Z4 - US HISTORY - #10 - BATTLE OF MIDWAY, D-DAY - 11th Grade

Explain the confusion that the Germans suffered from that helped the Allied invasion on D-Day?

(1) They suffered confusion in their ranks. (2) Commander Rommel was away on leave. (3) Hitler believed the invasion at Normandy was a feint (deception) to distract the Germans so he refused to release divisions to join the counterattack.

Explain tactics that the Allies used in order to deceive the Nazi's as to where the Allies would make their invasion in Norther Europe.

(1) They wanted the Germans to believe the main invasion target was Pas-d-Calais rather than Normandy. (2) Norway was the potential invasion target. (3) They used fake equipment, a phantom army commanded by General Patton, double agents & fraudulent radio transmissions.

Explain the significance that historians attribute to the American victory at Midway.

(1) the Japanese aircraft losses at Midway eliminated the Imperial Navy's air arm. (2) It was the turning point in the Pacific theater war. (3) It was a cusp in the war where initiative hung in the balance to swing toward the Allies in the Guadalcanal campaign.

Describe the American losses during the Midway battle.

147 aircraft and more than 300 seamen

How many Allied troops stormed Normandy's beaches?

156,000

How many casualties did the Americans have at Omaha Beach?

2,000

How many aircraft and sailors did the U.S. have involved in the sinking of the 4 Japanese carriers and 1 cruiser?

322 aircraft and 5,000 sailors

How many casualties did the Allied forces have in the D-Day invasion?

4,000

How many U.S. ships and landing craft carrying troops and supplies left England for the trip across the Channel to France.

5,000

Who was the American Pacific fleet commander?

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz

Who was the Japanese fleet commander?

Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku

Where the names of the 4 Japanese carriers the U.S. sank during the Midway battle?

Akagi, Kaga, Soryu & Hiryu.

Why weren't the American fleets crushed at Midway?

American intelligence solved the Japanese felt codes enabling the Pacific Fleet Commander Chester W. Nimitz to understand the exact Japanese plans. Nimitz placed available U.S. carriers in position to surprise the Japanese moving up to their preparatory air strikes on Midway Island itself.

Describe the Japanese losses during the battle of Midway.

Americans sank 4 fleet carriers and their heavy cruiser.

What is the name of the battle of that D-Day is associated with?

Battle of Normandy

What raid convinced the Japanese that their homeland was not immune to attack?

Doolittle Raid

In the American Army, who was appointed commander of Operation Overlord?

General Dwight Eisenhower

Who was Erwin Rommel and what was his role in the preparations for what would become D-Day?

German WWII Field Marshall in charge of spear-heading German defense operations.

The British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture beaches. What were the codenames of these beaches?

Gold, Juno, Sword

What was the significance of the Battle of Normandy (D-Day) in terms of its overall impact on the war in Europe?

It began to turn the tide against the Nazis and prevented Hitler from sending troops from France to build up his Eastern front against the Soviets.

What was the original intended day for D-Day?

June 5, 1944

What is the date of D-Day?

June 6, 1944

What was the name of the Japanese cruiser?

Mikuma

What beach did the Americans face heavy resistance?

Omaha Beach

What was the codename of the battle that D-Day is associated with?

Operation Overlord

Why were Japanese carries vulnerable in the battle of Midway?

They were caught while refueling and rearming their planes, making them especially vulnerable.

After the Battle of Midway, where did the Americans head to next?

Tokyo

What beach did the Americans first hit?

Utah Beach

Why was the date for D-Day delayed?

bad weather conditions

How many U.S. aircraft were mobilized to provide air cover & support for the invasion?

more than 11,000

Explain the fleet that Japanese put into the Midway Battle.

six aircraft carriers, eleven battleships, thirteen cruises, forty-five destroyers, submarines, etc.

What was Japan's goal in the Battle of Midway?

to sink the American aircraft carriers that had escaped destruction at Pearl Harbor.

What did the Japanese hope would happen after the attack on Pearl Harbor?

when the United States began its counterattack, the Japanese would be prepared to crush them.