1. World War II
Starts

2. Germany & the Soviet Union
A. August 1939 the two nations sign a non-aggression pact. –
they will not fight each other.
B. Germany agrees to split Poland with the Soviet Union after they capture it.

3. II. World War II Starts in Europe
A. Germany invades Poland on Sept. 1, 1939,
thus starting the Second World War.
B. Sept. 3, 1939
Britain & France officially declare war on Germany.

4. III. German Blitzkrieg – ‘Lightning War’
A. An all out surprise attack – First by air, then ground artillery, then tanks, and finally infantry come in an mop up.

5. III. German Blitzkrieg Cont.
B. Allows the Nazis to move swiftly across Europe – taking Poland, Denmark, Norway, Luxemburg, Belgium, and the Netherlands all in just 8 weeks.
Poland Denmark Norway Luxemburg Belgium Netherlands
27 Days Hours Weeks Hours Days Days

6. IV. The Fall of France
A. June 1940: Germans cut through Belgium, the Netherlands, and the Ardennes Forrest .
B. Surprising France by completely avoiding the Maginot Line.

7. IV. The Fall of France Cont.
C. The Maginot Line – A line of concrete fortifications built along France’s border with Germany.

8. The Maginot Line

9. IV. The Fall of France Cont.
D. France forced to surrender after only 6 weeks. French Minister of War Charles de Gaulle flees to England and starts the French Resistance.
French Resistance Troops – Underground Forces

10. V. The Battle of Britain
A. Winston Churchill replaces Chamberlain as prime-minister and vows never to surrender.
“we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender “
Winston Churchill June 4, 1940

11. V. The Battle of Britain Cont.
B. Britain's Navy is their strength. May 27, 1941 they sink the German battleship – the Bismarck.

12. V. The Battle of Britain Cont.
C. Germans bomb British cities with the hope of weakening Britain before invading with ground troops.
D. The Royal Air Force is able to defend Britain, and Hitler never steps foot on English soil.
London

13. VI. The Axis Powers A. 1940: include Germany, Italy, and Japan
Hungary Slovak Republic Bulgaria
Yugoslavia Romania Croatia

14. VII. The U.S. Position
A. Holding true to their Isolationists views the U.S. wished to remain neutral.
B. Would help Britain through the Lend Lease Act – supplying them with ships, tanks, weapons, and supplies, but not soldiers.

15. VIII. The Japanese Attack
A. December 7, 1941 the Japanese launch an early morning surprise attack on the U.S. Naval fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

16. VIII. The Japanese Attack
B. Japan had been planning the attack for months, but the U.S. was completely caught off guard. Many sailors were still asleep in their beds when the bombing started.

17. VIII. The Japanese Attacks
C. U.S. Military losses: Killed
1100 Wounded
12 ships sunk
9 ships damaged
164 Aircraft lost
159 Aircraft damaged

18. VIII. The Japanese Attack
D. The U.S. was able to raise and repair all but 3 of the 21 ships that were sunk or damaged in the attack.
E. Lost for good were the U.S.S. Arizona (seen here) and the U.S.S. Oklahoma and U.S.S. Utah.

19. VIII. The Japanese Attack
F. The Impact of the Attack: The attack temporarily halted American interference in Japanese expansion in the Pacific.
G. But more importantly: The attack united a divided nation on whether or not to enter into World War II.

20. IX. America Responds
A. December 7, 1941: President Roosevelt declares this day, “a day which shall live in infamy”
B. December 8, 1941: Congress declares war on Japan.

21. X. The World is at War
A. December 11, 1941 – Germany declares war on the United States
B. The World is once again at war
C. The sides this time:
Allied Powers = U.S. , Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union
Axis Powers = Germany, Italy, and Japan