DK - World War II Map by Map

64 GERMANY TRIUMPHANT 1939–1941

Germany’s U-boats had played a major role in World War I, sinking

almost 5,000 ships. From the start of the hostilities in 1939, Hitler

looked again to the submarine fleet, commanded by Admiral Karl

Dönitz (see p.168), to starve Britain into submission.

For a time the campaign came close to success, particularly after

the fall of France and Norway opened up new ports from which the

U-boats could operate. Germany’s early successes persuaded Hitler

to divert resources to submarine production. At first Britain was

desperately short of warships to escort merchant shipping and of

planes to provide air cover, and the Royal Canadian Navy played a vital

role in protecting Atlantic shipping. However, the tide began to turn

against the U-boats as the Allies improved their protective measures,

developed technology to detect the raiders, and gained better

intelligence about U-boat deployment. In 1939, the US established the

Pan-American Security Zone, an area extending 300–1,000 nautical

miles from the coast of the Americas in which the US Navy escorted

merchant ships. After the US formally entered the war in 1941, the US

Navy actively engaged German naval vessels in the Atlantic.

THE U-BOAT

WAR BEGINS

The German High Command used every means at its

disposal to cut Britain’s vital maritime supply routes.

Its most effective weapon was the German submarine

fleet, the U-boats, which was increasingly successful

in attacking Atlantic shipping lanes from 1939 to 1941.

Extent of British air cover by Jul 1941

ALLIES GAIN A FORWARD BASE JULY 1941

The British had established a garrison on (neutral)

Iceland in May 1940, fearing that the island would

be used by Germany. Aircraft from Iceland helped

plug the gap in Allied air cover that had turned the

mid-Atlantic into a favorite hunting ground for

U-boat commanders. In July 1941, American

forces took over defense of the island, freeing up

British troops for service in North Africa.

5

1939 1940 1941 1942

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3

4

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TIMELINE

BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC

The Atlantic Ocean became a battleground as Hitler attempted to cut

Britain’s supply lines. The Allies’ ability to protect shipping with naval and

air escorts was crucial. The map shows borders up to May 1941, before

the invasion of the USSR (see pp.90–91) caused frontiers to fluctuate.

KEY

Territory under Allied influence

Territory under Axis control

Territory under Vichy France

Extent of Pan-American

Security Zone

Major convoy routes

“The only thing that really frightened me

during the war was the U-boat peril.”

WINSTON CHURCHILL, THE SECOND WORLD WAR, 1949

Oct 1939

Pan-American Security

Zone established.

Dec 11, 1941

The US plays a

non-combatant

role until Germany

declares war on it,

in support of Japan.

▽ Sinking of HMS Royal Oak, 1939

This painting depicts the attack on Royal

Oak, anchored at Scapa Flow, Scotland,

by German submarine U-47. The sinking,

and the loss of 833 lives, was a huge blow

to British morale.

THE UNTERSEEBOOT (U-BOAT)

Prohibited after World War I,

German submarine construction

recommenced in the mid 1930s.

By 1939, 57 boats served under

the skillful command of Admiral

Karl Dönitz. Most were small,

825-ton (750-metric ton) Type VII

(Sea Wolf) vessels, featuring a new

diesel-electric propulsion system.

The Type VIIC model had a top

speed of 17 knots on the surface

and 7.5 knots submerged, and

carried 14 torpedoes or

tube-launched mines.

U-boats at the port of Kiel

A T L A N T I

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BRITISH
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US_064-065_U-boat_War.indd 64 24/05/19 1:16 PM