Where did geography play a major part in history during/around WWI & WWII?

Answer 1

So far as the United States was concerned, geography had an immense effect.

The oceans separated us from the fighting. The fighting was over there and not on our shores (except for a few minor battles on the Aleutian islands of Alaska).

Answer 2

World War 2 Geography

Answer 3

Excellent answers given that I cannot top-

The biggest geography issue in WW2 was answered in #1- the Atlantic and pacific Oceans and their effect on America's role and participation in WW2 from 1939-1945

generally Geography is pivotal on many factors in all wars

1) Distance- the further away- the further your supply lines- lines which take additional resources due to their length and need to be protected (increasing your vulnerability)

2) Climate and Weather- Effects not only equipment's ability to actually work as needed consistantly- but the soldiers as well- how much gear and extrat equipment is needed in cold/hot weather- and are they conditions that the soldiers are used to (African soldiers in the Arctic, Eskimo soldiers in the tropics, etc)

3) Terrain and development- Are their existing high serviceable grade roads, can you put tanks and trucks on them? are they wide enough etc? If there are bodies of water- how will you cross it-

Think about a place a mile from you- with a mountain in the middle of it- to walk from where you are to there- you'll have to walk allot more then a mile- because you are going to have to walk up (and down) that mountain to get there (or around the mountain)

Answer 4

In just about every battle, geography plays some effect, at least on a tactical level. In the large scale battles of WWI and especially WWII, geography played a huge role. A few key examples:
1. The German invasion of France in WWII bypassed a line of forts (the Maginot Line) by going through the "impassible" Ardennes Forest. The Brits were helping the French out and got trapped near the sea at Dunkirk. But, due to British sea superiority and ingenuity, the British soldiers were rescued by sea. When the Brits and US invaded in Normandy on D-Day, the invasion site was carefully chosen. Normandy was crossed with hedgerows (hedges that act as fences) that slowed both the Allies attack and the Germans' defense.

2. Poland was invaded easily by Germany because there are few natural barriers to invasion (Poland is mainly a big plain). On the other hand, while the eastern portion of the USSR (now Russia) has few barriers as well, the size and location of the USSR had a huge effect on Germany's failure to beat the USSR. The USSR was simply too big and too cold (since it's so far north) for the the Germans to conquer. On the other hand, Hitler tried and eventually did cow the Czechslovakians to surrender, partially because of the natural protection of their mountains.

3. Pearl Harbor/Hawaii was bombed because it was a natural fueling station for the US. Since it was in a good spot (good geography), the US established a large naval base there. The Japanese bombed it, trying to get the US out of the war early. At the same time...

4. In Malaya (now Malaysia and Singapore), the Japanese passed through the jungle to isolate the British on the few roads through the jungle. The Japanese, moving through the jungle, would set up road blocks in front of and behind British truck convoys and then kill the troops within. Also, since the Brits feared only sea invasions, the huge guns protecting Singapore only faced the sea, not the mainland. Therefore, once mainland Malaya fell, Singapore was a sitting duck. The Japanese invaded these areas (along with Sumatra and Burma) to get access to oil and rubber, vital supplies for a world war.

5. The huge scope of the Pacific Ocean meant that only countries with huge navies could fight over it. In WWI, this lead to the Japanese gaining some formerly German territories in the peace settlement. In WWII, since the Brits were worried about protecting their home land/waters, the war in the Pacific was mainly between the Japanese and US, with significant help from Australian/New Zealand forces.

There's a few cases - just google WWII and you'll find a ton...

Here's a few links:

http://worldwar2database.com/html/czech.htm (Czech)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_France (invasion of france in 1940)
http://www.worldwar2database.com/html/france_40.htm
http://www.combinedfleet.com/map.htm (Pacific)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland#World_War_II (Poland, WWII)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Barbarossa (German invasion of Russia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Harbor (Pearl Harbor - briefly saying US needed Pacific port).
http://library.thinkquest.org/12405/15.htm (Singapore invasion)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Malaya (Malaya)
http://www.lonesentry.com/manuals/malayan-front/index.html (Japanese tactics in Malaya)
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/japan/japanworkbook/modernhist/wwii.html
(stating Japanese invaded Malaya and Sumatra for rubber/oil).

Answer 5

Well, control over the Dardanelle Straits is a factor in almost any war involving Russia and eastern Europe.

Russia has tough geography to navigate. You have to watch your supply lines or you end up stranded in a Russian winter.

Answer 6

10:34 am Wednesday, February 27th 2013. Salt Lake City