German Aggression in WWII

1934 – Hitler re-arms Germany Treaty of Versailles limited Germany’s army Hitler openly began building up the military US, Britain and France did nothing! (appeasement)

March of Anschluss Unification of Germany and Austria

German Reichstag Salutes Hitler after Anschluss

The Munich Conference

“The Appeaser”

The Start of WWII Sept. 1 st, 1939, Hitler declares war on Poland The first Blitzkrieg (Lightning War) “Armored Spearheads” (large groups of tanks) punch holes in Polish defenses, drive deep into enemy territory Infantry (foot soldiers) follows through gaps Dive bombers strike deep inside Poland, attack communication and transportation

German “Stuka” Dive Bomber

German Panzer Tank

The fall of Poland The Polish military is large but outdated Poland was allies with Britain and France. Sept. 3, Britain and France declared war on Germany, but they did not attack or send any help to Poland! Sept. 17 th, USSR invades Poland from the east! Hitler and Stalin had signed a non-aggression pact in 1939 and had secretly agreed to divide Poland between them. Poland surrendered in Oct. 2 nd

Denmark and Norway Hitler wants control of the Baltic Sea Attacks Denmark with bombers and paratroopers Denmark surrenders in 4 hours! Norway is protected by water, harder to attack Germany invades by air and sea Norway surrenders in 2 months

Netherlands and Belgium Both have small armies and want to stay neutral Hitler wants to control the “Atlantic Wall” (the entire Atlantic coast of Europe) Hitler attacks. Minor resistance, but both fall within 2 weeks

France The French army was as large and as strong as Germany’s France had built a huge system of defenses along the border called the Maginot Line British troops protected the Belgian border

France Only one gap existed in the defenses – the Ardennes Forest… Germany attacked through the Ardennes! Attacked the Maginot Line from behind, cutting off most of the French army Overwhelmed the British and remaining French troops in the north

German tanks move through the Ardennes Forest

France France surrendered in 5 weeks General Charles de Gaulle escaped and organized the French Resistance

Hitler in Paris De Gaulle

Battle of Britain Hitler wanted to invade Britain, but Britain was an island protected by the British Navy Hitler’s Plan Step 1: destroy Britain’s air force (RAF); Step 2: use the German air force (Luftwaffe) to chase away the British navy Step 3: invade Britain across the English Channel.

Battle of Britain Luftwaffe outnumbered the RAF 2:1 Britain built planes and trained pilots as fast as possible Churchill rallied the British people “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”

Spitfire ME-109

Battle of Britain The Luftwaffe suffers heavy losses; Hitler calls off the invasion Churchill: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” But, Germany continued bombing British cities for two more years! (“The Blitz”)

V-1 Flying Bomb and V-2 Rocket

London Bomb Damage

USSR June 1941, Hitler broke his non-aggression pact with Stalin and launched the largest invasion in history (3 million men!) “Operation Barbarossa” Germany quickly captured hundreds of miles of Soviet territory, killed and captured millions of Russians…

USSR, cont. Stalin makes an alliance with Britain, but there is little Britain can do to help Stalin ordered his army to stop the Germans at all cost, but the Germans still advanced By Dec. 1941, the German army was just a few miles from capturing Moscow…

German Controlled Territory, Dec. 1941

December 1941 The Allies are in bad shape; Hitler appears unstoppable The only country strong enough to stop Hitler is the US, but most Americans are isolationist Churchill goes to America and begs Roosevelt for help, but FDR says the US will stay neutral unless directly attacked Then, on December 7 th 1941, Churchill’s prayers are answered in an unexpected way…

To Be Continued…

REVIEW With a neighbor: - Outline Hitler’s rise to European domination - Significant events?

PROPAGANDA AXISALLIES “Our Beloved Fuehrer Demonstrates German Superiority by Capturing France.” “Hitler Captures France: We Could Be Next! Support the War Effort”