Introduction to WW2 | World War II Database

Introduction to World War II

WW2 Intro Photo (Normandy Landing) This introduction to World War II is a series of relatively short articles aimed at introducing WW2 to those who might not be familiar with it. It is broken down into five sections:

The goal of this section is to lay out a general overview of WW2 so that the articles on the World War II Database website could be read in better context.

Start: What Was WW2?

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Visitor Submitted Comments

tom says:
21 Apr 2008 12:47:42 PM

i am doing research for a fiction piece ( novel ) i am working on. do anybody know a source of information on warships that were homebased in Norfolk / Hampton Roads during WW II.

thank you ... tom honea
Allan says:
27 Apr 2008 05:33:02 PM

hi and thanks

does anybody know at wars end what was the approx. effective size of the german army division strength wise.
Silvio Comenho says:
20 Sep 2008 05:26:53 AM

Very good website, but I found no reference to the Brazilian Army (FEB) and Air Force (FAB). Brazil declared war to the Reich on August 22 1942 and was the only Latin American country to fight against the germans, sending troops to Italy and fighting alongside with the American Army and the USAAF (350th fighter group). References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Expeditionary_Force and http://www.sentapua.com.br/ (portugese and English). Silvio Comenho
Anonymous says:
20 Oct 2008 07:25:03 AM

wow this is ver interesting to know whta they had to go through thats crzy
Anonymous says:
15 Jan 2009 09:47:04 PM

My dad was in the 81st Inf. in WW2, he is now 101 years old and can still remember the islands he fought on. I am sending him some photos from this site,I have some of his photos he took on different islands in the Pacific, if you are intresterd I could send them to you.
allan says says:
10 Feb 2009 08:08:28 AM

No. And I doubt anyone could supply that information. A decimated army doesn't comprise of 'divisions' but more 'scattered collections' of men and arms. The only divisions remaining intact at the wars end where in Norway, Channel Islands etc and they comprised of the unfit, the unwell, the recalcitrant and others. You need to be more specific with the question - i.e. on which 'front' in which 'country etc etc etc. Alas.
Anonymous says:
13 Mar 2009 05:52:14 AM

1939

September 1st
Germany invaded Poland. First use of Blitzkrieg. Britain and France gave Germany an ultimatum to get out. Blackout and evacuation plans were put in place in Britain.

September 2nd Chamberlain sent Hitler an ultimatum: withdraw German troops from Poland or war will be declared.
The Luftwaffe gained air superiority over the Polish air force.

September 3rd
Germany ignored the ultimatum and Britain and France declared war on Germany. British troops (the BEF) were sent to France.

The passenger liner "Athenia" was sunk by U-30 off of Ireland. 112 of the passengers were killed.

September 4th The RAF raided German warships based in the Heligoland Bight.
September 6th South Africa declared war on Germany Egypt broke off relations with Germany,
September 9th The IV Panzer Division reached Warsaw.
September 17th Russia's Red Army attacked Poland from the east
September 24th 1,150 German aircraft bombed Warsaw
September 26th The Luftwaffe attacked the Royal Navy at Scapa Flow.
September 27th
Poland surrendered to Germany.

October 6th Last Polish troops ceased fighting. Hitler launched his "Peace Offensive" but this was rejected by Neville Chamberlain
October 14th 'HMS Royal Oak' is torpedoed at Scapa Flow by U-47
November 30th Russia's Red Army invaded Finland
December 13th The Battle of the River Plate was fought
December 14th Russia expelled from the League of Nations
Anonymous says:
13 Mar 2009 01:16:58 PM

I thought an Admiral and the Founder of the Naval War College Foundation and should be included in the WW II database.

Admiral Richard W. Bates

Biographical Sketch

Rear Admiral Richard W. Bates was born in San Francisco, California, on January 16, 1892, to Henry Lester and Helen Rixon Bates. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy from the Third District, California, in 1911 and graduated in the Class of 1915. His first duty assignment was on board the USS YORKTOWN (GBT-1) stationed in Central American waters. From YORKTOWN he went to the USS CINCINNATI (C-7), operating on the east coast of South America, where he served as Executive Officer until 1918. He was Executive Officer in the USS SPROSTON (DD-173), 1919-1920.

In 1920 Bates attended the Naval Post Graduate School in Annapolis, Maryland. The following year found him at Columbia University, studying electrical propulsion of ships. Awarded a Master of Science degree in June 1922, he continued instruction in electrical engineering at General Electric, Schenectady, New York, and Westinghouse Electric, East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This was followed by duty as the Electrical Officer in the USS MARYLAND (BB-46), 1922-1925 assistant in engineering at the Post Graduate School, 1925-1927, and Engineering Officer in the USS RICHMOND (CL-9), 1927-1930.

In the decade before America’s entry into the Second World War, Rear Admiral Bates saw duty with the Hydrographic Office, Honolulu and as Commander of the Naval Station, Honolulu Commanding Officer of the destroyer, USS BUCHANAN (DD-131), the oil tanker, RAMAPO (AO-12), the destroyers USS LONG (DD-209), and USS CLARK (DD-361), flagship of Destroyer Squadron Three, Battle Force.

When the war broke out, Bates was a student at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. He continued at the College as a member of the staff until 1943 when he took command of the cruiser USS MINNEAPOLIS (CA-36). Under his command the ship engaged in the bombardment of Wake Island, participated in the invasion of the Gilbert Islands and sank the Japanese light cruiser KATORI off Truk in April 1944.

During May-August 1944, Bates was on the staff of the Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet. In September he served with the Commander Cruiser Division Four as Chief of Staff of the Bombardment, Fire Support and associated groups of the Seventh Fleet during the Philippine Islands campaign. December found him Chief of Staff and Aide to Commander Battleship Division Two and involved in the Lingayen-Luzon and Okinawa operations. This was followed in May 1945 by his appointment as Commander of the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron, Pacific Fleet and in December of the same year with appointment as Chief of Staff to Commander, Philippine Sea Frontier.

Bates returned to the Naval War College in 1946 as Head of the Department of Research and Analysis which was tasked with studying Second World War naval battles. Retired in 1949, he remained with the College, continuing his battle analyses in charge of what now had become the World War II Battle Evaluation Group. Although the work was not completed, the project was terminated in 1958.

In 1969 Bates was appointed Vice President of the newly formed Naval War College Foundation, Inc., a private, non-profit association founded to support College programs not covered by appropriated funding. He was elected president in 1972, serving in that capacity until his death on December 27, 1973.

Chronology of Naval Service

1911 Appointed to U.S. Naval Academy from Third District, California.

1915 Graduated from USNA and commissioned Ensign, USN.
USS OHIO (BB-12) and USS MARYLAND (ACR-8).

1916 USS YORKTOWN (GBT-1).

1919 USS CINCINNATI, (C-7), Executive Officer.
CUBA (Cuban gunboat), Gunnery Instructor.

1919-1920 USS SPROSTON (DD-173), Executive Officer.

1920 Promoted to Lieutenant.

1920-1921 Post Graduate School, Annapolis, MD, student.

1922 Columbia University, student.
General Electric Co., Schenectady, NY.
Westinghouse Electric, East Pittsburgh, PA.

1922-1925 USS MARYLAND (BB-46), Electrical Officer.

1925-1927 Post Graduate School, Annapolis, MD, staff.

1927 USS RICHMOND (CL-9), Engineer Officer.

1930-1932 Naval Station, Honolulu, Hawaii, Officer in Charge, Hydrographic Office Aide to Commandant Fourteenth Naval District Permanent Senior Patrol Officer.

1932-1933 USS BUCHANAN (DD-131), Commanding Officer.

1933-1934 USS RAMAPO (ATO-12), Commanding Officer and Executive Officer.

1934-1935 USS LONG (DD-201), Commanding Officer.

1935-1938 Bureau of Engineering, Washington, DC.

1938-1940 USS CLARK (DD-361), Commanding Officer.

1940-1941 Naval War College, Senior Class.

1941 Promoted to Captain.
Naval War College, Head, Department of Strategy.

1943 USS MINNEAPOLIS, Commanding Officer.
Promoted to Commodore.

1944 Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, staff.
Bombardment, Fire Support & Associated Groups, Seventh Fleet, Chief of Staff.

1944-1945 Commander, Battle Division Two, Chief of Staff and Aide.

1945 Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons, Pacific Fleet, Commander.

1945-1946 Commander Philippine Sea Frontier, Chief of Staff.

1946-1949 Naval War College, staff.

1947 Reverted to rank of Captain.

1949 Retired. Promoted to Rear Admiral on retired list.

1949-1958 World War II Battle Evaluation Group, Naval War College, Newport, RI.

1969-1973 Naval War College Foundation, Inc., Vice President and President.

1973 Died, Newport, RI, December 27.
ronnie kelly says:
6 Nov 2009 04:00:10 PM

My late father was on the uss portunus agp-4. Where can I find info on this ship and maybe a ships roster?
DAVID BARBRER says:
17 Dec 2009 03:35:00 AM

can ibe put on your mailing list please
Marichal Claude says:
18 Dec 2009 05:08:10 AM

Cherche photos des Cantons de l'Est,Malmedy,St.Vith,Faymonville,Elsenborn.....