European Theatre Major Battles of WWII

Important Battles Invasion of Poland The Fall of France Stalingrad D-Day Battle of the Bulge

The Invasion of Poland 1939 Hitler demanded the Baltic Sea port (Danzig) which was under Polish control. Poland would not give Hitler the territory, so Germany attacked.

The Invasion of Poland 1939 Germany turned to the USSR for support in invasion of Poland. The Nazi’s and the Soviets signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact, agreeing to non-aggression with each other. Germany attacked from the west and the USSR from the east.

The Invasion of Poland 1939 The warfare became known as blitzkrieg – “lightening war” using tanks, artillery & aircraft. This is the first use of Combined Arms warfare. Poland Fell to German forces on October 5th 1939

The Fall of France The Maginot line was a series of bunkers built in along the Germany – France border to stop Germany attacking France ever again.

The Fall of France Hitler simply went around the Maginot line and invaded through the Netherlands, Belgium & Luxembourg

The Fall of France France was caught by surprise - the French & British forces were trapped in Belgium At Dunkirk the German forces halted, giving time for evacuation & saved the men of the armies of France and England from capture by Nazi forces. France surrendered in June 1940.

Invasion of Russia - 1941 Nazis invade the Soviet Union in 1941. They have early success, as the Soviet Army was untrained and short on weapons.

Stalingrad 1942 With confidence in his army, Hitler wanted to cut off supplies to Stalingrad which would cause a Soviet surrender. Joseph Stalin ordered all troops to hold at ALL COSTS, forcing the German forces to fight to the death….no surrender.

2,500,000 men 13,451 artillery pieces 4,000 tanks 1,115 aircraft Stalingrad 1942 The Forces Involved: 2,500,000 men 13,451 artillery pieces 4,000 tanks 1,115 aircraft 1,040,000 men: 10,250 artillery pieces 500 tanks 732 aircraft

Stalingrad 1942 The Red Army would never lose to Germany Germany is on the retreat for now on!

Battle ended February 1943 with massive losses on both sides Stalingrad 1942 Battle ended February 1943 with massive losses on both sides 850,000 killed, missing or wounded including 107,000 captured (only 6000 survived the captivity and returned home to 1955) 900 aircraft 1,500 tanks 6,000 artillery pieces 1,150,000 killed, missing or wounded 650,878 wounded and sick 40,000 civilians dead 4,341 tanks 15,728 artillery pieces 2,769 combat aircraft

D-Day 1944 President Roosevelt and Churchill planned the invasion of France which was lead by General Eisenhower The Allies wanted to open the second front to get rid of the Nazis

D-Day 1944 Casualties and losses At least ~12,000 overall casualties. Estimated between 4,000 and 9,000 casualties.

Battle of the Bulge 1944 Hitler wanted to make one last attack in hope of getting the Allies to sue for peace. He wanted to take Antwerp, the allied supply port.

Battle of the Bulge 1944 One last desperate attempt by Hitler involved blocking supplies coming through Belgium. There was no air power due to a snow storm, so the allies had no idea the Nazis were coming. Germany caught Americans and British by surprise, overrunning them at first.

Battle of the Bulge 1944 General Patton’s Third Army saved the Americans by attacking German forces in the flank, surprising the Germans!. Germany lost the battle with over 100,000 casualties .

Victory in Europe V-E Day 1945 Soviet troops began a massive attack on Nazi Armies, fighting the Nazis all the way back to Berlin. The Soviets had the Nazis in the East, and Allied Armies attacked Nazi forces in the West. Hitler realized all was lost, and killed himself in Berlin bunker on April 30th, 1945. The Surrender of Germany was on May 8th 1945

The End