Lesson 13 - Part 2 WW II -- Global War, Global Strategy Japan’s Road to War
Events September 3, 1939 Britain, France declare war on Germany “Phony war” begins Germany invades Denmark & Norway Germany invades Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg April 9, 1940 May 10, 1940 September 1, 1939 Germany invades Poland May 27-29, 1940 Evacuation of Dunkirk
Dunkirk May 26-31, 1940
Dunkirk Trapped on the beach
German Halt at Dunkirk German army had little amphibious experience Looked at the Channel as a wall Didn’t believe British could possibly get away Panzer units arrived well ahead of the infantry Were exhausted, out of supply Called halt to rest, resupply, allow infantry to catch up
German Halt at Dunkirk German army had little amphibious experience Looked at the Channel as a wall Didn’t believe British could possibly get away Panzer units arrived well ahead of the infantry Were exhausted, out of supply Called halt to rest, resupply, allow infantry to catch up Luftwaffe hadn’t gotten much credit in battle Asked for and received permission to destroy BEF British saw Channel as a highway - organized evacuation
Miracle of Dunkirk “The Small Ships”
Miracle of Dunkirk 300,000+ rescued Equipment abandoned
Evacuation at Dunkirk
The troops were saved to fight another day.. but their equipment was left behind
Evacuation at Dunkirk May 26 - June 4, 1940 Battlefield series link
Myth Mechanized Juggernaut
Reality 3/4 of German infantry moved by foot or horse
Battle of France First Phase 4-14 June 1940
Battle of France 4-22 June 1940
Fall of France Click for Video
Events September 3, 1939 Britain, France declare war on Germany “Phony war” begins Germany invades Denmark & Norway Germany invades Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg April 9, 1940 May 10, 1940 September 1, 1939 Germany invades Poland May 27-29, 1940 Evacuation of Dunkirk June 4-22, 1940 Battle of France June 22, 1940France Surrenders
French surrendered at Compiègne – June 20, 1940
Occupation of France 10:00
Occupation of France Marshall Pétain General DeGaulle Flag of Vichy France
Britain Stands Alone “Very well, Alone!”
Winston S. Churchill Sandhurst (1894) Served in Sudan (1898), the Second Boer War ( ), the Western Front ( ) First elected to Parliament (1900) First Lord of the Admiralty ( and ) Prime Minister May 10, July 27, 1945 * * Also October 26, April 17, 1955 Led Great Britain during its darkest hour.
Mers-El-Kebir July 3, 1940
Mers-El-Kebir July 3, 1940 French fleet at Mers-El-Kebir Battleships Destroyers Cruisers
Mers-El-Kebir July 3, 1940 British fleet opened fire after delivering ultimatum
Mers-El-Kebir July 3, 1940
Mers-El-Kebir French Casualties 1,297 dead 1 battleship destroyed 2 battleships damaged 3 destroyers damaged British Casualties 6 dead Loss of French trust
Events September 27, 1940 Axis Tripartite Pact
Next: Lesson 13 - Part 3 WW II -- Global War, Global Strategy Japan’s Road to War