Blitzkrieg It means Lightning War! It means Lightning War! The Germans are determined to not fall into the same type of stalemate that occurred in WWI The Germans are determined to not fall into the same type of stalemate that occurred in WWI The Blitzkrieg The Blitzkrieg Blitz tactics Blitz tactics

Poland September 1939 Destroyed in 4 weeks Destroyed in 4 weeks

Phony War

April 1940

Luxembourg May 1940

Belgium May 1940

Netherlands May 1940

Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg in France June 1940 Blitzkrieg

The Surrender German troops captured France in a matter of weeks German troops captured France in a matter of weeks

British troops retreated to the coastal beaches on the English Channel at Dunkirk British troops retreated to the coastal beaches on the English Channel at Dunkirk The Miracle at Dunkirk Dunkirk

soldiers were trapped on the beaches. Easy targets for the Germans soldiers were trapped on the beaches. Easy targets for the Germans.

Hitler failed to send ground troops into Dunkirk instead relying on the Luftwaffe to destroy the British. This was a major blunder.

Operation Dynamo was an attempt to rescue the stranded troops. This military operation could only save a tenth of the troops.

A variety of motor boats, fishing smacks, trawlers, lifeboats, paddle steamers and many other types of craft came over the channel to assist in the escape. This made the retreat seem like a victory.

It became known as the Miracle at Dunkirk

Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain is the name given to the air campaign waged by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940.

The objective of the campaign was to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF). The objective of the campaign was to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF).

The Battle of Britain was the first major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces, and was the largest and most sustained aerial bombing campaign up until that date. Battle of Britain Battle of Britain

By battles end, the Germans had lost 1,100 planes. The RAF lost 650 planes. The German attack was called off.

The failure of Germany to achieve its objectives of destroying Britain's air defences, or forcing Britain to surrender is considered both its first major defeat and one of the crucial turning points in the war.

If Germany had gained air superiority they would have launched Operation Sealion.  An amphibious and airborne invasion of Britain.

Eventually the Luftwaffe resorted to attacking areas of political significance and using terror bombing tactics.