THE GERMAN INVASION OF POLAND

WHY POLAND? Lebensraum, for the German people. According to his plan, the “racially superior” Germans would colonize the territory and the native Slavs would be enslaved. April 3, Hitler issues directive for attack on Poland April 3, Hitler issues directive for attack on Poland Called Case White Called Case White

THE FAKE OUT Hitler wanted Germany to appear as an innocent victim of Polish aggression Hitler wanted Germany to appear as an innocent victim of Polish aggression Planned the attack for Planned the attack for August 26, but on August 25 he delayed the attack when he learned that Britain had signed a new treaty with Poland, promising military support should it be attacked. To forestall a British intervention: alleged persecution of German-speakers in eastern Poland. Fearing imminent attack, Poland began to call up its troops, but Britain and France persuaded Poland to postpone general mobilization until August 31 in a last ditch effort to dissuade Germany from war. Germans took a prisoner from a concentration camp, dressed him in a Polish uniform, taken to town of Gleiwitz, and shot on Aug. 31, 1939 by the Gestapo in a bizarre faked “Polish attack” on the local radio station. Germans took a prisoner from a concentration camp, dressed him in a Polish uniform, taken to town of Gleiwitz, and shot on Aug. 31, 1939 by the Gestapo in a bizarre faked “Polish attack” on the local radio station.

THE ATTACK/BLITZKRIEG Sept 1 st, At 4:45 a.m., some 1.5 million German troops invade Poland all along its 1,750-mile border with German-controlled territory. Simultaneously, the German Luftwaffe bombed Polish airfields (destroyed Airforce while on the ground), dropped Parachutists behind enemy lines, and German warships and U-boats attacked Polish naval forces in the Baltic Sea. Britain and France were not convinced. On September 3, they declared war on Germany, initiating World War II. (after giving an ultimatum)

THE BLITZKRIEG Once Polish Air Force annihilated, German Panzer units were to roll in Tanks destroyed: roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, telegraph stations, and airfields Finally infantry sent in

THE BLITZKRIEG Germans also unleash calculated terror on civilian population Use stuka dive bombers Drove terrified civilians out into the roads Caused mass confusion

THE BLITZKRIEG Three SS Death’s Head regiments followed the infantry advance to conduct “police and security” measures behind the German lines Whole villages burned to the ground Rules of War ignored by Germany

THE END The Polish army was able to mobilize one million men but was hopelessly outmatched in every respect. Rather than take a strong defensive position, troops were rushed to the front to confront the Germans and were systematically captured or annihilated. In a famously ill-fated strategy, Polish commanders even sent horsed cavalry into battle against the heavy German armor. By September 8, German forces had reached the outskirts of Warsaw, having advanced 140 miles in the first week of the invasion. France pulled back behind Maginot Line. Britain only had a few divisions of men to spare.

MAGINOT LINE – BLOCK 14 AT OUVRAGE DU HOCHWALD

THE RUSSIANS TAKE OVER THE EAST September 17 Soviet forces invaded from the east and all hope was lost. (the U.S.S.R. exercises the “fine print” of the Hitler-Stalin Non-aggression pact—the invasion and occupation of eastern Poland.). The “reason” given was that Russia had to come to the aid of its “blood brothers,” the Ukrainians and Byelorussians, who were trapped in territory that had been illegally annexed by Poland The next day, Poland’s government and military leaders fled the country. On September 28, the Warsaw garrison finally surrendered to a relentless German siege. That day, Germany and the USSR concluded an agreement outlining their zones of occupation. For the fourth time in its history, Poland was partitioned by its more powerful neighbors.

As Soviet troops broke into Poland, they unexpectedly met up with German troops who had fought their way that far east in a little more than two weeks. The Germans receded when confronted by the Soviets, handing over their Polish prisoners of war. Thousands of Polish troops were taken into captivity; some Poles simply surrendered to the Soviets to avoid being captured by the Germans. The Soviet Union would wind up with about three-fifths of Poland and 13 million of its people as a result of the invasion.

KATYN FOREST MASSACRE Katyn Forest is a wooded area near Gneizdovo village, a short distance from Smolensk in Russia where, in 1940 on Stalin's orders, the NKVD shot and buried over 4000 Polish service personnel that had been taken prisoner when the Soviet Union invaded Poland in September 1939 in WW2 in support of the Nazis. Blamed on the Nazis Soviets admitted to it in 1990.

PHONY WAR ( SITZKRIEG ), SEPTEMBER 1939–MAY 10, 1940 Poland defeated. The Phony War starts which allows Allies to prepare for war. “Confetti War” April 8 th, 1940 Norway (British blunder: 80% of Iron Ore) April 9 th, Denmark May 10 th, Sitzkrieg over—Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France invaded. (May-June ’40—Case Yellow) (4 days--Netherlands,18 days Belgium) (Went through the Ardennes Forest)

WINTER WAR The one active hot spot during this “Sitzkrieg” was Finland, which the USSR invaded on November 30, 1939, with the goal of seizing the eastern Finnish territory of Karelia. Though vastly outnumbered and outgunned, the Finns fought back with determination and innovation, even employing troops on bicycles and skis. The invasion, which was expected to end quickly, instead lasted until March 13, 1940, when Finland finally capitulated, ceding Karelia to the Soviet Union, along with the major port of Viipuri (present-day Vyborg). Although Finland lost territory, the victory cost the USSR more than 200,000 lives, more than twice the number that it cost the Finns. The one active hot spot during this “Sitzkrieg” was Finland, which the USSR invaded on November 30, 1939, with the goal of seizing the eastern Finnish territory of Karelia. Though vastly outnumbered and outgunned, the Finns fought back with determination and innovation, even employing troops on bicycles and skis. The invasion, which was expected to end quickly, instead lasted until March 13, 1940, when Finland finally capitulated, ceding Karelia to the Soviet Union, along with the major port of Viipuri (present-day Vyborg). Although Finland lost territory, the victory cost the USSR more than 200,000 lives, more than twice the number that it cost the Finns.

The ill constructed Maginot Line—defense versus offense The ill constructed Maginot Line—defense versus offense Hitler threw the manpower and industrial resources of over 80,000,000 Germans against 40,000,000 Frenchmen. Hitler threw the manpower and industrial resources of over 80,000,000 Germans against 40,000,000 Frenchmen. WHY DID FRANCE LOSE?

VICHY FRANCE: LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY WORK, FAMILY, FATHERLAND After being defeated, the French government signed an armistice with the Germans. The north of France would be under German military control. The south would be a “free zone” where there would be limited self-rule.

Vichy France, formally known as the “French State”, would rule in the south (although technically it had jurisdiction in the occupied north). Most of France’s overseas colonies remained loyal to Vichy. Vichy France, formally known as the “French State”, would rule in the south (although technically it had jurisdiction in the occupied north). Most of France’s overseas colonies remained loyal to Vichy. The government was an authoritarian state, headed by Marshal Philippe Petain, a much beloved war hero from WWI. Other (in)famous figures in the government includes Pierre Laval, a very controversial figure who signed orders to deport foreign Jews from France to the death camps The government was an authoritarian state, headed by Marshal Philippe Petain, a much beloved war hero from WWI. Other (in)famous figures in the government includes Pierre Laval, a very controversial figure who signed orders to deport foreign Jews from France to the death camps

COLLABORATION COLLABORATION An example of this is the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup. Under demand by the Nazis, French police initiated a mass arrest and raid of 13,000 people in Paris and held them in the Winter Veldrome under horrible conditions. The 13,000 people were sent to an internment camp at Drancy, then shipped to Auschwitz. Only 400 returned after the war. An example of this is the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup. Under demand by the Nazis, French police initiated a mass arrest and raid of 13,000 people in Paris and held them in the Winter Veldrome under horrible conditions. The 13,000 people were sent to an internment camp at Drancy, then shipped to Auschwitz. Only 400 returned after the war.

RESISTANCE: MYTH, REALITY RESISTANCE: MYTH, REALITY Resistance not a unified movement until much later in the war People from all walks of life joined the Resistance The Resistance, far too often warped as a “heroic” or “romantic” movement, was in fact plagued by many problems including Nazi/Vichy sympathizers or spies. Life, in general, was often grim and sometimes even bleak The Germans destroyed 344 communities (62 completely) for "crimes" not connected with military operations.

WHAT DID THE RESISTANCE CONTRIBUTE TO THE WAR? They sabotaged war production and power plants They sabotaged war production and power plants They organized armed groups which harassed the German police, the Gestapo, and the Vichy militia. They organized armed groups which harassed the German police, the Gestapo, and the Vichy militia. They acted as a great spy army for the Allies in London. They transmitted as many as 300 reports a day to the Allies They acted as a great spy army for the Allies in London. They transmitted as many as 300 reports a day to the Allies Hid, clothed, fed, and smuggled over 4000 American and British pilots out of France. Every Allied airman rescued meant half a dozen French lives were risked. Hid, clothed, fed, and smuggled over 4000 American and British pilots out of France. Every Allied airman rescued meant half a dozen French lives were risked.

THE FREE FRENCH FORCES the Free French was the military arm of Charles de Gaulle's “Free France” government in exile. They were French military forces who continued to fight with the Allies. In 1940, as German armies overran France, Charles de Gaulle, a brigadier general in the army, fled the country to Britain. There he called for all Frenchman to continue fighting, and said in his famous radio broadcast, “France has lost the battle, but not the war!” De Gaulle was tried in absentia in Vichy France and sentenced to death for treason

De Gaulle was one of the few French advocates for mobile, offensive warfare, but his theories were applied far too late. He actually won a few minor victories during the fall of France, which was significant in an ocean of French defeats At first, de Gaulle's movement gained only a few thousand soldiers, sailors and airmen. This would change as the war progressed in favor of the Allies

Battle of Dunkirk May 27 to June 4, 1940 Also known as the Dunkirk Evacuation and Operation Dynamo The Battle of Dunkirk was located just north of France in a place called Dunkerque. And across the English Channel.

No actual fighting occurred, Dunkirk was an evacuation of the British troops caused by a German attempt to attack the British. The German‘s equipment was far superior to the French, British, and Belgian governments. So the British were forced to flee across the English channel.

The Germans failed to overwhelm the allies so a rescue plan was launched to save the hundreds of thousand soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk.

Not only large ships were used to rescue the troops, but also small privately owned ones.

About 338,000 soldiers were rescued.

Britain thought Dunkirk was a success because the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) evacuated most of the troops there. British soldiers that were rescued were then able to fight again. It gave the British and their Allies time to regroup, retrain, re-arm and go back and win the war. If the Germans had captured all the troops at Dunkirk, we might not have won the war.

Hitler thought it was a disaster because all those soldiers got away, and he didn’t successfully complete his blitzkrieg. But it was also a win for him because the British left behind tanks and guns that the German forces then captured.