1. The Nazis Advance: September, 1939-October, 1940
EQ: How did Hitler and the Nazis use the blitz to successfully conquer Western Europe?

2. Hitler’s War Plan: Part 1
Hitler’s main objective of the war was “lebensraum” or living space for the Germans
He felt that the only way to gain that space was through conquest and racial eradication
Although his plan for gaining the needed lebensraum was in Eastern Europe, he knew he could not win a war on 2 fronts
He wanted to conquer Western Europe first

3. The Blitz: Lightning Warfare
Hitler and his armies would use this new tactic to conquer Europe
They would use mechanized infantry with tanks
These would be supported by the “Luftwaffe” or air force
This would all be coordinated by radio from the front
The idea was flexibility, speed, and overwhelming force

4. The Power of the German Military:
At the outbreak of WW2, the German military was the strongest in Europe by far
They had invested incredible sums of money into modernizing and expanding their armies
While the rest of Europe was trying to appease Hitler, he only wanted war
By the time the war broke out, the rest of Europe was woefully prepared for the fight

5. Heavy Bombers: A New Kind of Terror

6. The BF-109: Key to German Air Superiority

7. Stuka Dive Bomber: Precision Bomber

8. Panzekampfwagon IV: Rolling Death

9. Invasion of Poland: September, 1939
As per his agreement with Stalin, Hitler sends his armies into Poland on September 1
Using Blitzkrieg tactics, the Nazis overwhelm Poland
World War 2 begins (kind of…)
Phase 1 of the Lebensraum project ensues
-Many of Hitler’s death camps would be established in Poland to liquidate the Jewish population of Eastern Europe

10. The Phony War (Sitzkrieg): September, 1939-May, 1940
During this phase of the war, both the Allies and the Germans were right across the border from each other
Neither side attacked
This was called the “Phony War” because it was not what was expected
It was all a ruse by Hitler to draw as many allied troops as possible along the border with Germany

11. Invasion of Denmark and Norway: April 9, 1940
Germany invades Denmark and Norway to gain access to their resources (lumber, iron, oil) and to build ports and airstrips vital to their planned invasion of Britain
Neither country provides much resistance
-Denmark surrenders after 6 hours
-Norway surrenders on June 10
Britain and France provide assistance, but do little in the way of actually fighting Germany

12. Invasion of France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxemburg: May 10, 1940
Hitler sends 3 armies and more than 1 million men across the German borders
The combined French, British, and allied armies were poorly coordinated under French command
The Germans had complete air superiority
On June 14, 1940, the Nazis enter Paris
France surrenders on June 22
Hitler had effectively conquered continental Europe

13. Battle of Dunkirk: May 26-June 3, 1940: Full Evacuation
The British and Canadian troops were backed up to the sea in Dunkirk, France
The Germans had them surrounded and their land supplies cut off
Thousands of private British boats crossed the English Chanel to evacuate these men
332,226 men were evacuated in less than a week

14. The “Miracle” at Dunkirk:

15. Division of France:
After the Germans took over France, it was divided into 2 parts
The Northern part of France was Occupied France
The Southern part of France became Vichy France (Free France)
To force the French to submit, the Germans took almost 2 million prisoners of war
Vichy France helped to finance uprisings in the North using the French Resistance

16. The French Resistance: Freedom Fighters or Terrorists???

17. Hitler in Paris: