Special Sub-Topic: WWII General And Operations #2 Click Here To Play: WWII General And Operations #2

The invasion of Normandy has two Operation Code-Names, Overlord was one, what was the second Code-name?

Operation Neptune. In June 1944, the USS Augusta was the flagship of the Western Task Force of Operation Neptune, which was the Naval portion of the Normandy invasion (Operation Overload), which included an Allied armada of over 5,000 ships.

On October 31 1941, weeks before a declaration of war, a US Navy destroyer was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-Boat. What was the name of the US Destroyer?

USS Reuben James. US Navy destroyers escorted convoys through the Western Atlantic 'Neutrality Zone' and identical Royal Navy Town class destroyers escorted the convoys through the Eastern Atlantic to England. A ships silhouette viewed through a U-Boat periscope was of little use to determine the ships nationality under these circumstances. The German U-552 on October 31 1941, torpedoed and sunk the USS Reuben James DD-245.

On September 7 1939, French Army forces invaded Germany from the West. What was the Operation Code-Name for this invasion?

Operation Saar. French General Maurice Gamelin directed his Third, Fourth and Fifth armies to begin Operation Saar. On September 7 1939, the French armies marched into Germany, while the Germans' concentrated on the fighting in Poland. On September 21 after only 14 days, General Gamelin ordered the French Army to withdraw. With 35 Polish divisions shattered just one week after the German invasion, the French military concluded that it was only a matter of time before German resources would be diverted to the west towards them.

Which was the Operational Code-Name for the evacuation of the British and French troops at Dunkirk?

Operation Dynamo. The evacuation from Dunkirk, Code-name 'Operation Dynamo', commenced on May 26 1940, it was originally hoped that up to 45,000 men might be rescued, the actual total came to 338,000 men.

Which is the Operational Code-Name for the British and Canadian raid on Dieppe?

Operation Jubilee. On August 19 1942, 6,000 Canadian and British troops were put ashore at Dieppe for a large-scale raid, Code-Named Operation Jubilee. The raid was a costly failure, but provided invaluable lessons for subsequent seaborne invasions.

Which is the only US Army Airborne Division, that did NOT see combat in World War Two?

13th Airborne Div.. The 13th Airborne Division was deployed to Cherbourg, France in January 1945, but the Division never entered combat. The 11th Airborne Division fought in the South Pacific. The 17th and 82nd fought in Europe.

Which was the largest Tank and Air Battle of World War II?

Kursk. The battle of Kursk was and still is to this day the largest Tank and Air battle in history. The Germans put 2,500 tanks, 10,000 guns, 1,800 aircraft and 900,000 troops into the battle. The Soviet Union had 3,000 tanks, 20,000 guns, 2,500 aircraft and 1,300,000 troops. There were heavy casualties on both sides. The battle raged from July 5 to 14, 1943.

Which was the German Operational Code-Name for the German offensive in the Ardennes, 'The Battle of the Bulge' December 16 1944?

Operation Herbstnebi, 'Autumn Mist'. Operation Herbstnebi, 'Autumn Mist', December 16 1944, was the last major offensive by the German Army. It was a counter-attack against the Allied invasion in the Ardennes region in Belgium. The battle got it's name because the German counter achieved only a bulge in the Allied lines before being repulsed.

Which was the 'Only' British Territory occupied by German Forces in World War II?

Channel Islands. The Channel Islands were the only British Territory occupied by Germany in World War II. There are five Channel Islands, Jersey, Gernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm. They are the Southern region of the British Isles and lie 14 miles from France.

Which was the French Ocean Liner seized by the US Government after the fall of France in 1940, that was turned into a troop ship?

SS Normandie. The SS Normandie, was laid up to protect her from the Germans. When France fell to Germany in 1940 her fate became very uncertain, and on December 12, 1941 she was taken by the US Government. She was fitted out as a troop transport and her name was changed to the USS Lafayette. On February 9, 1942 a welder's torch started a fire that consumed the superstructure. So much water was pumped into her upper decks that she became very unstable and the following day rolled over on to her side at the pier. The conversion work was never resumed,and soon after the end of the war she was scrapped.

Who was the Commanding General of the US Eighth Air Force in Britain during World War II?

General James Doolittle. General James Doolittle took command of the Eighth Air Force in January 1944, which he commanded until V-E Day.

In the Invasion of Southern France, August 15 1944, who was the Commanding General of the Seventh US Army?

Lt. Gen. Alexander M. Patch. After General George S. Patton was reprimanded by General Eisenhower for physically abusing two sick soldiers in Sicily, he was replaced as Commander of the Seventh US Army by Lt. General Alexander M. Patch.

Who was the Commanding General of the German Forces opposing the Allies in Italy in the later stages of WW2?

Field Marshal Albert Kesselring. Field Marshal Albert Kesselring commanded the German Forces in Italy. Kesselring persuaded Hitler to defend Italy south of Rome instead of in the Apennine Mountains of Northern Italy. The Conquest of Italy by the Allies, lasted 602 days with 312,000 Allied casualties.

Which General did General Eisenhower, in September 1943, send on a secret mission into Italy?

General Maxwell Taylor. While part of the 82nd Airborne Division, General Taylor entered Italy behind German lines on a secret mission for General Eisenhower to assess the ability of the Italians to support an American airborne drop near Rome. On General Taylor's advice, Eisenhower cancelled the plan as a potential disaster.

Which is the Operational Code-Name for the USAAF bombing of the Ploesti oil fields in Romania?

Operation Tidalwave. Code-Named Operation Tidalwave, 175 US Air Force B-24s from Benghazl, bombed the oil fields at Ploesti, Romania. Only 92 B-24s returned August 1943.