MH-17: Victory in EuropeVictory In Europe- Strategic OverviewAllied Advances- Strategic OverviewAir War – US Defeat of Luftwaffe (1943-44)Results of Strategic Bombing RaidsAir Support for Operation OverlordAirmen Attitude Toward OverlordAllied POL offensiveWestern Campaign – Italy (Oct 1943- June 1944)Allied Tactical SuccessNormandy Invasion- Dieppe LessonsNormandy Order of BattleNormandy- Planning & ObjectivesFriction, Battlefield Prep, & ExecutionExecution- at 0001 on 6 June 1944ResultsBreakout - Operation CobraKey Allied Penetration- Aug 1944Allied Advance Toward the RhineTactical Objectives & Command RelationsMonty’s Complaints & ErrorsOperation Market-Garden- Order of BattlePlans & ObjectivesConcept of OperationsAirborne Targets: ExecutionExecution (Arnhem): Intel & FrictionResults & AnalysisCollapse of Germany Air contribution – 3 prongs:Battle of the Bulge- Order of BattlePlans & Objectives: “Wacht am Rhein”ExecutionOffensive Stalls & Bulge ResultsGermany- Collapse in the EastThe Hitler FactorGermany- Collapse in the West (Jan-Feb 1945)Final CollapseWWII: AssessmentWWII: Assessment- 2WWII: Assessment- 3Slide 40Back-up SlidesSlide 421MH-17: Victory in Europe2Victory In Europe- Strategic Overview •Germany’s Leadership & army’s quality/quantity decline:– Logistics & re-supply almost non-existent•By contrast- Allied capability & tactical/Ops skills rise: –Quantity in all areas even more superior–Logistics, $$$ resources & industrial capacity unmatched–Overall cumulative impact => wear Germans down•Air War: during 1944 (Feb-May) => Allied victory:– Allies forcefully defeat Luftwaffe => •Achieve air superiority & interdict German Logistics:•At the same time Allied air protects its Logistics3Allied Advances- Strategic Overview•Sea Control established (in addition to air superiority):–Amphibious landing at Normandy successful–Infantry advance (once established) unstoppable–Break-out from beachhead soon followed–Logistic/re-supply uninterrupted (Air & Navy protect)•Intel collect, analysis, & deception superior & exploited•Joint/combined military coordination much improved =>–Especially between Anglo/American forces•Although rivalries continue to exists – example? •East & West advance on Both fronts =>–Squeeze Germany ever more in the middle:•Actual penetration of Germany’s borders approaching–June 44: Russians cross into greater Germany from the East–March 45: Western Allies cross the Rhine4Air War – US Defeat of Luftwaffe (1943-44) •British Bomber Command attacks on Berlin:–Encounter much difficulty & suffer high casualties•US 8th & 15th Air Force attack deep inside Germany:–Fighter escort provided by long range P-51s–US target focus of raids (Feb-May’44) =>• German Aircraft industry–Battle of attrition ensues: –Both sides suffer high causalities5Results of Strategic Bombing Raids•Raids fail to achieve objective: –Stop Germany’s fighter product•German fighter production actually increases–But quality of fighter declines–Also forced to close other A/C production lines•German Air Defense (Night Fighters) weakens:–Suffer high casualties => Defense becomes unsustainable–By May’44 US owned the sky over Germany at night6Air Support for Operation Overlord •Battlefield preparation: –By April=> Operation Overlord was ready–Air Marshall Tedder & the scientists Solly Zuckermann designed a plan to isolate Normandy•Planning & preparation Aims: –Maintain secret logistic build-up & preparation–How? (Essential pre-condition to success of landings?)•Essential pre-condition to success of landings:–In addition to tactical surprise through effective OPSEC–Air Superiority throughout Channel area =>why?– Allow allies to establish ?______________________(How?)•Through ?______________ of enemy aircraft attempting to fly in7Airmen Attitude Toward Overlord•Airmen attitude toward plan for Overlord Air support? –Air Marshall Harris? •?______________- attempts to exploit Political concern of Fr civilian casualties•Ironic (given his outspoken support for area bombing) –General Spaatz? •Prefers to continue strikes on ?___________with shift to ?_____________•Ike’s & Tedder’s response?–?______________: •POL & interdiction of enemy transportation system–Zuckerman’s analysis addressing Harris’ objections?• Failed to take current ?______________ __________results now in effect•Airman eventually fell in line:–Transportation infrastructure interdiction successful–Air contribution key to allied victory in France:•Denied Germany its re-supply & re-enforcement capability8Allied POL offensive •Luftwaffe staff also concludes their POL is a good allied target:–May’44 8th AF attack synthetic POL plants–Heavy allied causalities result– But ULTRA validates POL as a credible target:•Decrypted message traffic reveals negative German reaction•Germans redistribute air defense systems to protect POL•Impact: by late July:–German Aviation gas down by 98%–Air defense restricted & no air/ground training: why?•Not enough ?______________, Aircraft and ?______________9Western Campaign – Italy (Oct 1943- June 1944) •Allied drive stalled at Gustav Line by late ’43:–Allies attempt by-pass by amphibious landing at Anzio•Operation Shingle: –Planning & execution shortfalls–Also missed opportunity–Operational Objective:•Cut off German supplies•Force Germans to withdraw–MG Lucas’s hesitation=> •Allowed Germans to shift from a vulnerable position & was soon relieved•Result: allies stalled & other attacks fail at high cost in CAS until May’4410Allied Tactical Success•11 May: Allied Offensive successful after 3 days:–Free French break-thru Gustav Line over Mountains to east•Other penetrations soon follow•VI Corps (w/new CMDR- MG Truscott) finally breaks out of Anzio:–Attacks German 10th Army who is forced to withdraw to North•LTG Mark Clark orders VI corps to turn NW to liberate Rome (5 June):–Clark thus allows 10th Army to escape–Reason: Politics, publicity, ego, and glory•Allies continue to press Germans who withdraw slowly North =>–Fall back in fighting withdrawal to Gothic Line–Germans continue to resist by exploiting weather & mountainous terrain11Normandy Invasion- Dieppe Lessons•Bitter lessons learned at port of Dieppe (Aug’42):–Failure of