BLITZKRIEG Lesson Objectives To understand what Blitzkrieg was and how it worked To consider why Blitzkrieg tactics was so successful

B LITZKRIEG MEANS L IGHTNING W AR – IT WAS AN ATTACK USING BOTH GROUND TROOPS AND AIR FORCE WORKING TOGETHER TO HIT TARGETS

S TAGE ONE First the Luftwaffe (German Air force), used dive bombers to attack airfields and communications targets – power lines, phone lines, bridges, roads, railway tracks. Soften up the enemy

Stage One

S TAGE TWO Then the army moved in using tanks, motorbikes, armoured cars This meant that they could break through the lines quickly and attack the enemy and key targets

Stage two

H ITLER ’ S D EMANDS OF P OLAND Adolf Hitler demands that Poland return Danzig and the Polish Corridor Apr6 Britain and Poland sign a mutual- assistance pact. Apr. 28Adolf Hitler, once more, demands that Poland return Danzig and the Polish Corridor. Aug 27Britain and France attempt to persuade Poland to negotiate with Germany. Sep1Germany invades Poland.

W HAT H APPENS N EXT ? Britain and France, instead of immediately declaring war against Germany look to Mussolini who had proposed an international conference to revise the terms of Treaty of Versailles. Sept 2Adolf Hitler indicates to the British and French that he would withdraw from Poland provided that he was allowed to retain Danzig and the Polish Corridor. Sept 3UK, France, Australia and New Zealand declare war. Sept 17Soviet Union invades Poland from the East.

A TTACK ON P OLAND 1939 The German army used Blitzkrieg tactics against Poland They attacked on many fronts at the same time and quickly over ran the Polish army

G ERMAN I NVASION – N EWS R EEL F OOTAGE 70&MediaId=203

G ERMAN A ND SOVIET AGREEMENT When the Nazis attacked Poland in the morning on September 1, 1939, the Soviets stood by and watched. Two days later, the British declared war on Germany and World War II had begun. On September 17, the Soviets rolled into eastern Poland to occupy their "sphere of influence" designated in the secret protocol. Because of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, the Soviets did not join the fight against Germany, thus Germany was successful it its attempt to safeguard itself from a two-front war. The Nazis and the Soviets kept the terms of the pact and the protocol until Germany's surprise attack and invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941.

T HE P OLISH ARMY WERE BRAVE, BUT COULD NOT STAND UP TO THE G ERMAN TANKS