World War Two

World War Two truly was a global conflict, a total war which destroyed the lives of tens of millions of people, both soldiers and civilians alike. Russia suffered the most, and the exact figure of how many died in what is known as The Great Patriotic War is still unknown to this day. One could argue that Germany was the second worst off, as she not only lost and had her nation carved up and divided, but the retribution meted out by the Soviets was bitter and calculated. At one point, it looked as if Germany might actually win this war, as they were victorious everywhere, their enemies on the point of collapse, and the threat of a Nazi Europe looked very real. Yet, the Nazis overreached, spreading their effort to too many fronts which led to their armies always having to perform near impossible tasks against ever increasing odds. With America entering the war in 1941, her strength and industrial output began to tell against the Axis powers, and their failure to decisively deal with the Soviet threat in the east meant it was only a matter of time before numbers told, despite German tactical skill and fighting spirit. On an operational scale, the German army was flawed. Strategically, the army was hamstrung by Hitler’s continued interference even down to battalion level. Tactically, they knew their trade very well. As for Japan, she missed her chance when she failed to decisively destroy the American aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbour and didn’t count on American resolve and indignation at being attacked. As with the Russian people, once they saw themselves as the aggrieved and set upon, the people rallied and began to see their struggle as a righteous one against an evil aggressor. Their consequent treatment of prisoners of war and civilians alike reflected their imagined righteousness and sense of justice in treating their enemies the way they did.
This resource is ideal for enhancing the curriculum, for giving pupils a project and for helping with their revision. Told using the medium of verse, pupils will find this resource far more easier to use and far more helpful than standard text books.