World War II as a Total War

The Battle for the Atlantic

Strategic Bombing in Europe

Originally, both sides held back from attacking cities, but then the Luftwaffe accidentally bombed East London; therefore, RAF had to retaliate

This gave Hitler the excuse to launch the Blitz, a full-scale air assault against British cities

• 1940-1943: Britain and Germany fought to see who could dominate the Atlantic
• Hitler needed U-boats to keep Britain/USA occupied while he was tied up in the USSR
• In order to take down the U-boats, Allies had to avoid them and attack them, which required a precise knowledge of the position/movement of the U-boats

Britain cracked the Enigma codes, so Allies had intelligence advantage

By May 1943, convoys were protected by technical innovations (High-Frequency Direction Finder: provided accurate bearing towards any submarine that used its radio)

Air power was used to attack the U-boats: long-range aircraft (with short-wave radar and searchlights) picked out U-boats on the surface at night; small aircraft carrier escorts accompanied convoys to give protection

Strategic Bombing in the Pacific

Wars at Sea

Strategic Bombing

Japan suffered a lot of bombing. Their houses were made of wood, bamboo, and paper. The Japanese were terrified, and there was no one to work in the factories. With this bombing combined with a sea blockade, Japan was basically defeated. After the two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered. Japan was defeated purely through air power; no invasion was necessary

Sea warfare was no longer about battles between large fleets and huge battleships; it was now about controlling supply lines

• Focused on destroying the military and industrial infrastructure of a country
• Directed against civilians to crush their morale
• Blurred the distinction between combatant and non-combatant

Naval war in the Pacific

• In the war with Japan, one could see even more clearly how aircraft in sea warfare was revolutionary
• Japan had hoped to intercept Allied shipping to prevent any reinforcements reaching the Pacific
• USA realized from the very beginning that aircraft was vital to naval combat, so they were already prepared at the start of the war
• American ships had radar and had access to Japanese codes, which were crucial factors in their success at the battles of Coral Sea and Midway in 1942

Role of Weapons

In an ideal, total war, weapons would be made for absolute destruction.

Britain

In Britain, mines, shipping, and railways came under state control, and public transport came as public service instead of as private business

World War II as Total War

Economy

Germany

Germany focused on high quality and technical sophistication instead of mass production, which resulted in huge disadvantages since WWII was a war of attrition.

Britain

• Mass production of weapons and other goods
• Strong industrial growth
• Good economy results in good morale from people

Military conscription was still used, but it was carefully controlled so that key workers were left in the important industries; women played a bigger role in industry

Every resource used is dedicated toward defeating the enemy.

Propaganda

Germany

Role of Civilians

• Key weapon of governments to win support for the war effort

• Radio was a very important weapon in the war

At first, there was little strain on their economy; when they tried to deploy human resources more effectively from 1942 onwards, there was little support; women weren’t allowed in the workplace

Role of the Government

In an ideal, total war, the government would be responsible over the economy and propaganda so that both things would be used to support the war.

In an ideal, total war, every civilian would help the war effort by working in war industries.

Civilians would also be considered an enemy target since defeating the enemy includes defeating the home front.

USSR

Civilians could be mobilized because of the centralized nature of the state; workers were forced to move to areas where they were needed; women made up most of the workforce but also served in the armed forces

America

Women played a key role in war industries. There were high taxes. A lot of propaganda was used to impart a strong sense of patriotism.

Evelynne Suen

Japan

They were reluctant to use women in the workforce, preferring to use conscript students instead. The home front was not strong because the government did not pay enough attention to the mobilization of its manpower.