Department of History

WORLD WAR II GREAT BLUNDERS OF WORLD WAR II exposes, as never before, the fatal errors, startling miscues, and bungled opportunities that turned the tide of the war and forever changed the course of history. JAPAN'S MISTAKES AT MIDWAY 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. THE FAILURE OF THE KAMIKAZE Steeped in the ancient code of the Samurai, Kamikaze forces on land, sea, and air sacrificed themselves in battle in a desperate bid for victory that spelled ultimate doom for the Japanese Empire. DEATH AT STALINGRAD In Hitler's quest to take Stalingrad at all costs, he understimated both the Russian winter and the steadfastness of the Russian people in the face of the Nazi threat. OPERATION SEA LION In the wake of the Brish army's flight from France, the British were all but beaten. But a Nazi invasion of England was inexplicably postponed, diverting certain triumph and ultimately leading to the Allied victory.