacks did they face?
Montgomery’s attempt to drop airborne troops behind German lines at Arnhem, which proved disastrous; and Hitler’s counter-attack against Allied forces in Ardennes
Operation Market Garden: by mid-sept, allied forces controlled?
Belgium and Netherland
Operation Market Garden: who launched operation?
General Montgomery
Operation Market Garden: aim?
to outflank German defences in Netherlands by seizing bridgeheads over the Rhine (behind Siegfried Line)
Operation Market Garden: however, was the operation too optimistic?
as *Allied intelligence in region poor,
- can’t use Enigma machine as used different radio frequencies,
- maps outdated and no back up plan
Operation Market Garden: how did campaign start?
well with paratroopers dropped with aim of capturing bridgeheads on rivers Meuse, Rhine and lower Rhine
Operation Market Garden: when did things begin to go wrong?
British airbone division and Polish brigade dropped at Arnhem but many landed kms from their target,
ground forces could not make way to Arnhem to meet other British forces,
forces at Arnhem faced heavy German resistance,
force at Arnhem was there for 10 days (not 2) against strong German forces and Germans found Allied plans in a downed plane
Operation Market Garden: how many casualties?
18 000 killed, captured or wounded
Operation Market Garden: what did Germans do on Dutch people?
German took revenge on hundred of Dutch people who they thought were behind the planned attack
Operation Market Garden: what was Allied progress in region now like?
slow and costly
The Battle of the Bulge: what was allied advance stopped by?
the Germans by a counter offensive through the Ardennes forest on the 16th of December.
The Battle of the Bulge: what did Hitler think would allow him to win and seek a negotiated peace?
by capturing Antwerp (the main allied supply base)
The Battle of the Bulge: by capturing Antwerp, he may be able to focus on?
Russian front
The Battle of the Bulge: what was the battle known as?
Operation ‘Watch on the Rhine’
The Battle of the Bulge: British and American taken by?
surprise
The Battle of the Bulge: German pushed through?
Ardennes region of Belgium and Luxembourg but failed to make it to the Meuse River
The Battle of the Bulge: succeeded in?
creating a bulge in the American line
The Battle of the Bulge: Allies dealt with the attack, and by late December?
allied air power became decisive due to improved weather conditions, Germany had lost the battle
The Battle of the Bulge: benefit of Germany?
benefit surprise
The Battle of the Bulge: why it would not have succeeded from start?
German panzers had inadequate fuel, the mountain roads made advance difficult and exposed to Allied air attack when weather clear in 2nd week
The Battle of the Bulge: casualties?
Allied = 82 400 casualties, Germans = more than 100 000
The Battle of the Bulge: when did retaking bulge occur?
until early Feb
The Battle of the Bulge: effect of battle on Germany?
weakened Germany’s fighting ability = used last of his reserves and fuel
