Department of History

GREAT BLUNDERS OF WORLD WAR II. World War II was an epic conflict in which victory was achieved not only by the brilliant battle strategies of the Allied commanders, but also by the tactical errors and fatal miscalculations of the Axis powers. THE GERMAN BLUNDER AT DUNKIRK Hitler's 1940 Blitzkrieg upon Europe drove the British Expeditionary Force into the sea at Dunkirk, but his reckless plan of attack turned his chance to destroy the British into history's greatest escape. HITLER'S DECLARATION OF WAR ON THE U.S. Even with Hitler's forces ravaging Europe, America hesitated to join the fight against him. All thaT changed, however, with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and a foolish decision on the Fuhrer's part to ally with Japan. THE PILOT WHO BOMBED LONDON One lost and confused Luftwaffe pilot mistaenly dropped his bombs on London, igniging what became known as the Blitz and pshing Britain's durabilty to its furthest limits. HITLER'S FLYING BLUNDERS The Luftwaffe's lighting-fast, short-range figter-bombers were used in supposrt of highly mobile ground forces, a strategy which utlimately went horribly awry.