1. Hitler’s Lightning War (Ch. 16, Sec. 1) Part 1

2. What happened in Europe that led to the start of WWII? Germany seized Czechoslovakia in early 1939 to set up their attack of Poland Germany attacked Poland in September of 1939 using new strategy (blitzkrieg or “Lightning War”) Britain and France both declared war on Germany & prepared for WWII Soviet Union took over eastern half of Poland, & then took northeast Europe (including a defiant Finland) Britain & France (Maginot Line) mobilized to battle Germany (Siegfried Line) along France’s border

3. How did Germany force France to surrender so early in the war? It appeared that Germany was ready to launch a full-scale attack on France Instead Germany pulled off a surprise invasion of Denmark & Norway (to attack Britain) Germany attacked France through the Ardennes (heavily wooded area not defended by Allies) They quickly moved north & trapped the Allied forces onto the beaches of Dunkirk Ships of sorts (civilian & navy) rescued about 340,000 soldiers across the English Channel

4. After France fell to Germany, where did Germany strike next? After the rescue of Allied soldiers at Dunkirk, France surrendered to Germany In the summer of 1940, Hitler then turned his sights on Britain German Luftwaffe began to bomb British factories, military sites, & air bases Next, they began to bomb British cities, night & day, to break the people’s morale A defiant Britain, using radar, a decoding machine (Enigma), & the RAF, held off Germany

7. Hitler’s Lightning War (Ch. 16, Sec. 1) Part 2

8. Where did German forces attack after giving up on Britain? When Britain successfully held off Germany, an impatient Hitler turned toward Africa Italy attacked British-controlled Egypt in North Africa, but British troops held Italian forces needed help from Germany (Rommel’s Afrika Korps) The Axis Powers were finally able to defeat the Allied forces in Egypt Next, they fought Allied forces at Tobruk, Libya, finally forcing them to surrender

9. Who won the battles for the Balkan Peninsula, & the Soviet Union? After taking North Africa, Germany turned its sights on the Balkan region (SE Europe) Germany used the threat of military force to gain control of Balkan Peninsula Hitler then broke his truce with Stalin and attacked the Soviet Union After several early victories, the Germans had Russia in full retreat However, a brutal winter set in, & Russian troops managed to defeat Germany (lost 500,000 men)

11. When did you US finally join the Allied cause? When war broke out in Europe, the US Congress passed Neutrality Acts (to stay out of war) But, in March 1941, Congress passed the Lend- Lease Act (Roosevelt) to supply arms to the Allies Britain and US signed the Atlantic Charter (guaranteed free trade / choice of government) When a German u-boat fired on a US destroyer, US ships shot submarines on sight (undeclared war) US began using convoy system to get supplies across the Atlantic Ocean