World War II From Appeasement to Victory

Q.O.D. #11 2/2/10 Why did Britain and France end their policy of appeasement? When Hitler broke his promise to not take more territory when Germany annexed the Sudetenland, Britain and France realized their policy of appeasement was not working. They realized he would continue to try to take more territory if they continued to appease him.

Invasion of Poland Germany invaded Poland on September 1, Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later. World War II had begun.

Invasion of Poland Germany attacked from the East, Soviet Union from the West Each took part of Poland, as agreed in the Nazi-Soviet Pact Poland no longer existed Although Britain and France had vowed to help Poland once they realized their policy of appeasement wasn’t working, Poland’s location made that difficult.

Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg = “lightning war” Luftwaffe (German air force) bombed airfields, factories, and towns and dive bombers would fire on troops and civilians. Then, tanks and troops moved in.

France Maginot Line Fortifications built by the French in the 1930s along their border with Germany to protect from future invasions. The French and British were at the Maginot Line defending France from the Nazis The Germans bypassed the Maginot Line and invaded France through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium British forces were caught between the German army and the English Channel

Maginot Line

Dunkirk The British sent all available boats – naval vessels, merchant ships, fishing and pleasure boats – across the English channel to rescue their stranded troops. They rescued over 300,000 British troops and lifted British morale

France German forces marched toward Paris. Italy attacked from the South France surrendered June 22, 1940 – Hitler forced the French to sign surrender documents on the same railroad car that the Germans were forced to sign the armistice ending World War I. Germany occupied northern France, in the South they set up a “puppet state” with Vichy as the capital

Britain The Nazis attempted to invade Britain in Operation Sea Lion Beginning in August 1940 Germany bombed the southern coast of Britain The Germans then changed tactics and began bombing London and other cities The Blitz September 1940-May 1941: Bombing attacks destroyed London and killed thousands Parliament continued to meet, people went about their daily lives, king and queen stayed in London in bomb shelters with citizens instead of fleeing to the countryside Failed – German Luftwaffe was defeated by the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain. Blitz made British more determined, and the Battle of Britain made them more confident.

The Blitz _mode=true&safe=active&persist_safety_mode=1

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill _mode=true&safe=active&persist_safety_mode=1

Winston Churchill British Prime Minister “ We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. ”

Africa and the Balkans September Italian forces invaded Egypt British pushed the Italians back, but Hitler sent General Erwin Rommel the “Desert Fox” to N. Africa Rommel’s Afrika Korps pushed the British back across the desert October 1940 – Italy invaded Greece Greece and Yugoslavia were added to the Axis Bulgaria and Hungary also joined. By 1941 the Axis controlled most of Europe

Erwin Rommel The Desert Fox

Germany and the Soviet Union June 1941 – Hitler violated the Nazi-Soviet Pact and invaded the USSR Operation Barbarossa Wanted to defeat Stalin and crush communism Soviets lost 2,500,000 soldiers Destroyed land, factories, farms as they retreated Nazis were nearly ready to take Moscow and Leningrad (St. Petersburg) Stopped by “General Winter”, or the extremely cold temperatures in Soviet Russia, which left the German Army freezing and made resupply difficult.

Map: On the map you worked on Thursday and Monday, identify the further areas of Nazi and Italian expansion in Europe and North Africa. Use two colors: First color: German territory Second color: Italian territory