WAR!

Outbreak of War – Poland 1939  From November 1938 onwards German- Polish relations deteriorated, as Hitler demanded the return of the ‘free city’ of Danzig, and parts of Poland to Germany.  Poland refused to negotiate.  March 1939, Britain and France promised to support Poland.

 23 August 1939 Nazi- Soviet Non-Aggression Pact ◦ Outwardly, a treaty of cooperation. ◦ However, secretly the deal was that USSR would not support Poland if Germany ‘happened’ to invade it ◦ In return, Hitler would give Stalin parts of eastern Poland. David Low, Picture Post, 21 October 1939

 24 August, 1939 – Britain reaffirms its guarantee to Poland  1 September, 1939 – GERMANY INVADES POLAND  3 September, 1939 – Britain, France, and the British Empire declare war on Germany. WORLD WAR II HAD BEGUN

German BLITZKRIEG tactics Wehrmacht (army) Panzer units (tanks) Luftwaffe (air force) ‘Lightning War’

 Poland falls by end of September. Divided between Germany and Russia.

 Britain and France prepare for fighting, and wait. Called the ‘phoney war’.  Denmark and Norway conquered in April and May ‘Rendevous’ (David Low, 20 Sept, 1939)

 Winston Churchill replaces Chamberlain as British PM. “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat”.

 Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg fell in mid- May.  France invaded in May, and surrendered in June (the Germans avoided the Maginot Line by going around it via Belgium) – soldiers escape Nazi’s in a dramatic rescue off beaches of Dunkirk.  June, 1940 – Mussolini enters the war, taking some French territory, and later attacking Greece and North Africa.  August–October, 1940 – Britain attacked by Luftwaffe, and Germany prepares for full scale invasion – known as Battle of Britain ◦ 800 RAF pilots hold off German attacks. Germany’s first defeat. ◦ Churchill says “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few”.

 Hitler postpones operation Sealion, and launches a massive attack on USSR (Op. Barbarossa) in June  Great German victories at first, but Germans meet fierce Russian resistance, and not equipped to cope with harsh Russian winter.  Despite huge losses and human cost, Russia remains undefeated.

 Consequences of German invasion of Soviet Union: ◦ German-Soviet Non- Aggression Pact broken ◦ Russia enters war on the Allies side ◦ War in Europe now fought on two major fronts ◦ Massive costs to Russia (‘scorched earth’ policy, 20 million killed) Hitler Tearing the Nonaggression Pact, a 1941 poster by Kukryniksy artists

 Throughout 1930s American public anxious not to get involved in Europe’s affairs. This known as policy of Isolationism.  Reflected in 1935 and 1938 Neutrality Acts which prevented USA from lending money or selling arms to countries at war.  President Roosevelt saw dangers of fascist aggression, but could do little, even when war broke out in  After France fell, Roosevelt got Congress to allow goods to be sold to countries at war on a ‘cash and carry’ basis. He also increased the American rearming programme, and secretly supported Britain.

 Roosevelt calls the USA the ‘arsenal of democracy’  Lend-Lease Act – allowed President to give anything (even arms) to any country whose defence was vital to the security of the USA  Roosevelt meets Churchill in August, condemned Nazi tyranny, and drew up a list of war aims. Known as Atlantic Charter.

 Between Japanese-American relations worsened.  Roosevelt concerned about: ◦ Japanese expansion into China ◦ Japanese intention to create ‘Greater East Asia Co- Prosperity Sphere’ (essentially a Japanese Empire) ◦ Increasing Japanese-German/Italian cooperation  October 1941, General Tojo took over Japanese government

 7 December 1941 – Tojo ordered Japanese bombers to destroy USA’s main Pacific naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawai’i.  Over 2,000 Americans killed, and 26 ships sunk.  USA now forced to immediately declare war on Japan.  A few days later Germany and Italy, supported their Anti- Comintern Pact partner, and declared war on USA also. WHOLE WORLD NOW AT WAR