Axis Gains SWBAT: explain the significance of the Battle of Britain. Homework: None Do Now: Begin reading about the Maginot Line and answer the questions that follow.
The Allies Prep for War As Poland surrendered to Hitler, France and Great Britain began making preparations for war. France moved its forces towards the Maginot Line. The British move into northern France and blockaded German ports. In response, Germany moved troops towards the Siegfried Line, a system of fortifications they had built along the Rhineland. Because the troops were in position, but no fighting actually happened, this is called the phony war.
Do Now Review
End of the Phony War In April, 1940 the Phony War ended when Germany invaded Denmark and Norway. They depended on collaborators, people willing to help their country’s enemies, for help. Taking these 2 countries gave Hitler an outlet to the Atlantic Ocean. The Scandinavian coastline and landscape in particular provided good submarine bases and airfields. This put shipping in France and GB in great danger.
Invasion of the Low Countries In May 1940, Hitler invaded the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. This put the Germans in position to: A. go around the Maginot Line. B. surround thousands of Allied troops at Dunkerque. Between May 27-June 4 338,000 troops were evacuated from the coast leaving all of their equipment behind.
The Fall of France At this point, the Maginot Line was useless. The French were expecting to fight a stationary fight similar to that of WWI with trenches, but that wasn’t how the Germans fought. Meanwhile, Mussolini attacked southern France. By June 14, the German army reached Paris.
The Vichy Regime Some French leaders were willing to surrender to the Germans. Philippe Petain signed a peace agreement with Hitler and his gov’t was moved to Vichy, France. Not all were willing to surrender and the French resistance forces continued to fight for the Free French gov’t under Charles de Gaulle. Resistance worked underground, or in secret. Resistance began in other countries as well. Responsible for acts of sabotage including blowing up bridges, wrecking trains, and cutting telephone/telegraph wires.
The Battle of Britain begins After the fall of France, many predicted GB would be even weaker. Hitler began bombing England, gradually building up their intensity and generally hit industrial areas. Hitler sent warnings to Winston Churchill, GB’s leader, asking him to surrender, but he refused. Hitler ordered the Luftwaffe, the German air force to begin preparing for an invasion.
WWII in Color Questions As we watch the clip, answer the questions that follow.
Civilians
Casualties More than 1700 Luftwaffe planes were destroyed. The 2662 German casualties included many experienced aircrew, and the Luftwaffe never fully recovered. The Royal Air Force (RAF) lost 1250 aircraft, including 1017 fighters. In all, 520 men were killed serving with Fighter Command under the RAF. 50,000 civilians died as well.
Significance The Battle of Britain was the first serious setback experienced by the Germans during WW2. It gave hope to conquered Europeans who until this point believed German military forces to be unstoppable. Britain was preserved as a base for offensive action against Germany. Bombers operating from its bases would devastate German industry and infrastructure later in the war. As a springboard for the deployment of American power, it was vital to the eventual liberation of Western Europe. The failure to achieve air superiority over Britain, or later to terrorize the British into submission, encouraged Hitler’s desire to move east. Decided to attack the Soviet Union at an earlier date.