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Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile. Also visit our general discussion thread

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
Malaya, 1941: Topography-Japanese Centrifugal Offensive, December 1941-January 1942
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – Operations of the Japanese First Air Fleet, 7 December 1941-12 March 1942
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – American Carrier Operations, 7 December 1941-18 April 1942
Micronesia, Melanesia and New Guinea: Japanese Centrifugal Offensive-Japanese Fourth Fleet and South Seas Detachment Operations, December 1941-April 1942
Luzon, P.I., 1941: Centrifugal Offensive, 10 December 1941-6 May 1942-Fourteenth Army Operations on Luzon
Netherlands East Indies, 1941: Japanese Centrifugal Offensive, December 1941-April 1942, Sixteenth Army and Southern Force (Navy) Operations
Southern Asia, 1941: Japanese Centrifugal Offensive (and Continued Operations), January-May 1942
Eastern Europe, 1941: Soviet Winter Offensive – Operations, 6 December 1941-7 May 1942
North Africa, 1940: Rommel’s Second Offensive, 21 January-7 July 1942

I have read more than a few rationales by current historians that pronounce that Kimmel and Short were "just scapegoats" and railroaded into oblivion after the debacle at Pearl Harbor.

I am of a different view: command means responsibility and they were the senior commanders. They were responsible for training the area defense forces and for operational preparations for the imminent war with Japan.

No excuses by latter day apologists can excuse the extreme lack of readiness by the naval and army forces on Hawaii (or for that matter, the Philippines). Kimmel and Short should have served prison time.

I have read more than a few rationales by current historians that pronounce that Kimmel and Short were "just scapegoats" and railroaded into oblivion after the debacle at Pearl Harbor.

I am of a different view: command means responsibility and they were the senior commanders. They were responsible for training the area defense forces and for operational preparations for the imminent war with Japan.

No excuses by latter day apologists can excuse the extreme lack of readiness by the naval and army forces on Hawaii (or for that matter, the Philippines). Kimmel and Short should have served prison time or worse.

January 25, 1942:

"Martin Luther's meteoric career advancement reveals the professional opportunities unleashed by the genocidal policies of the Third Reich. Though he never finished high school, Luther became an influential figure within the German Foreign Office.

"Luther's entrance into the Foreign Office was facilitated by Joachim von Ribbentrop, Germany's foreign minister.
A talented organizer who was extremely adept at Nazi Party infighting, Luther positioned the Foreign Office as a major player in the "Final Solution."

"At the Wannsee Conference on January 20, 1942, Luther arranged for the Foreign Office to coordinate the deportation of European Jews.
He clearly recognized that the Final Solution was a golden opportunity to expand his personal power base.
Luther's unsuccessful efforts to oust Ribbentrop in 1943, however, landed him in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.
He died of heart failure shortly after the war."

ping to read later!!