Ms. Bielefeld Spring 2012

Stalin signed 10 year agreement: Non- Aggression Pact—with Germany saying they wouldn’t fight Stalin signed 10 year agreement: Non- Aggression Pact—with Germany saying they wouldn’t fight Using a sudden mass attack, Germany overran much of Europe & North Africa Using a sudden mass attack, Germany overran much of Europe & North Africa Hitler’s actions began World War II Hitler’s actions began World War II Hitler calls for war against Poland.

Surprise attack on September 1, 1939 Surprise attack on September 1, 1939 Blitzkrieg—lighting war Blitzkrieg—lighting war Used planes, tanks, & massive amounts of troops Used planes, tanks, & massive amounts of troops Defeated Poland in 3 weeks Defeated Poland in 3 weeks France and Britain declare war on September 3 France and Britain declare war on September 3 Fast moving tanks headed for Poland

Sept. 17, Stalin sent Soviet troops to occupy the Eastern half of Poland Sept. 17, Stalin sent Soviet troops to occupy the Eastern half of Poland Stalin then attacked Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland (Finland resisted) Stalin then attacked Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland (Finland resisted)

After Poland fell, there was a 7 month stop in fighting After Poland fell, there was a 7 month stop in fighting French & British stationed troops along the Maginot Line—system of fortifications along France’s border with Germany French & British stationed troops along the Maginot Line—system of fortifications along France’s border with Germany Nothing happened & referred to as a “phony war” Nothing happened & referred to as a “phony war” April 9, 1940—Hitler launched a surprise attack April 9, 1940—Hitler launched a surprise attack Denmark fell in hours Denmark fell in hours Norway fell in two months Norway fell in two months Germany began to build bases along the coast to launch strikes on Britain Germany began to build bases along the coast to launch strikes on Britain

Hitler sends tanks through the Ardennes—heavily wooded area in Northern France, Luxm., & Belgium Hitler sends tanks through the Ardennes—heavily wooded area in Northern France, Luxm., & Belgium Germans squeeze between the Maginot Line & moved across France Germans squeeze between the Maginot Line & moved across France June 22, 1940—France surrenders June 22, 1940—France surrenders Rescue at Dunkirk Rescue at Dunkirk Germans trapped Allied forces around the Northern French city of Lille Germans trapped Allied forces around the Northern French city of Lille Allies retreated to the beaches of Dunkirk, French Port Allies retreated to the beaches of Dunkirk, French Port Great Britain set out to rescue the Army Great Britain set out to rescue the Army Ships crossed the English Channel & carried 338,000 soldiers to safety Ships crossed the English Channel & carried 338,000 soldiers to safety British troops on the beaches of Dunkirk

British soldiers aboard ship during mass evacuation at Dunkirk

Resistance in France crumbles after Dunkirk Resistance in France crumbles after Dunkirk Germans take Paris Germans take Paris French leaders surrender French leaders surrender Germans take N. France & leave S. France to a puppet government called Vichy France Germans take N. France & leave S. France to a puppet government called Vichy France Charles de Gaulle—French general set up exile gov’t in London & commits to taking back France Charles de Gaulle—French general set up exile gov’t in London & commits to taking back France Will battle Nazi’s until France was liberated in 1944 Will battle Nazi’s until France was liberated in 1944 German troops in Paris

Britain stood alone against the Nazis Britain stood alone against the Nazis Winston Churchill—new Prime Minister of Britain Winston Churchill—new Prime Minister of Britain Hitler wanted to destroy R.A.F.—Royal Air Force, then land troops Hitler wanted to destroy R.A.F.—Royal Air Force, then land troops Luftwaffe—German air force, began bombing Luftwaffe—German air force, began bombing British fight back British fight back Technological advances help Britain Technological advances help Britain Radar—could tell #, speed, & direction of Luftwaffe Radar—could tell #, speed, & direction of Luftwaffe Enigma—decoded German messages Enigma—decoded German messages Stunned by British resistance, Hitler calls off the attack Stunned by British resistance, Hitler calls off the attack Key to this battle: Hitler could be defeated Key to this battle: Hitler could be defeated R.A.F. pilots

Hitler turned attention to the Mediterranean, Balkans, and USSR Hitler turned attention to the Mediterranean, Balkans, and USSR Axis forces attack N. Africa Axis forces attack N. Africa Mussolini orders attack on Egypt Mussolini orders attack on Egypt Suez Canal was key to oil in Middle East Suez Canal was key to oil in Middle East Britain strikes back Britain strikes back Hitler sends in Afrika Korps—German tank forces led by Erwin Rommel—later called the Desert Fox for his success Hitler sends in Afrika Korps—German tank forces led by Erwin Rommel—later called the Desert Fox for his success German tanks move into Greece

Hitler was planning to attack USSR from the Balkans Hitler was planning to attack USSR from the Balkans Hitler persuaded Bulgaria, Romania, & Hungary to join the Axis Hitler persuaded Bulgaria, Romania, & Hungary to join the Axis June 22, 1941—Germany invades the USSR June 22, 1941—Germany invades the USSR Operation Barbarossa—plan to invade the USSR Operation Barbarossa—plan to invade the USSR Tried to starve out Leningrad Tried to starve out Leningrad Winter stopped them as they pushed toward Moscow Winter stopped them as they pushed toward Moscow Germans retreat Germans retreat Hitler will gain nothing but 500,000 German deaths Hitler will gain nothing but 500,000 German deaths German tanks roll into the USSR

Despite isolation, Congress passed Lend-Lease Act Despite isolation, Congress passed Lend-Lease Act U.S. would sell goods & weapons to our allies U.S. would sell goods & weapons to our allies Enriched U.S. economy Enriched U.S. economy U.S. called the “Arsenal of Democracy” U.S. called the “Arsenal of Democracy” German U-boats attacked ships German U-boats attacked ships FDR & Churchill passed the Atlantic Charter FDR & Churchill passed the Atlantic Charter Upheld free trade, right to choose own gov’t Upheld free trade, right to choose own gov’t U.S. in undeclared naval war with Hitler U.S. in undeclared naval war with Hitler Post-WWII peace plan Post-WWII peace plan Tank headed to the Allies