World War 2

Parker, The Second World War Ch. 6, "Japanese Victories and Disappointments: December 1941 to August 1942,” pages 86-94; Ch. 7, “The End of German Expansion: The Atlantic, North Africa, and Russia, 1942-43,” pages 98-114 (beginning with discussion of North Africa); Ch. 12, “Driving Back the Germans: North Africa, Italy, and Russia,” pp. 177-185 (through discussion of Salerno landings)

Overy, Why the Allies Won Ch.3, "Deep War: Stalingrad and Kursk," pages 63-100

Bess, Choices Under Fire Ch. 7, "Decisions at Midway, 1942: Moral Character as a Factor in Battle," pages 136-165

Optional Viewings

A very good documentary series available on YouTube is Soviet Storm: WWII in the East, originally a Russian production overdubbed into English. In particular for this module, see the episode on Kursk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgo3p1IqVy0.

With the Marines at Tarawa at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JolhiCbU_u8. This documentary was shot by combat photographers and released in the United States in 1944. It was a graphic depiction of the gruesome combat faced by American soldiers in the "island-hopping" campaign and served to steel the home front for the losses to come in the last year of the war.

Prompt:

Essay 1:

How important were the battles at Stalingrad and Kursk to the overall outcome of the war? Talk about the goals of the commanders on each side, how they organized and deployed their forces, and what they hoped to accomplish. Be sure to provide context on the size and scope of the Eastern Front. How did the Soviets win these battles? To what set of factors does Overy attribute this success? Simple mass of numbers? Fighting spirit or resolve? What do you make of his argument?

Essay 2:

Why was the Battle of Midway such an important turning point in the Pacific War? What were the goals of the Japanese? What gamble did they make? What did they lose? What factors supported American success in the battle, according to Bess? In this case, does the old adage about “luck being when preparation meets opportunity” hold true? How might the battle have turned out differently?   

Each essay should be of 2-3 pages