1. Hitler’s Lightning War

3. Axis Powers
Germany, Italy, and Japan

4. Germany Sparks a New War in Europe
Secret Agreement
Nonaggression pact—Germans and Soviets agree not to fight each other- signed in 1939.
Agreement includes secret deal to split Poland

5. Text of the secret deal (in German)

6. Germany Sparks a New War in Europe
Germany’s Lightning Attack
September 1, 1939—Hitler launches invasion of Poland
Britain, France declare war on Germany, but Poland falls quickly
Blitzkrieg—lightning war—Germany’s new military strategy
Planes, tanks, infantry used to surprise enemy and quickly conquer

8. Germany’s Lightning Attack
The Phony War
French, British mobilize along French border, wait for German attack
Many months of no action—the “phony war”
In April 1940 Hitler attacks and quickly captures Denmark and Norway
British Ministry of Home Security poster of a type that was common during the Phony War

9. German infantry attacking through a burning Norwegian village.

10. German Neubaufahrzeug tanks in Oslo.

11. The Fall of France
May 1940—Germany conquers Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg
Soon after, German army reaches French coast

12. The Fall of France Rescue at Dunkirk
May 26 – June 4, 1940
German forces trap British, French on coast of Dunkirk
British Navy and civilians take ships across the English Channel to rescue soldiers
About 198,000 BR and 140,000 FR/BL troops saved
“We must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance the attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuations.” – Churchill

13. The Fall of France June 1940—France surrenders to Germany
France Falls
June 1940—France surrenders to Germany
Charles de Gaulle, French general, organizes opposition to Germany
Free France Movement

15. The Battle of Britain
Winston Churchill—Becomes British prime minister and vows no surrender.

16. Winston Churchill giving his famous 'V' sign

17. The Battle of Britain
Germany plans invasion of Britain; begins with air attacks in Oct. 1940
British use air force, radar, code-breaking to resist Germany
Battle of Britain—Air war over Britain that lasted until May 1941
Stunned by British resistance, Hitler calls off attacks

18. A London bus is submerged in a bomb crater after a German air raid.

20. Italian L3/33 in North Africa

22. The Eastern Front Hitler Invades the Soviet Union
Germany invades an unprepared Soviet Union in June 1941
Soviet troops burn land as they retreat; Germans move into Russia
Germans stopped at Leningrad, forced to undertake long siege
Germans almost capture Moscow, but forced to pull back
Too cold, lost 500,000 Nazi soldiers

23. Russian soldiers prepare to attack German lines outside Leningrad.

24. A column of Red Army POWs captured near Minsk is marched west.

25. A group of Soviet POWs, taken to undefined Prison Camp

26. The United States Aids Its Allies
American Policy
Most Americans want to avoid war
Roosevelt fears that if allies fall, U.S. would have to fight
Lend-Lease Act—U.S. loans weapons to countries fighting Germany

27. The United States Aids Its Allies
Atlantic Charter—supports free trade, right to form own government

28. Allies

29. Compare and Contrast
Compare Hitler’s invasion of Russia to Napoleon’s invasion
Can do a Venn Diagram or a chart

30. Homework
Write a two-paragraph essay arguing what you think the biggest cause of WWII was. Choose between the Treaty of Versailles, the League of Nations, and the appeasement of Hitler. Give SPECIFIC details explaining your argument. One paragraph = 5-6 sentences. Underline your thesis (main argument). Each following statement needs to support this thesis.