War Tactics
World War II has been called the war of technology, but it was, in fact, much more than that. The war was strategically thought out by all of the military leaders. They used various means, nefarious or otherwise, in order to be the top
of the game. One very common war strategy was espionage, or, “the practice of spying or of using spies, typically by governments to obtain political and military information”(1). A spy’s basic job was to learn the secrets of the enemies to give their side an upper hand. It was extremely dangerous; if spies were caught, then they would give up their own life and even be tortured to keep secrets. The networking of espionage and subterfuge is more valuable than having an extensive military. Spies were able to damage the enemy’s morale, destroy their supplies and resources, and render their troops useless. It was this strategic way of warring that could give one country a major advantage over another (2). One thing that spies allowed was the cracking of code; or letting the intelligence be able to ‘listen’ to the enemies when they thought that they were secretly making plans (2). One way that the United States combatted this was the use of the Navajo Code Talkers. These Native Americans transmitted messages back and forth in their native language: a language than no Japanese knew. This was not a new idea, war veteran Philip Johnston thought of how the Choctaw language had been used to code in World War I. Navajo is an unwritten language, and very hard to understand unless you’d been exposed to it for a long time. The code was transmitted as a stream of ‘random’ words; however, the first letter of the translated English word was used in order to make a full English word. The code talkers also would use different words each time, but kept the first letter the same (3). For example, ‘net,’ ‘needle,’ and ‘nephew’ could all be used for the letter ‘n.’ Animals have been a part of human life since the beginning of time, so it only makes sense that they are there in war as well. This war wasn’t different from any previous ones in the way of having animal sidekicks. Dogs were very common. They were used as couriers and guards, as well as scouts. Man’s best friend also proved to be very loyal in times of crisis and combat. Horses and mules were also used to transport supplies, but could carry much more than a dog could (4). They were also used to pull carts and wagons, as this war was still lacking the technology that we are used to today (5). Soldiers used animals not just for practical reasons, but for pets as well. These little bundles of fur would help cheer up soldiers while not incombat, and just be a companion (4).During World War II, there was an extreme account of paranoia; one that could rival the Salem witch trials. People were afraid that Japanese-Americans were still loyal to their ancestry. So, to combat the turning of these Japanese-Americans, President Roosevelt signed a relocation order, sending them to Japanese internment camps. Everyone of Japanese descent was sent to these camps – even if they’d never even been to Japan. There were ten camps built in rural areas of the western United States. The camps were not comfortable; the sleeping quarters were crowded and the climate was brutal. However, families were allowed to stay together, and adults even had the option of paid work, even if it was only $5 a day. Children also received schooling here. Some men fought in the Japanese-American army regiments to prove their loyalties. Congress has since ruled the order as a “wartime necessity,” and even apologized by giving each survivor $20,000 in 1988. While the Japanese internment camps were never as bad as the concentration camps, they were still a quite terrible part of history (6). One new idea of the war was the tactic of blitzkrieg. Blitzkrieg means a “lightning war.” The Germans used this tactic to create havoc in the war. This resulted in Allied forces being pushed back (7). It seemed that this tactic was unstoppable. After being hit repeatedly, and being hit hard, it was difficult for the forces to get back up on their feet. It was in the Battle of Stalingrad that the tides had turned. Even this unrelenting force could be stopped (7). |
References
1. "Espionage."
Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 12 May 2014.
<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spionage>.
2. "Jobs of Spies
in World War II." The Finer Times: War, Crime and History Resource. The Finer Times, 2008. Web. 13 May 2014.
<http://www.thefinertimes.com/Spy-s/jobs-of-spies-in-world-war-ii.html>.
3. "Navajo Code Talkers Cryptology." Navajo Code Talkers Cryptology. US Navy History and Heritage Command, n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
< http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq61-2.htm>.
4. Auel, Lisa. "Buddies: Soldiers and Animals in World War II." National Archives and Records
Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
< http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1996/fall/buddies.html>.
5. Johnson, Paul. "Horses of the German Army in World War II By Paul Louis Johnson." Horses of the German Army in World War II By Paul Louis Johnson. Hoofcare and Lameness, 2005. Web. 13 May 2014.
< http://www.hoofcare.com/horsesofww2.html>.
6. "Japanese-American Internment." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.
< http://www.ushistory.org/us/51e.asp>.
7. "Blitzkrieg." Blitzkrieg. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
< http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/blitzkrieg.htm>.
8. "Hitler'sFailed Blitzkrieg against the Soviet Union. The "Battle of Moscow" and Stalingrad: Turning Point of World War II." Global Research. Global
Research, n.d. Web. 14 May 2014.
< http://www.globalresearch.ca/70-years-ago-december-1941-turning-point-of-world-war-ii/28059>.
1. "Espionage."
Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 12 May 2014.
<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spionage>.
2. "Jobs of Spies
in World War II." The Finer Times: War, Crime and History Resource. The Finer Times, 2008. Web. 13 May 2014.
<http://www.thefinertimes.com/Spy-s/jobs-of-spies-in-world-war-ii.html>.
3. "Navajo Code Talkers Cryptology." Navajo Code Talkers Cryptology. US Navy History and Heritage Command, n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
< http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq61-2.htm>.
4. Auel, Lisa. "Buddies: Soldiers and Animals in World War II." National Archives and Records
Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
< http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1996/fall/buddies.html>.
5. Johnson, Paul. "Horses of the German Army in World War II By Paul Louis Johnson." Horses of the German Army in World War II By Paul Louis Johnson. Hoofcare and Lameness, 2005. Web. 13 May 2014.
< http://www.hoofcare.com/horsesofww2.html>.
6. "Japanese-American Internment." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.
< http://www.ushistory.org/us/51e.asp>.
7. "Blitzkrieg." Blitzkrieg. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
< http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/blitzkrieg.htm>.
8. "Hitler'sFailed Blitzkrieg against the Soviet Union. The "Battle of Moscow" and Stalingrad: Turning Point of World War II." Global Research. Global
Research, n.d. Web. 14 May 2014.
< http://www.globalresearch.ca/70-years-ago-december-1941-turning-point-of-world-war-ii/28059>.