The Nazis Advance: September, 1939-October, 1940 EQ: How did Hitler and the Nazis use the blitz to successfully conquer Western Europe?

Hitler’s War Plan: Part 1 Hitler’s main objective of the war was “lebensraum” or living space for the Germans He felt that the only way to gain that space was through conquest and racial eradication Although his plan for gaining the needed lebensraum was in Eastern Europe, he knew he could not win a war on 2 fronts He wanted to conquer Western Europe first

The Blitz: Lightning Warfare Hitler and his armies would use this new tactic to conquer Europe They would use mechanized infantry with tanks These would be supported by the “Luftwaffe” or air force This would all be coordinated by radio from the front The idea was flexibility, speed, and overwhelming force

The Power of the German Military: At the outbreak of WW2, the German military was the strongest in Europe by far They had invested incredible sums of money into modernizing and expanding their armies While the rest of Europe was trying to appease Hitler, he only wanted war By the time the war broke out, the rest of Europe was woefully prepared for the fight

Heavy Bombers: A New Kind of Terror

The BF-109: Key to German Air Superiority

Stuka Dive Bomber: Precision Bomber

Panzekampfwagon IV: Rolling Death

Invasion of Poland: September, 1939 As per his agreement with Stalin, Hitler sends his armies into Poland on September 1 Using Blitzkrieg tactics, the Nazis overwhelm Poland World War 2 begins (kind of…) Phase 1 of the Lebensraum project ensues -Many of Hitler’s death camps would be established in Poland to liquidate the Jewish population of Eastern Europe

The Phony War (Sitzkrieg): September, 1939-May, 1940 During this phase of the war, both the Allies and the Germans were right across the border from each other Neither side attacked This was called the “Phony War” because it was not what was expected It was all a ruse by Hitler to draw as many allied troops as possible along the border with Germany

Invasion of Denmark and Norway: April 9, 1940 Germany invades Denmark and Norway to gain access to their resources (lumber, iron, oil) and to build ports and airstrips vital to their planned invasion of Britain Neither country provides much resistance -Denmark surrenders after 6 hours -Norway surrenders on June 10 Britain and France provide assistance, but do little in the way of actually fighting Germany

Invasion of France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxemburg: May 10, 1940 Hitler sends 3 armies and more than 1 million men across the German borders The combined French, British, and allied armies were poorly coordinated under French command The Germans had complete air superiority On June 14, 1940, the Nazis enter Paris France surrenders on June 22 Hitler had effectively conquered continental Europe

Battle of Dunkirk: May 26-June 3, 1940: Full Evacuation The British and Canadian troops were backed up to the sea in Dunkirk, France The Germans had them surrounded and their land supplies cut off Thousands of private British boats crossed the English Chanel to evacuate these men 332,226 men were evacuated in less than a week

The “Miracle” at Dunkirk:

Division of France: After the Germans took over France, it was divided into 2 parts The Northern part of France was Occupied France The Southern part of France became Vichy France (Free France) To force the French to submit, the Germans took almost 2 million prisoners of war Vichy France helped to finance uprisings in the North using the French Resistance

The French Resistance: Freedom Fighters or Terrorists???

Hitler in Paris: