Factors that caused End of WWII

Question 1

How was germany defeated due to its inadequacies

Answer 1

• Germany’s slow and inefficient armament production undermined its war effort.
• Germany’s focus on building battleships and cruisers instead of more effective U-boatsshowed a major misallocation of resources.
• Costly and ambitious projects, like the V-2 rocket program and oversized tanks like the Maus, diverted essential resources from more practical military needs.
• Germany’s focus on making many different kinds of weapons instead of sticking to essential equipment led to shortages of crucial equipment like trucks and winter clothing, which was a big problem during the invasion of the USSR.

Question 2

How was Japan defeated due to its overstretched empire?

Answer 2

• Japan occupied almost the whole of SEA, large territory for forces to manage
• Overstretched, could not maintain and defend territories
• defending multiple fronts against powerful Allied forces.
• Key military defeats decimated numbers of experienced pilots and aircraft carriers
• Japan’s strained supply lines and inability to replace lost ships, aircraft, and personnel weakened its military effectiveness
• Struggled with limited funds, resources and manpower VS Allied forces’ combined resources and manpower allowed quick recovery
• Eg. Battle of the Philippine Sea (The Marianas Islands),
• Battle of the Leyte Gulf (the Philippines), Iwo Jima
  ➔ Battles inflicted heavy damage to Japanese military strength, weakened ability to effectively defend empire

Question 3

How did US Economic Might lead to end of WWII

Answer 3

• The U.S. rapidly converted its industrial base to support the war effort, producing tanks, ships, aircraft, and munitions far beyond the capabilities of the Axis powers. Largest Industrial Producer in the World
• Programs like the Lend-Lease Act (Total US$50
  billion to its allies) allowed the U.S. to supply its Allies with essential resources, bolstering their ability to fight.
• Solved Allied problems of military shortages, bolstered the Allied war machine
• Sent large numbers of military personnel (soldiers, intelligence officers) to aid military campaigns
• well-organized workforce and financial resources

Question 4

How did Allied Strategies (Island Hopping) win them WWII?

Answer 4

• Involved using air attacks and submarines to isolate Japanese-held areas. Instead of trying to capture them
• the allies then conquer the islands which were poorly defended, use them to further cut off ships that supplied the islands
• the idea was to cut off some areas (not to conquer every Japanese stronghold) from their supplies of food, ammunitions and other essentials
• Outcome: Successful as Allies incurred fewer casualties and come within striking distance of Japan itself

Question 5

How did Allied Strategies (Atomic Bomb)

Answer 5

• War in Asia Pacific increasingly violent, Japan showed that it would not accept unconditional surrender
• aimed to avoid a costly invasion of the Japanese mainland, which was expected to result in millions of casualties on both sides
• The bombings brought unprecedented destruction, killing over 200,000 people and devastating both cities.
• The sheer scale of destruction and the terrifying power of the bombs shocked Japan’s leadership and populace, demonstrating that continued resistance would lead to further annihilation

Question 6

Why was germany defeated due to war on two fronts?

Answer 6

• Greatest mistake, conducted war on two fronts.
• While still at war with Britain in Western Front, invaded USSR, opening up Eastern front
• While gaining upper hand against Soviets, declared war on USA
• (believed USA occupied with fighting Japan in the Pacific, but Roosevelt concentrated troops and efforts in Europe)
• Prevented from concentrating his efforts on a single theatre of war

Question 7

Why was Germany defeated for its ineffective command structure?

Answer 7

• German state and military command structure suffered from a confusing system of overlapping authority.
• Only Hitler had the power to make decisions/had access to all information, insisted on making decisions ought to have been left to military
• Often went against the advice of his experienced generals, mistakes:
  o (eg. Battle of Britain: Shifted focus from destroying British Royal Air Force to attacking Britain’s cities, allowed time to recover, denied victory over Britain)
  o (eg. Invasion of Soviet Union: upper hand, shifted some military divisions from Moscow to attack other places, mostly Ukraine, lost chance to end war against USSR decisively)