2. World War II European Theater (June ‘40 – May ‘41) Hitler’s Dilemma, Baltics, SeaLion, Tripartite Pact, Balkans, Greece, Crete … North Africa (’40-’42)

3. 2 June 1940 Germany Victorious

4. 3 June 1940 Germany Victorious Hitler’s Strategic Dilema: Invade/Conquer England Turn East Something Else?

5. 4 Fall 1939 USSR begins pressuring Baltic States

6. 5 June 1940 USSR invades Baltic States

7. 6 Aug 1940 USSR formally annexes Baltic States

8. 7 June 1940 – Oct 1940 Operation SeaLion Planned invasion of Britain Air superiority of British Channel required ? ?

9. 8 Battle of Britain July – October 1940 Germany attempts to gain air superiority in order to invade Britain The RAF defeated the Luftwaffe and the invasion (SeaLion) was called off June 1940 – Oct 1940 Operation SeaLion Planned invasion of Britain Air superiority of British Channel required

10. 9 The Blitz October 1940 … Virtually continuous night bombing of England

11. 10 Tripartite Pact: Axis Powers 27 Sep ’40: Germany, Italy, Japan Nov 1940: Hungary, Romania Mar 1941: Bulgaria

12. 11 October 1940 Italy invades Greece; repulsed Britain sends forces to defend Greece

13. 12 April 1941 Germany invades Greece and Yugoslavia British forces evacuated to Crete

14. 13 20 – 31 May 1941 Germany seizes Crete with Germany’s largest and last airborne assault

15. 14 Europe: June 1941 The eve of Operation Barbarossa

16. World War II North Africa (Sep ‘40 – Oct ‘42)

17. 16 North African Campaign Sep 1940 to Oct 1942 Operation Compass Operation Crusader Operation Lightfoot