1. World History Chapter 20 - World War II Section 2 - War in Europe

2. War Begins German offensive September 1, 1939
Hitler invades Poland.
Great Britain and France declare war.
German offensive
German war strategy- “blitzkrieg” (lightening war) taking the enemy by surprise.
April 1940
Norway and Denmark taken by Hitler.
Germans secure outlet to Atlantic Ocean at Baltic Sea.

3. May 10-15, 1940
Netherlands surrender.
Hitler invades France.
May 26, 1940 Dunkirk, France
Germans push allies to the English Channel
British Navy and civilians rescue 300,000 soldiers across English Channel.
June 22, France surrenders.

4. Battle of Britain
Hitler attacks Britain with Luftwaffe (air force).
Factories, munitions, airfields destroyed.
Attack continued from August-November 3.
London bombed for 57 consecutive nights- known as the blitz.
RAF, Royal Air Force, defeated Luftwaffe and blockaded Hitler’s invasion of Britain.

5. Atlantic Charter
August 1941
Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt call for the destruction of Nazi tyranny.
Agreed that freedom of trade and self-rule must be upheld.

6. USA aids Great Britain
Cash and carry policy- Great Britain traded cash for supplies.
Lend-lease- president could lend war supplies to countries.
April 1941
German forces, under General Rommel, drive British out of Libya, Africa.