WORLD WAR II European Theatre

September 1, 1939 Hitler invades Poland Britain and France declare war on Germany (Poland Alliance) Hitler conquers Poland in a month Blitzkrieg fighting tactic – lightning quick strikes – total war poured on Begins rounding up Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, invalids Creates Ghettos in cities (forced movement and registration)

Blitzkrieg

Soviet Union  Joseph Stalin thinks he is safe from Hitler  Signed Non-Aggression Pact in 1937  Stalin secretly providing Hitler with oil  Stalin moves into Eastern Baltic States and E. Poland (deal with Hitler)

France – Maginot Line Defense France is extremely antagonistic towards and afraid of Germany Created Rhineland buffer zone between France and Germany (taken German territory) Built the “Maginot Line” to defend against Germany Series of Bunkers, Forts, and earthworks to stop German invasion Did not cover the Ardennes Forrest on Belgium border, thought to be impassable

Ardennes Forest

USA USA is isolationist, Wants to stay that way FDR passes Neutrality Act – USA will stay neutral Forbids sale of arms to belligerents

Nazi Leaders Adolf Hitler – Furher Herman Goring – 2 nd in Command (Luftwaffe {Air Force} commander) Joseph Goebbels - Propaganda Minister (propaganda and media censorship) Heinrich Himmler - SS (Gestapo Secret Police) Chief (ran death camps)

The War Begins??? Winter, 1939 England and France do nothing for a few months “Phony War” or “Sitzkreig” France waiting behind Maginot Line Thoughts of a stalemate like WWI again

The Sides ALLIED POWERS –England –France –Poland –Netherlands –Belgium –Egypt –China –Soviet Union (June 1941) –USA (Dec. 1941) AXIS POWERS –Germany –Japan –Italy CONQUERED NATIONS Ethiopia Manchuria Albania Bulgaria Hungary Libya Romania Yugoslavia

Germany Blitzkriegs Europe Spring, 1940 April 9, 1940 – Germany invades Denmark and Norway, conquered in 2 weeks May 10, Germany carves a path through the Ardennes Forrest Plows through the Netherlands and Belgium Enters France around Maginot Line Allies trapped at Dunkirk

Evacuation at Dunkirk Fast moving German Army cuts off 338,000 British and French soldiers Every boat in England summoned to move troops back across the English Channel Soldiers barely escape to England Allies loose tons of equipment, trucks, supplies, artillery to Nazis

The Fall of France June, 1940 Nazi Panzer Tank Divisions roll through leftover French Army Nazi Panzer Tank Divisions roll through leftover French Army Strafe civilians – spread panic and terror Strafe civilians – spread panic and terror Italy declares war on Allies June 10, 1940 Italy declares war on Allies June 10, 1940 Roll into Paris on June 14, 1940 Roll into Paris on June 14, 1940 Hitler forces France to surrender in the same Railroad car where Germany had to sign the WWI Armistice in Compiegne Hitler forces France to surrender in the same Railroad car where Germany had to sign the WWI Armistice in Compiegne Britain is left alone to fight war Britain is left alone to fight war

WWI German Surrender

Battle of Britain  Hitler unleashes the Luftwaffe on Britain  Nazi Terror Air bombing campaign to break spirit of the English people – weaken England for invasion  Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF), and London citizens stand firm  Hitler can’t invade England

London Bombing St. Paul’s Cathedral

USA Prepares Defenses FDR wins unprecedented third term in 1940 – still committed to Neutrality FDR does order America’s defenses strengthened, Starts Arming up War demands get US economy going – US pulls out of Great Depression Orders first ever peacetime conscription (army draft)

USA Becomes Entangled Britain screaming for help FDR gets around Neutrality Act with… Lend-Lease Bill – Jan. 10, 1941 Authorizes President to sell arms to any country deemed necessary for USA’s defense

Hitler’s Fatal Mistake of the War Abandons attack on Britain &… Decides to double cross Stalin and Attack Russia, June 22, 1941 Opens up a 2 Front War The Russian Winter horror Stalin humiliated – wants alliance with Allies