Hitler’s Lightening War Chapter 16, Section 1

Would You Bomb This City? Tough decisions are made in WWII Intelligence gathering tells you there is a weapons plant in the middle of the city. – Bomb or not to bomb Talk about the pros’ and cons’ of bombing the plant – Does shortening a war to save lives justify killing civilians? – How are civilians sometimes as much a part of a war effort as soldiers? – What percentage of lives saved would justify the deaths caused in the bombing?

Germany Sparks a New War in Europe After Hitler takes the Rhineland (March 1936), Austria (March 1938), and Czechoslovakia (Sept 1938 and March 1939) He now wants Poland – He justifies the return of a Polish corridor and the port city of Danzig to Germany because it was lost after WWI – The Nonaggression Act between Germany and USSR privately would divide Poland

Germany’s Lightening Attack on Poland The surprise attack of Poland happened September 1, 1939 A combination of aerial assaults, and quick land movements by tanks and troops took Poland down. France and Britain declare war on Germany September 3 but Poland falls 3 weeks later

Blitzkrieg Poland’s invasions was the first test of blitzkrieg – or lightening warfare The concept is based on the tank moving quickly into an area with close support of airplanes and troops

The Soviets Make Their Move September 17 Stalin sends Soviet troops to occupy eastern Poland He then takes over Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia (without much of a fight) Then he turns to Finland – November 1939 Stalin sends in about 1 million troops – Attacking in the winter was a bad idea. – The Finns are completely outnumber and gunned but they mange to use guerilla tactics to hold out until March of 1940

The Phony War Seven months after the fall of Poland nothing really happened The allies (British and France troops) lined up at the Maginot Line – This is an impressive defensive position along the French/German border The Germans waited a few miles away at the Siegfried Line

The Battle for France and Great Britain On April 9, 1940 Hitler breaks the stalemate by attacking Denmark and Norway By May 1940 the Germans have taken over Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg These attacks set up the Germans to take over France His main force will attack through the Ardennes forest, by doing this they bypass the Maginot Line

Dunkirk The Germans are located from coast to border in northern France With troops in Belgium the force that made its way through the Ardennes moves north and traps a large group of allied troops This becomes the classic escape known as Dunkirk – Explain

France Falls June 10, 1940 Italy senses that Germany will crush France so Mussolini declares war on France and Great Britain June 14 – Germans capture Paris June 22 – France surrenders Henri Petain – is Prime minister when France falls Charles de Gaulle – Flees to Britain before the fall and set’s up a government-in-exile

Germany Attacks Great Britain With France out of the war Great Britain stands alone Winston Churchill – Prime Minister of GB vows never to give up Operation Sea Lion – Germany taking over GB First stage calls for a major aerial assault The Battle of Britain is born EXPLAIN

Germany and Italy Attack North Africa Italy wanted N. Africa so Germany joined them Italian troops in Libya are told to march east and try to capture British controlled Egypt Suez Canal being the key prize Italy made great gains but it all came to a halt

GB Strikes Back Britain had had enough of Italy, so they push back The Italians get manhandled by Feb 1941 Britain had swept 500 miles across N Africa and took 130,000 prisoners Germany comes to the Italian rescue sending in the “Desert Fox” General Erwin Rommel Rommel stops the advance and pushes GB back past a port city called Tobruk

The War in the Balkans Germany was planning to attack its ally the USSR In preparation Hitler attacks Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary Yugoslavia and Greece try to hold out but eventually will fall

Hitler Invades the Soviet Union Operation Barbarossa – Invasion of the USSR June 22, 1941 the blitzkrieg begins USSR had the largest army in the world (5 million) but they are ill equipped and prepared The Germans rolled more than 500 miles across western Russia

Leningrad September 8 Germans surround Leningrad They plan to stave the Russians out Leningrad stopped the German advance in the north People of Leningrad had to eat whatever they could find/catch Germans push towards Moscow General Georgi Zhukov stops the advance with fresh troops and the Russian winter

Moscow Temperatures fell and the Germans were not prepared Hitler orders one of his many “no retreat” orders Ignoring Napoleon’s defeat some 130 years prior The Germans are 125 miles west of Moscow and dig in until March 1943 It cost the Germans 500,000 lives

United States Aids the Allies Despite the horrors of Germany the USA stays out of the war – isolationism From laws are passed that ban the sale of arms and lending of money to nations at war FDR gets congress to sell arms to GB The Lend-Lease Act of 1941 the USA could send goods to nations vital to the USA

United States Aids the Allies Hitler orders his subs in the Atlantic to sink US ships The Atlantic Charter – Upheld free trade among nations and the right of people to choose their own governments September 4, 1941 u boat fires on USA destroyer and FDR tells US captains to sink any boat that fires on them