The War in Europe 1939-1945

German Aggression 1933: Begin _____________ military 1936: German troops reoccupy the _______________ *Both are a direct violation of the ____________ __ ___________ (military not to exceed 100,000 troops) March 13, 1938: __________ _________ Sept. 29, 1938: _________________

Munich Pact Agreement between all major European powers & Germany ____________ & _____________________ excluded Annexed 4 districts in Czechoslovakia, called it ___________________ __________: Germany invades rest of Czechoslovakia -Neville Chamberlain, British PM

Appeasement Making political or material ___________ to an enemy to avoid __________. Was the policy used to address ___________ ________________.

Non-Aggression Pact Between ________ & __________ ______________ No military action against each other for ____ years Germany uses this to invade _______ Broken in 1941

Blitzkrieg ______ _______ Literally means “________ _________” Included air (___________) and ground attacks

Poland _________________: Invaded by Germans Polish fought German tanks from horseback Sept. 3rd: ________ & __________ declare war Sept. 17th: _____________ invade from East Sept. 28th: _________ falls

France Falls Sept. 3, 1939: Declares war on Germany ____________: Begin building defensive fortifications in Belgium to stop a German offensive (_______________) __________: German Panzer corps pass into northern France May 26-28: Evacuation of Allied Forces from ________ (338,326) June 4: Dunkirk falls; ___________ French captured

France Cont. _____________: Sign armistice, out of the war Germany secures the ____________, only has to fight USSR in the east ________ is lone power against Germany “The Battle of France is over. I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin.” - Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister

Battle for Britain ______________: German Luftwaffe attacks Britain German navy almost destroyed during battle for Norway, ground troops unable to cross to Britain _____________________: some of the best pilots in the world __________: 1st bombing raid on London successful ______________: 2nd bombing raid of London, heavy loss of German bombers Hitler calls off invasion of Britain RAF lost ______ of fighter pilots each month, Luftwaffe lost _________

Erwin Rommel Field Marshal, leader of the 7th Panzer Division in Africa (Afrika Korps) Most popular German general, loved by his men Recalled to Europe in 1943 to defend the Atlantic coast Focused on France in 1944 July 1944: Implicated in plot to kill Hitler Forced to commit suicide

General Dwight D. Eisenhower Headed invasion of _____________(1942) Directed invasion of _________ (1943) Supreme Commander of Allied Forces (________) Planned Operation Overlord

General Bernard Montgomery Most well-known ________ commander Commander of the Eighth Army During Normandy: Commander of all allied troops in France Eisenhower took over in Sept. 1944

George Patton Started military career chasing Pancho Villa Skilled at ______ warfare Commanded _____________ (swept across France after D-Day) Died Dec. 21, 1945 in Heidelberg, Germany (broke neck in car accident)

German opinion of Patton “The greatest threat was the whereabouts of the feared U.S. Army. General Patton is always the topic of military discussion. Where is he? When will he attack? Where? How? With what? General Patton is the most feared general on all fronts…He is the most modern general and the best commander of armored and infantry troops combined.” -German Lieutenant Colonel Freiherr von Wangenheim

Operation Overlord

“The eyes of the world are upon you.” – General Eisenhower

Operation Overlord ___________ Invasion of ________ by Allied Forces H – Hour of D – Day Goal is to liberate _______________

The Invasion June 6, 1944 5 beaches: _______, ________, _______, ________, _________ ___________ Allied troops land at Normandy _________ Americans 23,250 @ Utah 34,250 @ Omaha 15,500 paratroopers Approximately ________ Americans died on Omaha

Quick Timeline 1:11: German C/O receives alert of paratroopers dropping 6/5, 17:00: Naval vessels assemble off Isle of Wight 5:23: Naval bombardment begins 21:00: Reinforcements arrive 11:30: Troops reach the cliffs at Omaha 18:00 German counter attack at Juno & Sword June 6 20:00 British troops arrive at Bayeux (liberate the following day) 14:00: Control of the beaches 6:30: H-Hour, first seaborne troops land at Omaha & Utah 00:16: Gliders land near Nenouville, France 1:55: Paratroopers dropping in & around Sainte Mere-Eglise

Victory in Normandy Allies captured __________ by end of June ___________: France is liberated Germany forced to fight on _____ _______

Casualties Allies Germans ________ American deaths ________ British & Canadian deaths ________ total casualties (killed, wounded, missing) ______ - ________ total casualties estimated At least __________ total casualties

Operation Watch on the Rhine

What was it? Last major ________ ________ _________ Allies thought it to be impossible to do Goal is to split the ______ _______ Weakest point is the American line in _______ Creates a 30 mile by 60 mile bubble in the line I. 101st Airborne surrounded in town of _____________

Battle of the Bulge ___________ - ________: German offensive in the Ardennes Mountains (Belgium, France, & Luxembourg) 3 German armies, 250,00+ troops Lieutenant General George Patton’s 3rd Army at _________ neutralized offensive there U.S. Army suffered ___________+ casualties

American Army No _______ ________ Low ___________ Cold food, no fires Many suffered from ________ ______

Victory in Europe ____________: Hitler commits suicide ___________: Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender to General Eisenhower __________