This third volume sees Hitler experiencing problems reminiscent of a
previous invader of Russia, Napoleon Bonaparte: extreme winter
conditions that first drenched then froze the vast Nazi war machine,
immobilizing tanks, guns, support vehicles and grounding the Luftwaffe.
Unlike Napoleon, Hitler failed to capture Moscow.
In North Africa, the British were sent reeling back towards Egypt when
Rommel launched an attack at the end of January. Much to the amazement
of all and the disappointment of Churchill - the Axis troops took Tobruk
in a single day. Churchill dismissed the commander and appointed
Montgomery, who made a stand at El Alamein.
Great Britain's stand-alone position ended abruptly on when Tojo
launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Both Hitler and Mussolini
declared war on the United States and the war became global. With the
attack on Pearl Harbor the Japanese flooded through the South Pacific,
the Philippines, Dutch East Indies, Malaya, Burma all fell to the
Japanese. Once more Great Britain was humiliated when Singapore
surrendered and thousands of Allied troops went into captivity.
An attempt by the Japanese to deliver a knock-out blow to the Americans
by an attack on Midway failed catastrophically and the Americans scored
a momentous victory in the Pacific.
Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris became leader of the RAF and the thousand
bomber raids and carpet bombing of German cities began.
The third year of the war ended with the disastrous Dieppe Raid, carried
out by Canadians, in August 1942.
