WWII/Part II

The last time we took notes… September 1, German invasion of Poland, WWII officially begins.

Before we move on from Poland: Kristallnacht--The Night of Broken Glass (Nov. 9, 1938) A massive coordinated attack on the Jews of the German Reich All Jewish owned businesses had windows that were smashed and the contents of the stores taken.

Before we move on from Poland: In the course of my life I have very often been a prophet, and have usually been ridiculed for it. During the time of my struggle for power, it was in the first instance only the Jewish race that received my prophecies with laughter when I said that I would one day take over the leadership of the state and with it that of the whole nation and that I would then among other things settle the Jewish problem...but I think that for some time now they have been laughing on the other side of their face. Today I will once more be a prophet: if the international Jewish financiers in and outside Europe should succeed in plunging the nations once more into a world war, then the result will not be the Bolshevising of the earth and thus the victory of Jewry, but the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe!". Adolf Hitler - Speech to the Reichstag - 30th January 1939

Before we move on from Poland: Mussolini takes over Albania Hitler also looks to Lithuania August 23, the Soviet Union and Germany sign a treaty of non- aggression and friendship. This essentially divides Poland between the two countries.

Hitler moves on… Hitler and Stalin divide up Poland The Soviet Union invades Finland Germany’s busy schedule in the spring of 1940; Norway and Denmark Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France. Most of the countries surrender within a month after invasion.

Germany in France The allies try to evacuate troops and equipment from Dunkirk (in France) to Britain. June 13/14, German troops enter Paris One week later Hitler makes his official tour of Paris.

“Hitler Danced with Glee”

The Battle of Britain Begins September 7th 1940 and bombs continue to fall for the next 57 nights. The first bombing was by accident, the German bombs were meant to be dropped in the countryside. Churchill immediately orders the bombing of Berlin. The bombing was meant to break the moral of the people, but it had just the opposite effect. About 45,000 civilians are killed in the bombing that lasted about 18 months.

The Battle of Britain

“Blood, toil, tears and sweat” “Never, never, never give up”!

Other notable events of German troops enter Romania Italy invades Greece Both Romania and Hungary join the Axis powers Yugoslavia and Greece surrender to the Nazis

Operation Barbarossa Hitler believed two things prior to his invasion of the Soviet Union: That Germans needed more living space The Soviet Union would fall as easily in the summer of 1941 as the rest of Europe had. German troops surround Leningrad and approach Stalingrad. Stalin threatens to punish any officer that allows Germans to take the city.

Operation Barbarossa Cont. Stalin orders the “Scorched Earth policy”, leaving nothing for the enemy to take. Hitler abandons Operation Typhoon and his attempt to invade Moscow. Nazis control most of the countries in Eastern Europe (including many former Soviet republics).

“A Date Which Will Live in Infamy” The U.S. policy of Lend-Lease: providing arms, raw materials and food to powers at war with the Axis. December 7th, 1941; the Japanese draw the U.S. into war with the attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. declares war on December 8th.

The Years of These are tough years for the Allies, although they do experience some victories; Eisenhower leads an invasion of Morocco and Algeria British forces hold at El Alamein in Africa, the threat to Egypt is ended Soviets continue to battle Germany The Allies capture Sicily and the rule of Mussolini falls August 17th, the first all American air-attack in Europe.

The Jewish Solution Beginning September 1, 1941 all Jews in German controlled territories are required to wear the yellow Star of David. In June of 1942, the first mass killings begin at Auschwitz. June 1943, all Polish Jewish ghettos are liquidated.

The Tide Turns in 1944 Early January, Soviet troops advance into Poland June 6th, D-Day (Operation Overlord). The largest amphibious attack in history. The combination of American, British and Canadian forces by air, sea and land. August 25th, 1944, Paris is liberated. At this point, Germany does not win another significant battle and begins to surrender.