Background ► AXIS POWERS – Germany, Italy, Japan, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. ► ALLIED POWERS – Britain, France, USSR, British Empire (Aust, NZ, Canada & South Africa), USA (after 1941) and they were assisted by China, Greece, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Yugoslavia, Belgium, the Netherlands & Luxembourg. ► THE FOUGHT IN – Western Europe, the North South Atlantic Oceans, Russia, North Africa, the Mediterranean & the Balkans, the Middle East and the Pacific Ocean. ► ENDED – in Europe in May 1945, in the Pacific in Sept ► FATALITIES – 62 million dead (3 times the number of people in Aust today!)

Course of the European War German Advances Germany’s early successes were due largely to blitzkrieg (lightning war). Germany choose a target and launched an all out attack. It aimed to overwhelm the enemy with a massive, localised infantry force with use of tanks, parachutes and aircraft.

The Fall of Poland ► Despite Britain and France’s declaration of war almost immediately following the invasion, they were too far away to affect the fighting. ► 1.5 million German troops invaded Poland (Operation Case White) on three fronts; East Prussia in the north, Germany in the west and Slovakia in the south. They had 2600 tanks against the Polish 180, and over 2000 aircraft (the Luftwaffe) against the Polish 420. ► BLITZKREIG Sept 1 st – Luftwaffe decimated the Polish airfields, before the planes could leave the ground, before attacking railroads and other lines of communication. ► Germany attacked with a pincer movement which took the industrial areas west of Warsaw and closed in from the east. Warsaw held until Sept 27 th.

► Stalin was so alarmed by the German advances that he ordered the Soviet invasion of Eastern Poland on Sept 17 th. ► The arrangements of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact were soon fulfilled. ► Poland surrendered on Oct 6 th. ► Poland was reorganised as the Gestapo and the SS did their work.

From Oct 1939 to April 1940: ► There was some fighting along the Maginot Line between the Germans and the French. ► Some fighting at sea, The Battle for the Atlantic, when German submarines (U- boats) attacked US-Britain merchant ships. ► Nov 1939, Soviet Union attacked Finland – poor state of the Soviet resources was seen.

► Seen as a period of ‘Phoney War’ or Sitzkrieg. The period of calm and little actual fighting, that lead to a false sense of security in Britain and France despite the knowledge that Hitler desired their destruction.

Fall of the Low Countries ► 9 th April German forces occupy Denmark and the main ports of Norway, including a supply of iron ore in neutral Sweden. ► Despite both sides being equally matched in artillery, the Blitzkrieg attack saw a quick German victory. ► This lead to the end of Neville Chamberlain’s career. He was replaced on May 10 th by Winston Churchill. ► Also on May 10 th Germany attacks Belgium and the Netherlands – both surrender by the end of the month.

The Fall of France ► The invasions of the Netherlands and Belgium were planned precursors to the attacks on France. ► Germany attacked France through and unexpected avenue – the Ardennes Forest. ► They successfully pushed the French, Belgium and British forces into a clump and drove them to the sea. ► Those German troops were then recalled by Hitler to attack Paris.

The Fall of France ► From 27 th May to 4 th June, allied troops are evacuated from Dunkirk by any means possible – destroyer, ferries and private motor boats. They were ongoing attacked by the Luftwaffe. ► June 14 th Germany captures Paris. ► June 22 nd France signs the armistice. ► 10 th June, Italy declares war on France and Britain.