1. WWII Begins Blitzkrieg
World History

2. Learning Objective
PUHSD LT= 8.6, 8.8, 8.9
AZ SS C8 PO4 a,b
Content Mastery:
Students will demonstrate comprehension strategies of war by completing worksheet that ask questions on the objectives of Germany’s “blitzkrieg” (lightning war) tactics in some of the first battles of WWII.
Objective:
Students will distinguish Germany’s “blitzkrieg” strategic operational and tactical effects on WWII battles in Europe.
Sub – Objective:
Students will compare and contrast technological advances of WWII by using Germany’s “Schlieffen Plan” of WWI and “blitzkrieg” strategy of WWII.
Unit 8 PUHSD Enduring Understandings
Conflict can be a unifying or divisive force within society
People respond to and resolve conflict in a variety of ways.

3. ORID Prompt
Observe
I See/Hear…
Reflect
I Think…
Interpret
I Feel…
Decide
I Will…

4. Hitler wanted one Germen race and needed land to do it!
Setting the Stage
During the 1930s, Hitler played on the hopes and fears of Western democracies.
In 1939, Hitler and Nazi’s were on the move grabbing new territory and every time they would Hitler would declare an end to his demands.
Hitler wanted one Germen race and needed land to do it!
After annexing Rhineland, Austria, and Czechoslovakia, Hitler turned his eyes to Poland.
The Polish Corridor was full of Germen people and held land once owned by Germens taken after WWI.
After WWI, the Allies had cut out the Polish Corridor from German territory to give Poland access to the sea,
In 1939, Hitler demanded the Polish Corridor be returned to Germany.

5. BLITZKRIEG: THE STRATEGY German word meaning “Lightning War”
BLITZKRIEG: OVERVIEW
BLITZKRIEG: THE STRATEGY
German word meaning “Lightning War”
innovative military technique
first used by the Germans in WWII • tactic based on speed and surprise
This tactic was based on ‘Schlieffen Plan’ – this was a doctrine formed during WWI that focused on quick military victory
Further developed in Germany based on the use of new technologies, namely light tanks supported by planes (dive bombers) and infantry (foot soldiers)
This was combined with the traditional German tactic of deep penetration and bypassing of enemy (at weak points) to encircle and destroy the enemy force.

6. September Campaign BLITZKRIEG: IN ACTION
First used when Germany invaded Poland in 1939
Resulted in the British and French armies being pushed back in just a few weeks to the beaches of Dunkirk
The blitzkrieg strategy was also pivotal in the German army’s devastation of Russian forces
September Campaign
The Invasion of Poland
OVERALL:
On September 1, 1939, German troops invaded Poland
Britain issued an ultimatum to the Germans: withdraw from Poland
Britain and France declared war on Germany
Canada did not automatically follow Britain into war as it had in 1914
Canadian Parliament debated the issue, and on September 10 declared war independently.
By October 6, 1939, Germany & USSR had taken over Poland

7. CAUSES:
Hitler came to believe that no one could stop him from taking what he wanted
Germany & USSR signed a (secret) Treaty of Non-Aggression, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Agreement, in which they agreed to take over Poland and split the land
EVENT:
Germans invaded Poland from the North, South, and West using the blitzkrieg strategy (surprise attack and hard push)
USSR invaded Poland from the East • The Poles bravely fought back, but their army stood no chance against the Germans
Poland never formally surrendered but was taken over by Germany and USSR
RESULTS:
Poland was divided between Germany and the USSR
Britain and France declared war against Germany because they would not withdraw from Poland
LONG-TERM RESULTS:
Marked the beginning of WWII

8. Miracle at Dunkirk
The German forces had trapped the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), the remains of the Belgian forces, and three French armies near Dunkirk, France during the Battle of France
Winston Churchill, Britain’s Prime Minister, called the events in France “a colossal military disaster”, as the British Army had been stranded at Dunkirk and seemed about to perish or be captured
A British General, John Vereker determined that the evacuation of troops across the English Channel was the best course of action

9. Miracle at Dunkirk
The “Miracle at Dunkirk” was the evacuation of Allied soldiers across the English channel from the beaches and harbors of Dunkirk, France between May 27 – June 4, 1940
Winston Churchill hailed their rescue as a “miracle of deliverance”
By the 9th day of evacuation, a total of 338,226 soldiers had been recued by a hastily assembled fleet of over 800 boats
After Dunkirk, England was the main country that stood alone against the Nazis
Explain how this conflict can unify or divide people.

10. Battle of Britain Great Britain is an island.
So how did Germany attack Britain?

11. BRITAIN VS. GERMANY British Royal Air Force (RAF)
German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
GERMAN PLAN OF INVASION
Destroy ship convoys in the English Channel
Dogfights with RAF
Destroy airfields, factories
Blitz (terror bombing of cities as a last resort)
Sea invasion with ground troops with weapons

12. Civilians were being killed!
OVERALL:
Even after the Miracle at Dunkirk, Britain, with the support of their empire, continued fighting against the Germans
In August and September of 1940, the Battle of Britain raged in the skies (RAF versus Luftwaffe)
Luftwaffe could not subdue RAF, so ...
Germany began the BLITZ: bombing Britain from September 1940 to May 1941, to crush morale
British RAF began bombing Germany in retaliation
Civilians were being killed!
CAUSES:
Britain declared war on Germany when they invaded Poland
Britain sent troops to “help” in Belgium and France
British troops were “trapped” at Dunkirk
Britain continued to fight against Germany
Hitler needed to disable Britain first and then focus on the Eastern Front (USSR)

13. EVENT:
German bombing progressed:
shipping convoys and ports (military targets)
RAF airfields and factories
areas of political significance
TERROR BOMBING TACTICS
On August 24, 1940, a German bomber fell off course and accidentally bombed central London!
EVENT:
Prime Minister Winston Churchill retaliates with 3-night bombings on Berlin
Hitler responds with 57-day TERROR bombing campaign on London – THE BLITZ (day and night) A spotter scans the skies of London
Britain used their newly-installed radar detection to help counter-act the German attacks
Britain does not surrender • A German sea invasion is never launched

14. First major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces
RESULTS:
On November 14, 1940
449 German bombers dropped 1,400 high explosive bombs and 100,000 incendiaries on Britain
leaving 50,000 buildings destroyed
568 people killed, and 1,000 people badly injured
Britain DOES NOT SURRENDER
Germany failed to achieve its goals of destroying Britain’s air defenses, negotiating an armistice, or overtaking Britain
This was Germany’s first major defeat
SIGNIFICANCE:
First major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces
The most sustained aerial bombing campaign up until that date