Objectives Know the key events that shaped the course of World War II in Europe

Invasion of Poland (1939) September 1, Germany and Russia invade Poland September 3, Great Britain and France Declare War on Germany Poland surrenders on 27 September Period in inactivity termed ‘The Phony War” – French believed this signaled that Germany was preparing its static defenses (akin to WWI trench warfare)

Invasion of France (1940) April/June: Germany conquers Denmark and Norway in the north to secure its right flank and access to the Atlantic May: Germany invades the Netherlands, Belgium enroute to its invasion of France June 14: Germany marches into Paris June 22: France surrenders and the Vichy government is established Battle of Britain (“The Blitz”) begins

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The Germans invaded the Soviet Union in the summer of 1941, and looked poised to take Moscow by October that year. The German Blitzkrieg technique was as devastating in Russia as it had been in the rest of Europe. One week into the German invasion, 150,000 Soviet soldiers were either dead or wounded. By October 1941, three million Soviet soldiers were prisoners of war. War of Annihilation September 1942 – February 1943: Battle of Stalingrad Major Turning Point in European Theater German Army attacking Stalingrad surrendered Feb 2, Operation Barbarossa

Having survived the Blitz and the evacuation of its army at Dunkirk, Great Britain needed time to gather her strength in Europe. British initial strategy was to hold Africa (Suez Canal) while using Strategic Bombing to strike at German Industry. While the United States enters the war following Pearl Harbor, she needs time to build-up her forces in Europe The Second Front Debate Operation Torch begins 8 Nov 1942 Allied Initial Stages:

July 1943 American and British forces land in Sicily. Tough terrain and resistance initially slows Allied advances 17 Aug – Sicily surrenders with fall of Messina Italian government begins secret negotiations with Allies to sue for peace. Germany disarms the Italian military and digs in to defend Italy With Sicily now secure, the Allies begin the invasion of Italy in Sep 1943 Fighting up the spine of Italy is difficult, but on 4 June 1944 (two days prior to D-Day), U.S. forces enter Rome. Italy finally surrenders on 2 May 1945 Invasion of Sicily and Italy

While there was significant debate among the Allies on the timing of a cross-channel invasion of France, the D-Day invasion begins on June 6, However, while maintaining securing a foothold is one thing, sustaining a drive into Germany is another. Operation Market Garden launched on 17 Sept 1944 was designed to relieve this concern D-Day to Market Garden

In a last ditch effort to stabilize the Western Front, Germany commits her last reserves of tanks and infantry. On 16 Dec 1944 German forces struck the lightly held sector in the Ardennes, cutting driving a wedge in the Allied lines and surrounding the U.S. 101 st Airborne. Short on fuel and pounded by U.S. aircraft and armor the last German offensive collapses by the end of January Also in Jan 1945, Russia launches a large-scale offensive in Poland and East Prussia that carried their troops to within forty miles of Berlin. German forces that survived the Battle of the Bulge had to be hurriedly shifted eastward to meet the growing Russian threat. April 16, 1945 Russia has surrounded Berlin Hitler commits suicide in his bunker on April 30 th, with the formal surrender of Germany on 7 May 1945 (8 May declared as VE Day) The Beginning of the End

Europe – Post World War II

Objectives Know the key events that shaped the course of World War II in Europe