The Super Summary of World History - Alan Dale Daniel [314]
[320] Germany could have used a long-range bomber, especially for supply interdiction and reconnaissance.
[321] Command of the Air (1921) by Giulio Douhet
[322] See: p152 et seq, Panzer Battles, von Mellenthin, 1956, Konecky & Konecky
[323] This massive attack began on June 22, 1944, which was sixteen days after the Allies landed at Normandy. The pressure on the Wehrmacht was increasing beyond all imagination.
[324] Soviet losses were underreported throughout the war. Even after the war, the true number of Soviet losses in men and equipment remained unknown. Most think it was double or triple what was reported after the war (triple is probably more accurate). It may be that Stalin simply did not have the resources to keep track; however, given Stalin’s attitude toward people, it is likely he did not care.
[325] Apparently, this was some kind of pseudo-Viking funeral for the Fuehrer and his bride.
[326] Another outstanding general a few know about. He brilliantly reversed English misfortunes in the Southeast Asian Theater and completely defeated the Japanese.
[327] 6,821 Marines dead, 494 missing (7,315 total), 20,703 Japanese dead.
[328] Japan was saved from a Mongol invasion when a great storm blew up and sunk the Mongol fleet. The Japanese named the storm the Divine Wind because it had saved Japan from invasion. They now hoped the new mechanized Divine Wind would do the same.
[329] Nazi Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945.
[330] Casualty ratios on Okinawa were about ninety to sixty or three to two; thus, for every two American casualties, there were three Japanese, NOT counting civilians. If civilians are included it is 4 to 1. An assault on mainland Japan, using the same ratios and assuming 3 million Japanese casualties, there would be 2 million American casualties (or 2 million Americans to 8 million Japanese if civilians are included). It is thought that 3 million Japanese casualties is a very low figure. In other Pacific island battles the US was killing its enemy at a 12 to 1 ratio in most battles. At Tarawa it was 1:5, and the ratio became more favorable for the US until the Japanese changed tactics in the Palau islands. (12,500 US soldiers dead, 40,000 US soldiers wounded, 5,000 US Navy dead = 57,000 rounded to 60,000; 66,000 Japanese dead, 17,000 wounded, 2,000 Kamikaze dead = 85,000 rounded to 90,000; thus a 2:3 casualty ratio.)
[331] This is another battle I have war gamed. I landed where the Americans would have; and after a month of heavy fighting, I decided to abandon the invasion because of dramatically high losses of troops and ships. My biggest victory was just managing to evacuate my troops without further losses.
[332] Other calculations say 7 million Japanese would have died for 500,000Americans, but I don’t know how they did the calculations. Note these totals are for deaths only, not casualties. The 2 million Japanese deaths were calculated by the American military prior to the planned invasion.
[333] Einstein emigrated from Germany to the United States of America before the war started. He was warned by physicist friends still in the Reich that Germany had started making heavy water, and Einstein then knew Germany was trying to manufacture an atomic bomb.
[334] See The Gathering Storm, Winston Churchill,1949, various publishers.
[335] Older computers operated off magnetic tape systems. The large rolls of magnetic tape, such as seen on reel-to-reel tape recorders, held the data and the instructions for operating the computer. No floppy disks or CDs in 1955.
[336] Remember, England and America believed the Germans had started World War I and World War II.
[337] Given the size and combat power of the USSR, the only way to stop a Soviet advance was the atomic bomb.
[338] Eisenhower was extremely worried about the last flight and reluctantly gave the OK after CIA