Hitler’s Lightning War Part 1 of 2 Chapter 16.1 Europe

Germany’s lightning attack September 1, 1939, after signing nonaggression pact, Hitler Invades Poland. France and Britain declare war on Germany September 3. Poland fell before any help could arrive.

Blitzkrieg (lightning war) Poland fell to Germany’s strategy, the blitzkrieg: Fast moving tanks and planes Invasion of massive infantry force Idea was to surprise and overwhelm the enemy

Soviet Invasion September 17, Stalin invades eastern Poland Annexes countries north of Poland. Finland resists Stalin sends 1 million troops to crush them

Phony War After declaring war Britain and France station troops along Maginot Line. Fortified positions along French/German border Waited for Germans to attack Nothing happens. Armies stare at each other April 9. 1940, Hitler surprise attack on Denmark and Norway

Maginot Line

Fall of France Hitler sends large tank force through the Ardennes in France Sneak past Maginot Line Cross France to north coast in ten days

Rescue at Dunkirk Germany traps Allies in Lille in North France Allies outgunned with backs to the sea Great Britain uses 850 ships to rescue the Allied army May 26-June 4 Save 338,000 soldiers

France Falls After Dunkirk French resistance fails June 14 Germany takes Paris June 22 took control of northern France Left puppet government in southern France French government in Exile in London under Charles de Gaulle

The Battle of Britain Britain alone against Germany Churchill Speech Summer 1940 Hitler bombs British aircraft factories and airfields September begin bombing cities

Battle of Britain RAF outnumbered Radar and German code making machine help RAF start to win To avoid raids by RAF Germany gave up bombing during the day October 1940 only night bombing Called Battle of Britain

Allies Lesson Bombing ended May 10, 1941 Hitler stunned by British resistance Taught Allies they could block Hitler’s attacks

SECTION 16.1: WORLD WAR TWO: Africa, Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union

Germany invades Poland USSR invades Poland USSR invades Baltics USSR invades Finland Germany invades Denmark and Norway Germany invades Benelux nations Germany invades France Battle of Britain and the Blitz United Kingdom Germany Italy USSR

Italy invades Egypt British forces kick the Italians’ fascist backsides United Kingdom Germany Italy USSR

The British couldn’t lose the canal, or access to the oil fields in the Middle East (most of which they controlled). Of course, Hitler wanted it too. Hitler sent Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox, to take on the British in North Africa.

The Germans, of course, found the Lost Ark of the Covenant and if it weren’t for Indiana Jones, all would be lost…. … no, not really.

Rommel chases the British out of Egypt They would go back and forth for some time Eventually, the Americans under General Patton show up and get rid of the Germans for all United Kingdom Germany Italy USSR

Of course, Hitler didn’t care that much about Africa – he told the whole world in Mein Kampf that his goal was to invade the Soviet Union. He wanted lebensraum. But first he had to build some bases to supply the massive armies he would need.

Germany “persuades” Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania to join his cause. They didn’t like the Soviets much either. Germany and Italy invade Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece – countries that weren’t willing to go along with Hitler’s plan. United Kingdom Germany Italy USSR

On June 22, 1941 Operation Barbarossa was launched. Stalin’s top advisers had warned him of an attack. The Red Army was unprepared, poorly equipped, poorly trained, and poorly led. It was a complete disaster for the USSR. Uncle Joe was TIME’s Man of the Year in 1940

Army Group Center tried to reach Moscow and force Stalin to surrender. Prisoners and troops from Siberia were shipped in to stop the Nazis some 20 miles from Moscow, saving the city. Army Group South tried to push into the Caucasus region – rich with oil. Hitler decided he needed to take the city of Stalingrad on the way. Army Group North surrounded Leningrad for nearly 700 days. Hitler tried to starve the city to death, but they hung on. Most of the Soviet Air Force was destroyed on the first day while still on the ground.

Stalingrad didn’t work out so well for the Germans… (more on that later)

Lend-Lease Act (March, 1941) Atlantic Charter So… what’s going with the USA anyway?? isolationism Neutrality Acts (1935-7) Lend-Lease Act (March, 1941) Atlantic Charter Undeclared naval war with Germany