World War II Almanac, 1931-1945. A Political and Military Record

516 Pages·1984·61.47 MB·English

by  Robert Goralski

WAR
WORLD n
ALMANAC
Acomplete chronology
ofcombatdaybyday,
battles front byfront,
land, seaand air. With
hundreds ofphotographs,
maps, graphs and
1931-1945
men
statistical tables of
and arms.
A POLITICAL
AND RECORD
MILITARY
ROBERT
GORALSKI

WORLD WAR ALMANAC: 1931-1945
II
WORLD
ALMANAC:
A POLITICAL AND
(0\FRi.EAH An infantryman ofthe U.S. 3rdDivision
pauses at the altar of a bomb-damaged church in
Acerno, Italy.
WARM
1931-1945
RECORD
MILITARY Robert Goralski
BONANZA BOOKS • New York
Copyright © 1981 by Robert Goralski
All rights reserved.
This 1984 edition is published by Bonanza Books,
distributed by Crown Publishers, Inc. by arrangement
with CP. Putnam's Sons.
Manufactured in the United States ofAmerica
LibraryofCongress Catalogingin Publication Data
Goralski, Robert.
WorldWar II almanac, 1931-1945.
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
—
1. World War, 1939-1945 Chronologx. 1. Title.
D743.5.C64 1984 940.53'()2'02 ' 84-16844
ISBN: 0-517-44903X
h g f e d c b a
Maps and charts b\ Robert Goralski
Designed by Barbara Huntley
First Perigee printing, 1982
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
PHOTO CREDITS: Armour and Company, 286; Joseph 328(left),348,383,385,404(bottom),415,418(bottom);U.S.
Arens(CapturedEnemyMilitary DocumentsCollection, U.S. Army, overleaf, opposite acknowledgments, opposite intro-
Army), 109;BilddokumentevonKampfundKrieg, 103, 105, duction. 1 (bottom), 174, 195 (bottom), 199, 201, 212, 224
112, 115, 117, 118, 120, 121, 123, 135;BohlenCollection(U.S. (bottom),229,239(bottom),246.251 (bottom).253,266.269,
Dept. of Slate), 293 (bottom); Eva Braun Collection (U.S. 271, 272, 290. 291 (top). 292. 293 (top). 295, 299 (bottom).
Army), 143 (top); Captured Enemy Documents Collection 302.303.304,307,308,309,311 (left),312(lopandbottom),
(U.S. Army), 352 (bottom), 355 (top), 365 (bottom), 366(top 314 (top and bottom), 317, 318. 323. 324 (left, right and
and bottom); Captured Enemy Documents Collection (U.S. bottom), 325. 328. 329 (lop). 330. 331. 333. 338 (right). 339,
Navy), 186(bottom);Deutschlanderwacht, Werden,Kampf 341 (lop and bottom), 342 (top and bottom), 343. 344, 345,
undSiegder NSDAP. 3, 12 (left and right), 13. 17 (topand 346 (lop left), 347, 349 (lopand bottom). 350, 351, 354 (top
bottom), 19, 21, 23, 29,30(top); Domei Collection (National andbottom),356,362.363(leftandright).364.367 (topand
Archives), 57, 68; Heinrich Hoffman (Captured Enemy bottom),369(top), 370,372,373,374(bottom),376,377(top
Military Documents Collection, U.S. Army), 77 (bottom); andbottom),384,390,391,392,397,398,401,402,404(top),
Imperial War Museum, 36, 41 (bottom), 77 (top), 80, 90, 98, 405 (topand bottom), 406, 412. 413, 419, 420(bottom); U.S.
113, 119, 128, 141, 147, 182,224(left),226,245,281;Tamura CoastGuard,297(bottom);U.S. MarineCorps,298,299(top),
Konosuke (Captured finemy Documents Collection, U.S. 305, 346 (top right), 380; U.S. Navy, 49 (bottom), 143
Army), 257; London Fire Brigade, 103 (bottom), 131; (bottom), 161. 186. 190. 195 (top). 213 (left and right), 215,
McDonnell Douglas, 259, 276, 375; Arai Shori (Captured 217, 219, 233, 235. 236. 237. 238 (left and right), 239 (top),
Enemy Documents Collection, U.S. Army), 262; Susuki 242, 251 (top), 287, 289 (left and right), 291 (bottom), 306,
Makoto (Captured Enemy Documents Collection, U.S. 311 (right),320(topandbottom),321.322,326,329(bottom),
Army), 352 (top). National Archives, 1 (top), 5, 7 (top and 334(leftandright),346(bottom).353(all),355(bottom).357
bottom), 9, 25 (top and bottom), 30 (bottom), 41 (top), 49 (topandbottom).358.360(bottom),365(top),369(bottom),
(top), 59, 61, 126, 178; Nimitz Collection (U.S. Navy). 186 371, 374 (top), 379, 381, 387. 393. 396, 416 (bottom), 420
(top),416(lop),418(top);RibbenlropCollection(U.S. Army). (top); Ihara Usaburo (Captured Enemy Documents Collec-
61 (bottom).69,75, 135(right), 136(leftand right), 137, 138, tion, U.S. Army), 193, 360 (right middle); Lt. W.R. Wilson,
139, 173, 180; Miyamoto Saburo (Captured Enemy Docu- U.S. Army, 255; World War II Collection of Seized Enemy
mentsCollection, US Army), 204, 216; Kobayakawa Toku- Records, National Archives, 160; Diosdado M. Yap, Bataan
shiro (Captured Enemy Documents Collection, U.S. Army), Magazine, 211
206; U.S. Air Force, 254, 274, 285. 288, 297 (top), 315, 327,

Contents
Acknowledgments xi 1939
The peace is shattered in Poland. 77
Introduction xv
1940
Germany appears unstoppable until the Battle
1931
of Britain. 103
Japanese militarism in Manchuria kindles
fires of war. 1 1941
1932 The mammoth clash of arms begins
A world in depression is made ripe for dra- in Russia, and Japan slashes through the
matic and drastic change. 7 Pacific. 143
1942
1933
Hitler wins power and Germany accedes to Japan rules most of east Asia, but the Axis is
halted in North Africa. 195
dictatorial rule. 17
1934 1943
New alignments of power develop of nations Allied forces on all fronts turn the tide of
frantically seek security. 25 battle. 251
1935 1944
Hitler rearms Germany; Mussolini conquers Europe's liberation begins with a Channel
Ethiopia. 31 crossing. 299
1936 1945
—
Spain is engulfed in civil war, and Europe's Peace returns for a while. 369
will and arms are put to the test. 41
1937 Men & Arms 421
An Axis is forged. 49
1938 Bibliography 457
Austria and Czechoslovakia fall under the
Nazi jackboot. 61 Index 468