WWII Lightning War 1939-1945

WWII Begins September 1, 1939, Germany Invaded Poland France & Great Britain declare war on Germany but are too weak to stop them The Alliances: Allied Powers: France, Great Britain, Soviet Union (eventually) and America (eventually) Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan

Poland Divided Hitler & Stalin signed nonagression pact (they would not attack each other) Hitler agreed to give half of Poland to Russia

“Blitzkrieg” Lightning War Hitler used new tactic called “Blitzkrieg” Planes, tanks, artillery, and troops used to quickly overwhelm enemy Hitler first used the Blitz on Poland

“Sitzkrieg” or Phoney War After declaring war, France stationed troops along the Maginot Line and waited for attack for 3 months The Maginot Line was a series of French fortifications along the German and Italian borders German and French troops grew bored sitting around waiting for the offensive instructions

France Falls May 1940- Germany sent troops around Maginot Line Italy invaded from south Paris fell on June 10, 1940

Battle of Dunkirk German troops trapped the last allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk in Northern France Britain sent 850 ships to rescue 338,000 soldiers Once the Germans took France, the only remaining enemy on the Western Front was Great Britain. Hitler went there next…

Battle of Britain Germany planned to invade Britain and started bombing in 1940. Battle took place only in the air between the Luftwaffe and British Air Force. British cities like London were burned and many people killed-people even lived in the subways! British used radar and the enigma (code breaking machine) to detect German planes After months of bombing with no British surrender, Germany finally gave up- they could be stopped!

Winston Churchill The success of the British during the Blitz was possible, in part, because of Churchill British Prime Minister during WWII Fearless leader and great speaker who was able to keep the Germans from invading Great Britain

Famous Churchill Quote: “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.”

Germany on the Move After Hitler was not able to take Britain, he turned to the east instead After Poland and France, Germany invaded other countries: Denmark Norway Egypt Algeria Tunisia

Hitler Invades Russia Hitler ignored the non-aggression pact with Russia and attacked on June 22, 1941 Russia had a 5 million man army but it was weak and not well equipped Germans pushed 500 miles into Russia and Russia burned everything in the German path (sound familiar?)

Siege of Leningrad Leningrad was formerly known as St. Petersburg Hitler was confident that he could capture Leningrad. He supposedly had plans to name the city Adolfsburg after its capture German troops surrounded the city of 2.5 million and bombed food warehouses for 872 days (2.5 years!) The Russians starved and resorted to eating horse feed, cats, dogs, crows, & rats to survive 1 million people died but the city never surrendered

Hitler is Finally Stopped Hitler sent troops towards Moscow after Leningrad did not fall Winter set in and German fuel and oil froze along with troops in summer uniforms 500,000 Germans died during the winter and the Russians began pushing them back

What’s America Doing? Although neutral in the war, Pres. Roosevelt knew that America might be drawn into war. America gave the Allies weapons in the Lend-Lease Act and Cash and Carry policy. Hitler ordered the sinking of any ship aiding the Allies. Roosevelt and Churchill wrote the Atlantic Charter- peace agreement with each other. America thought Germany would be the reason they entered the war…

To be Continued… Pearl Harbor & the Holocaust