1. World War II in Europe

2. The Road to War
In 1936, Hitler reoccupied the Rhineland that had been taken from Germany after World War I
Germany then annexed Austria in 1938
Both of these actions were clear violations of the Versailles Treaty, but the League of Nations refused to act

3. When Hitler threatened to annex the Sudetenland, Britain and France pursued a policy of “appeasement” in the hopes of avoiding war

4. This proved a failure when Hitler marched on the rest of Czechoslovakia a few months later
Britain and France then threatened war should Germany invade Poland
War began when Germany invaded Poland on Sept. 1st, 1939

5. German blitzkrieg quickly overran Poland

6. German Stuka dive bombers terrorized enemy troops and civilians

7. Hitler in Paris

9. German battle plan for Operation Sealion

10. White cliffs of Dover, England as seen from France

11. The Battle of Britain
By 1940 Nazis seemed poised to conquer Britain, the last remaining democracy in Europe
Battle of Britain resulted from Germany’s attempt to gain air superiority over Britain in advance of an amphibious invasion
When this failed, Hitler decided to bomb London (“The Blitz”) to destroy civilian morale and force the British to sue for peace

12. British Spitfires in a dogfight with German Messerschmitts in the skies over Britain

13. RAF Pilots
“Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.”
Winston Churchill

14. The aftermath of a German bombing raid on London during the Blitz

16. Churchill inspects damage after a bombing raid

17. St. Paul’s Cathedral-a symbol of defiance during the Blitz

18. Londoners sleeping in a subway tunnel to escape the bombs above

19. The Eastern Front
After failing to conquer Britain, Hitler turned his attention to USSR
Breaking the non-aggression pact with Stalin, blitzkrieg was unleashed against the Soviets in 1941
German army advanced deep into the USSR by 1942
Battle of Stalingrad in 1943 proved to be the turning point battle against the Nazis

25. The Western Front
After 1941, the Allies began a massive bombing campaign against German cities
Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944 (D-Day) opened a 2nd front against the Nazis
Last German counteroffensive on the Western Front, the Battle of the Bulge, failed in early 1945

27. The War in Europe Ends
US and Soviet troops met at the Elbe River in Germany in April, 1945
Germany officially surrendered on May 8th, 1945 (VE Day) soon after the Soviets captured Berlin

28. Soviet flag is raised over the Reichstag in Berlin

31. Cross section of the “Fuhrerbunker”