1. L2: Hitler Marches Across Europe: The War in Europe, The Fall of France, The Battle of Britain 1939-1940 Agenda Objectives: 1.To understand the “narrative” of the early battles of World War Two. Schedule: 1.The Nazi Conquest of Europe 2.The Fall of France 3.The Battle of Britain Homework: None

2. Hitler Invades Poland 1939 Germany and the Soviet Union launch a joint invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 Britain and France declare war on Germany following Germany’s invasion of Poland. World War Two begins!!!!

3. The Nazi Blitzkrieg Germany struck with speed and power and engaged in blitzkrieg warfare. –Blitzkrieg = lightning war –Columns of tanks supported by planes and infantry Blitzkrieg video –http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ha0qKquG2Ehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ha0qKquG2E The German air force, Luftwaffe, destroyed Polish planes on the ground, attacked tanks, bombed Warsaw, and terrorized the population. In less than one month, on September 27, 1939, Poland surrendered.

4. Nazis Now Begin Western Expansion Hitler had launched a successful eastern conquest of Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland--the beginning of his dream for a German empire. Now it was time to look west. Invasion and Occupation of Denmark and Norway (April 1940) –Denmark surrenders in 2 hours –Norway falls in a matter of days Invasion and Occupation of Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg (May 1940)

5. Hitler Plans to Invade France Hitler next looked to France. Following WWI, France adopted a defensive military policy to protect themselves from being invaded in the event of another war with Germany.

6. The Maginot Line Series of concrete and steel fortifications armed with heavy artillery along the French and German border. Bordered to the North by the dense Ardennes Forest which the French believed could not be penetrated by German forces.

7. Germany Invades France Germany invades France through the Ardennes which end up being no obstacle for German tanks. When they invade through the Ardennes the Germans: –Catch the French of guard and they are late to send troops to the region. –Cut the French and British forces defending France in half.

8. Dunkirk Trapped with no reinforcements the British try to flee to France by sea and head for the coastal town of Dunkirk. Amidst bombing by the Luftwaffe, the British desperately evacuated their soldiers on anything that would float. –They lost most of their equipment and supplies however.

9. The Fall of France Nazi begin to drive toward Paris, the capital city. Italy invades France in support of Germany. Millions of French citizens begin to run from the invading Nazis, fleeing to the south of France in cars, bicycles, and carts. With troops in retreat, the French government flees Paris and is forced to surrender. The Nazis now occupy France and establish a puppet government called the Vichy government.

10. The Fall of France: Significance In only a few months since the start of the war France has fallen to Germany--this was something Germany had previously been unable to do during the entirety of WWI. Germany now occupies most of continental Europe. The only power opposed to Hitler is Great Britain--it now has to fight Germany alone.

12. Germany Plans to Invade Britain Hitler expected that after his stunning victories in the west, Britain would make peace. The British reject Hitler’s peace offers. Hitler then plans an invasion of England (Operation Sea Lion)

13. The Battle of Britain In August 1940, the Luftwaffe begin massive attacks on British air and naval installations. –The goal is to destroy British military operations so that Britain cannot defend itself or launch a counterattack. –Ultimately Hitler hoped to destroy Britain’s air defense and eventually force Britain out of the war. Both Britain and Germany suffer heavy sustained losses in the first month of fighting.

14. The Battle of Britain In September, Hitler orders the Luftwaffe to not only attack military sites, but also civilian targets. –He attacks in retaliation for British attacks against German cities, which themselves were retaliation for Hitler’s accidental bombing of London. He believes that this will break the morale of the British people and lead to a Nazi victory. The Luftwaffe start attacking major British cities including London. –Factories, homes, churches, stores, are all repeatedly bombed. –People have to find shelter in subway stations.

15. The Battle of Britain Hitler’s plan backfires--the attacks actually strengthen the morale of the British people. Because military targets were not being hit, the British were able to rebuild their air strength quickly. Soon the British Royal Air Force is inflicting major losses on the Nazis. By the end of the Battle of Britain, German loses in the air outnumbered British losses 3 to 1.

16. The Battle of Britain: Significance First major Nazi defeat of the war. Nazis shift strategy away from defeating Britain in the West and instead turn attention to the Soviet Union. This begins a two-front war: –Britain in the West –U.S.S.R. in the East