INVASION OF POLAND On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, sending in dive- bombers, tanks, and troops. Hitler develops a new style of War called… Blitzkrieg: “lightning war,” or sudden, massive attack On September 3 rd, Britain and France declared war on Germany and began mobilizing for war. WWII officially started. By the end of September 1939(1 month,) Poland was conquered

War without Fighting Britain and France Declare war on Sept 3rd Not a single shot is fired until April of The time between Sept and Apr is known as the “Sitzkrieg” or Sitting War. Then all of a sudden Hitler Attacks Denmark and Norway Next Hitler Turns his attention to France

France’s great idea Maginot Line- French system of under ground trenches Created after WWI. With artillery cannons pointed at Germany. Only Positioned along the border with Germany Why was it ineffective Germany went around the Maginot Line through Belgium

France No More By going around Frances defenses Hitler’s army is able to capture Paris in a very short time. France Surrenders (What a Surprise) Puppet French government to stay in place, but controlled by Hitler. Known As… –Vichy France…was responsible for sending French Jews to Concentration camps

Hitler’s 1st Mistake/Battle of Dunkirk Battle of Dunkirk. German military has 338,000 British and French Soldiers cut off and surrounded by German Soldiers at the port city of Dunkirk On May 29 there was an unexpected reprieve: the German armor stopped its advance on Dunkirk. Under the cover of darkness as many as 850 allied ships had be sailing in and out for over 5 days and rescuing the surrounded soldiers. Approximately 330,000 British and French soldiers escaped on boats across English Channel and lived to fight another day

Hitler’s 2nd Mistake/RAF Recovers Battle of Britain- Germany was able to take Britain out of the war Hitler had been bombing the RAF (Royal Air Force) bases. Britain responds by bombing Berlin (German Capital City) Hitler’s 2nd Mistake… Stopped bombing RAF bases and concentrated on bombing London out of “revenge” –Allowed RAF to recover

Attacking Russia Hitler’s Third Mistake/ Attacking Russia Nazi-Soviet Non- Aggression Pact… Out the window Two front war stretches German military too thin.Two front war becomes a problem…stretches German military too thin. Best to attack in early Spring Russia is to big to defeat using blitzkrieg war drags out into winter time…Hitler attacks Soviet Union in late June… Russia is to big to defeat using blitzkrieg war drags out into winter time… Russians are better suited to fighting in the Winter Why was Stalingrad so important to both Stalin and Hitler? EGO- Hitler Becomes obsessed with capturing Stalingrad to prove dominance over StalinEGO- Hitler Becomes obsessed with capturing Stalingrad to prove dominance over Stalin EGO- Stalin wants to defend till death because the city bares his nameEGO- Stalin wants to defend till death because the city bares his name

The different days D-Day- Allied assault on mainland Europe –Took place in an area of northern France known as Normandy Beaches of Normandy- –Sword, Utah, Gold, Juno, Omaha VE-Day: Victory Europe –Following the battle of the bulge Great Britain and USA push toward Berlin from west and Russia Races to beat them Russia sends in the Cossacks to destroy Berlin Hitler commits suicide May 7th 1945 Germany surrenders VJ-Day: Victory Japan –Following a successful island hopping campaign U.S. Navy works its way to Japan mainland August 6th 1945 U.S. drops first atomic bomb on city of Hiroshima 80,000 die 2nd bomb dropped on Nagasaki Sept. 2nd Japan Surrenders WWII ends