AboutJack Pickup Jr. Expertise I am currently a reenactor of both the American Civil War and World War II. I have been involved with other reenactments from many periods including Roman and the Middle Ages/Renaissance. I am quite well versed in all aspects of military history from the Ancient Period all the way up to World War II, especially regarding Military Engineering up to the period of the American Civil War. I am also a middle school social studies teacher.
Experience I have a degree in History and Education. I have been a teacher at the secondary level teaching all aspects of High School History. I have studied and travelled extensively both within the United States and overseas. I currently do presentations for local schools and teacher certification programs.
Organizations Confederate Corps of Engineers, Unit Commander:
First Confederate Brigade of Illinois, Chief Engineer:
Second Panzer Division, WWII Historical Reenactment Society:
MHEA, Military History Education Association
Publications Reenactor Magazine, Various articles
Education/Credentials Bachelors degree in History and Education from Elmhurst College in Illinois. Work on doctorate cut short by birth of my children (more work, less play!). Soon to be resumed, however.
Question QUESTION: Hi Jack, Hope your doing well. I really need your help
I'm doing a concep map based on this subjects (subject) and i already have every definition and places, casualties, countries involved. Well, i Have most info on every subject, but now im gonna do another concept map relating every concept. Could you give a head start? How are these 4 connected, cause i read some things but i need a real concept to start with.
Hope it isnt too much for you. Also, i read about a admiral or a ship (can't remember) that was something called "Gaf Spee" Is This a important fact
Thanks for taking time to read my question.
ANSWER: Well, the Blitzkrieg is a blanket term that literally means "lightning war". The Germans invented it, but it has become a standard in military strategy. It involves an armor breakthrough supported by apc infantry, artillery, and air-to-ground support aircraft. After the initial breakthrough, the hole is filled with vast amounts of infantry and other units. The breakthrough units then race ahead to an objective or circle around behind the line they just broke through.
Dunkirk was the place on the French side of the channel coast where the BEF and the remainder of the French army fled to, to await pick-up by the British navy. It was in the very last days of the French campaign. For some reason Hitler held back his forces giving time for the British and French to evacuate, which has always been questioned by historians, though there are some circumstances that do make sense.
The Manhattan Project was the top secret American project to build an atomic bomb. It is what it is. It was initially spurred by the fact that our agents found out that the Germans had the ability to build such a bomb (if it can be built, the Germans usually can build it). The Germans did not build an atomic bomb because they never thought it would be necessary.
Operation Barbarossa was the German invasion of the Soviet Union. The initial attack was a Blitzkrieg attack that bulldozed almost all the way to Moscow. Simple enough.
Bonus question: Graf Spee was an Admiral and a famous ship. Which are you asking about. Graf Spee was a German admiral in WWI, the ship (which was named after him) was a German pocket battleship of some renown in the beginning of WWII. If you need any more information just follow-up with another question.
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QUESTION: Thanks Jack, you were really helpful.
My questions are
Manhattan project had something to do with the other subjects (blitzkrieg, Dunkirk, barbarossa) besides that it was built because USA thought they were using atomic power?
and also, could you give me more info about manhattan project (maybe a web address if you like, one you recommend) and more info about Graf Spee, because i cant find anything about it.
Thanks
Answer http://www.cfo.doe.gov/me70/manhattan/index.htm This is the link to the dept. of energy's site about the Manhattan project. Which teacher wants you to make a concept map of these things linked together? The project itself was America wanting to get the nuclear bomb before anyone else. The other three things are battles or battle strategies. Seems odd that they should get linked together for something. I am assuming that you are referring to the 'ship' the Graf Spee. She was a German "Pocket Battleship". Which was a fast cruiser that was heavily armed like a battleship. She was a stop-gap measure to help Germany grow her navy back that didn't really violate the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, like the later ships Scharnhorst, Bismarck, etc. did. She was a very successful commerce raider in her short service, which lasted from Sept. to Dec. of 1939. There were many British patrol groups looking for her, she was finally tracked down near Uruguay by three British cruisers. Despite giving the cruisers quite a beating, the Graf Spee retreated to Montevideo harbor to rest and make repairs. The Uruguayan govt. refused to allow them to stay, so rather than risk his crew in a one sided battle (the British had brought reinforcements) the captain scuttled the ship and abandoned her on December 17th, 1939. Considering his own actions cowardice (though he saved his crew) the captain, Hans Langdorff, committed suicide three days later. Many men from the ship settled in the area and their families still live there. Hope that's the info you wanted.
