Great Blunders of WWII

- Season 1

(1998)

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An examination of Nazi Germany's most seemingly needless diplomatic blunder, making the nation with the world's largest economy an official enemy.

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Despite what intelligence bits there were, the Allies did not believe the German's could or would launch and armed assault anywhere. How wrong they were.

September 1944's focal point was the bridge at Arnhem. Operation Market Garden was born from the Allies need for fuel and of Montgomery' plan that received Eisenhower's approval for Sunday, September 17th, 1944. Critical flaws in the overall battle plan led to its ultimate failure and personnel loss.

On June 4, 1942, the fanatical and efficient Japanese war machine wanted to finish off the U.S. Pacific Fleet, but their blind arrogance and underestimation of American willpower led them to disaster instead when at Midway with their aicraft carrier losses. The Japanese high command split the available naval forces by attacking the Aleutian Islands and Port Moresby, New Guinea.

Steeped in the ancient Bushido code of the Samurai, Kamikaze (Divine Wind) forces, or organized suicide attacks, on land (sacrificial attacks), sea (motorboats and torpedoes), and air sacrificed themselves in battle in a desperate bid for victory that spelled ultimate doom for the Japanese Empire these tactics drove the U.S.' decision to use the atomic bomb in order to prevent further loss of life.

In Hitler's quest and obstinacy to take Stalingrad at all costs, he underestimated both the Russian winter, the steadfastness of the Russian people in the face of the Nazi threat, and Japan's refusal to break their non-aggression pact with Russia. Hitler's desire to control the attack and continuing belief in Hermann Göring led to a decisive Russian victory.

In the wake of the British army's flight from Dunkirk and France, the British were all but beaten. But a Nazi invasion of England was inexplicably postponed owing to a mistake on Hitler that he believed that Britain would surrender for peace, this belief caused a certain triumphal action that would ultimately lead to a desired Allied victory.

The Allies had entered Rome and were advancing northwards. Ultimate defeat was staring at Germany. Of course, Hitler had no belief in the Third Reich's defeat. Conspirators had failed in their attempt to assassinate Hitler. All political dissidents were executed. There were a number of plots to kill Hitler with none succeeding.

Convoys were necessary to transport varied foodstuffs and materials from western ports through the North Atlantic for delivery to Russia. Britain's belief that the Tirpitz was going to attack convoy PQ17 led First Sea Lord Pound to misinterpret where the Tirpitz was heading and told the escorts and convoy ships to scatter and allow them to proceed on their own. A decision that led to major losses of ships, goods and crews.