The European Theater

Hitler felt that Britain and France would not use military force to halt his territorial ambitions As Hitler looked to expand into Poland, he made an agreement with Stalin (USSR) The Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact- stated that both nations promised not to attack one another. Hitler offered Stalin control of eastern Poland and the Baltic states Hitler planned on breaking his promises but didn’t want a two front war at this time

September 1, Germany invades Poland September 3, Britain and France declare war on Germany After four short weeks Poland was defeated and divided between Germany and the Soviet Union

Blitzkrieg- “lightening war”; a swift and sudden military attack April Hitler takes Denmark and Norway May Hitler attacks the Netherlands, Belgium and France France signs an armistice on June 22, 1940 with German armies occupying 3/5 of France Vichy France – authoritarian regime under German control that ruled the remainder of France

August Germany’s Luftwaffe (Air force) launched a major offensive in Britain targeting naval basis, harbors, communication centers, and war industries. The invention of radar was helpful to warn Britain of incoming assaults though the losses were critical. September brought a tactical shift from Hitler who wanted cities to be targeted over military bases to kill moral Britain was able to recover militarily however and the invasion of Britain was postponed indefinitely.

Hitler convinced himself that Britain only remained in the war because it expected Soviet support. Hitler also felt the Soviet army was pitiful and could be conquered quickly. Hitler seized Greece and Yugoslavia in April 1941to secure his exposed southern flank

June Hitler invaded the Soviet Union With armies advancing in the Ukraine, besieging Leningrad, and a third approaching Moscow the Germans were halted by the harsh Russian winter and a fierce Soviet resistance VIOLATES NON- AGGRESSION PACT

Isolationism- a policy of national isolation by abstention from alliances and other international political and economic relations Many Americans felt that the US had been drawn into WWI due to their economic involvement and passed many neutrality acts to prevent the US from becoming involved in European affairs. With Hitler conquering so much of Europe however, the US supplied food, ships, plans, and weapons to Britain

Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese aircraft attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii Destroying 350 aircraft 18 ships 3,500 Americans were killed or wounded Didn’t destroy* US Aircraft Carriers US fuel supplies Japan also attached The Philippines The Dutch East Indies Spring Japan controlled almost all of Southeast Asia and much of the western Pacific

Hitler thought the US would be ineffective in the European theater due to their involvement in the Pacific. Dec. 11, 1941Germany Declares war on USA Another European conflict had turned into a global war

Nov. 1942, British and American forces invaded French North Africa. By May 1943 the German and Italian troops there had surrendered. Stalingrad- Hitler wanted to kill the moral of the Soviets, but over reached and paid the consequences. 100,000 Germans died 80,000 captured Feb. 1943

General Eisenhower led the air and sea attack on Sicily in July 1943 The Allies were met with little resistance until Messina Conquest of Sicily led to Mussolini’s downfall Mussolini was arrested The Fascist Party was dissolved Italy surrendered Germany occupied Rome Mussolini was put back in control of Northern Italy June 4, 1944, Allies entered Rome

In 1943, leaders of the three major Allied Powers (Churchill— Britain, Roosevelt--US, Stalin-- USSR) met in the Tehran Conference to discuss plans for defeating Germany

At Tehran, the leaders planned an amphibious invasion of Normandy (occupied by Nazis) named Operation Overlord –headed by supreme allied commander Dwight D. Eisenhower

Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin met in February, 1945 at the Yalta Conference to discuss plans of dividing up Europe anticipating the defeat of Germany Germany was divided and most of Eastern Europe was controlled by the Soviet Union

The Allied leaders met after the defeat of Germany in July,1945 at the Potsdam Conference to discuss plans for defeating Japan and its unconditional surrender President Truman (who succeeded Roosevelt after his death) learned of the successful tests of the Atomic bomb while at the conference

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