Hitler and Stalin signed agreement to not attack each other (Aug. 23, 1939) – Agreement was to last for 10 years

Pact contained secret agreement to divide Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union

German troops invade western Poland on Sept. 1, 1939 – Britain and France (Allied Powers) had pledged to help Poland – Allies declared war on Sept. 3, 1939 – Poland fell within a number of weeks before they could get help from Allies Soviets invaded Poland on Sept. 17, 1939

Blitzkrieg- German word meaning “lightning warfare” – Military strategy developed by Germany – Used tanks (panzers), motorized vehicles, airplanes, and paratroopers to quickly mobilize troops and overwhelm enemy forces

Period of calm after the invasion of Poland (Sept May 1940) – Britain moved troops to France to help with expected German invasion of France Hitler invaded Norway and Denmark in April – Wanted to avoid possibility of a naval blockade of Germany

Germany launches attack on Belgium, Holland, and France on May 10, 1940

France had believed that Germany would attack across their Western border – Constructed a series of forts known as the Maginot line after WWI – Maginot Line did not cover the Ardennes Forest because it was thought that Germany could not attack through the thick forest

British and French troops became trapped by German forces at Dunkirk German forces slowed their advance – they did not want to over stretch their supply lines – Hitler decides to turn over the destruction of the allied forces at Dunkirk to the German Luftwaffe (air force) Hitler with Luftwaffe chief Herman Goering

Operation Dynamo – The decision by Hitler to hold back his army gave the British a chance to rescue their forces from Dunkirk – British sent out a request for all available watercraft to head to Dunkirk – 338,000 British and French troops were rescued by 800 ships

Allied forces could not hold back German advance France surrendered on June 22, 1940 Hitler made the French sign their surrender in the same railcar that Germany signed the armistice ending the fighting in WWI

France was divided – Occupied France controlled by German military – Vichy France controlled by “puppet” government that answered to Germans Goering and the head of the Vichy French government Henri Petain

Charles De Gaulle formed Free French gov’t in exile – Based out of Britain – Resisted German control of France

Britain was left alone to fight Germany in Western Europe – The Battle of Britain Italian and German forces invaded the Balkans and North Africa

After the taking France, Hitler focused on trying to defeat Britain – Germans developed a plan for invasion known as Operation Sea Lion Hitler launched an air war on Britain to take out British Air Force – Needed to be destroyed before invasion could launched

German Luftwaffe bombed British ports and cities – Known as the Blitz – Attacks on civilians were meant to weaken British will to fight

Leadership of Prime Minster Winston Churchill provide confidence for the British people

British RAF were able to inflict major damage on the German Luftwaffe – Use of Radar gave warning of incoming German attacks Hitler was forced to cancel invasion of Britain

Hitler invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941 – Known as Operation Barbarossa German forces advanced rapidly into Russia – Got to the outskirts of Moscow by Oct. 2, 1941

Russians began counterattack as winter set in – Germans were not prepared for Russian winter – Harsh conditions slowed German advance Germany now faced a two front war

Many American support an isolationist foreign policy – did not want to be involved in European conflict

President Franklin D. Roosevelt provided weapons to the Allies through the Lend- Lease Program

Document signed by FDR and Winston Churchill – Stated a common desire to end Nazi tyranny – Self determination for all people

United States had placed economic sanctions on Japan – Response to Japanese aggression in Asia – Restricted sale of materials used for war

Japan launched surprise attack on U.S. military bases at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941 – Attack pulled the U.S. into WWII U.S Congress declared war on Japan the next day Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. three days later

Japanese forces rapidly conquered strategic islands in the Pacific and territory in Asia

Allied Powers Axis Powers Britain Free French Soviet Union United States Germany Italy Japan China

Axis and Allied powers used total war during the war – Civilian population was required to support the war effort

Democratic governments exerted control over factories and manufacturing – Ordered factories to produce war materials – Rationed consumer goods – Fixed prices and wages

Democratic governments limited certain rights and used propaganda to influence public opinion – Ex. Japanese Americans were placed in interment camps

Women worked in factories to replace men who joined the war Some American and British women served in the armed forces – Non combat support roles

Public supported the war effort by buying war bonds

Two main theaters of the war – European theater Allied effort led by American Gen. Dwight Eisenhower – Pacific Theater Allied Effort in the Pacific led by American Gen. Douglas MacArthur