What this lesson teaches
I can weigh up the reasons the Allies won and World War II ended in Europe and the Pacific.
Syllabus K330, War in Europe and the Asia-Pacific, Learning Outcomes. Assess the reasons for the end of World War II.
Make a guess
Japan conquered lands rich in oil in 1942. Why do you think it still ran short of oil?
- The oil fields turned out to be almost empty once Japan began drilling.
- Allied submarines sank the tankers carrying the oil to Japan.
- Japan sold the oil to raise money for the war.
Show the answer
Allied submarines sank the tankers carrying the oil to Japan.
Holding the oil fields was not enough. Sunk ships meant fuel never reached the navy, so shortages grew.
Japan conquered lands rich in oil and food, but Allied submarines sank the ships that carried them, so shortages grew.
Overextension means holding more land than your forces can defend and supply. Japan's conquests had oil, metal ore and food. But these had to travel by ship to Japan's factories, fleets and armies. Defending so many distant islands spread Japan's forces thin.
Allied submarines and planes attacked Japanese cargo ships and oil tankers. Sinking a tanker meant the navy got no fuel, even though Japan still held the oil field. Captured Allied bases made Japan's routes even harder to protect.
Fuel shortages cut training and operations. With less fuel, the navy could protect fewer ships. So more ships were sunk, and shortages got worse. Holding land did not guarantee that its supplies could reach Japan.
- Overextension
- Holding more land than you can defend and supply.
- Allied submarines
- Sank Japanese cargo ships and tankers.
- Vicious circle
- Less fuel, weaker defence, more ships lost.
Worked example: Follow the oil to the navy
Japan controls an oil field, but its fleet is far away.
- The oil must be loaded onto a tanker and shipped to the fleet.
- If a submarine sinks the tanker, the fleet gets nothing.
- With less fuel, the navy can protect fewer tankers, so shortages grow.
Watch out for this
Once Japan conquered oil-rich lands, it could not run short of oil.
Owning oil fields was not enough. The oil had to reach the fleet, and Allied attacks sank the tankers.
Check your understanding
Why did Japan run short of oil even after conquering oil fields?
- Japan chose to sell its new oil abroad to pay for the war.
- Allied submarines and planes sank the tankers carrying it.
- Retreating Dutch and British forces had wrecked the oil fields beyond repair.
Show the answer
Allied submarines and planes sank the tankers carrying it.
Yes. Controlling land did not guarantee a flow of supplies.