Europe during Second World War Review for years

First Stage Outbreak of war: what were Hitler’s war aims in 1939? Impact of Nazi-Soviet pact of 1939 (division of Eastern Europe, etc.) Allied response to invasion of Poland. Russo-Finnish war/Scandinavian interlude

SWW, Stage 2 Western Offensive, May 1940 Battle for Britain: A turning point? Italy’s parallel war (October, 1940): Mussolini an asset or liability? Balkan conflict (April, 1941): What is the significance of this phase of the war? North African campaign,

Stage 2, cont. Britain stands alone: Battle of Britain (a turning point?); US/British relations up to Operation Barbarossa: What was it and how did it change the course of the war?

The “Inner War” Internal developments: Creating (colonizing) a “New Europe” (e.g., Vichy France, Occupied former Yugoslavia, etc.) Life behind the lines: Women at War; importance of industrial productivity. The Holocaust and crimes against humanity. Role of resistance movements and intelligence (Enigma, Ultra, SOE).

Turning points U.S. enters the war Battle of Stalingrad (Kursk, etc.) North African campaign/Italy defeated Opening a second front: Invasion of Italy, Operation Overlord and Bagration.

Politics of War War-time conferences (Casablanca, Teheran, Yalta, Moscow meeting 1944) Events: Warsaw uprising of Manhattan project Role of personalities: Hitler, Mussolini, Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, etc. Moral issues raised by war: Crimes against humanity, bombing missions, etc.

End of War Defeating Germany: Significance of final battles (Arnhem, Bulge, Berlin) Europe transformed: origins of Cold War