1. World War II
Europe

2. European Theater Locations France Germany Italy Britain Soviet Union
North Africa

3. Turning Points
The Allies won several victories that would turn the tide of battle and push back the axis powers.

5. Battles in Europe Invasion of Poland Battle of Britain
Stalingrad (Invasion of the Soviet Union)
Invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord)
Battle of the Bulge

6. Blitzkrieg ( )
“Lightning war”- named so because it included surprise attacks.
"Lightning fast" rapid advances into enemy territory, with coordinated massive air attacks, which struck and shocked the enemy as if it was struck by lightning.
The German military in World War II achieved most of its great victories with the Blitzkrieg tactic.
Defeated France, Poland, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Denmark and Greece in less than a year.

7. Within a month Poland seized to exist.
September 1, 1939, Nazi forces stormed into Poland
German planes bombed air fields, factories, towns, and cities. Germany attacked from the West
Stalin’s forces attacked from the east
Grabbing lands promised to them under the Nazi Soviet Pact
Within a month Poland seized to exist.

8. Poland “The Phony War” France Falls
Germany attacked from the West, Stalin’s forces invaded from the east taking lands promised to them. Within a month, Poland ceased to exist.
Invasion of Poland-Start of the war, Axis wins
“The Phony War”
During the Winter, French troops waited for British troops behind the Maginot line. In April 1940, Hitler launched against Norway, and Denmark feel, as well as the Netherlands and Belgium.
France Falls
By May, German forces were pouring into France, and Italy declared war on France, attacking from the South. June 22, 1940, France signs surrender documents. Charles de Gaulle starts “Free French” to liberate their homeland.

9. Battle of Britain
“We will defend our island, whatever the cost may be … we shall never surrender” - Winston Churchill, radio address, June 4, 1940
Britain is the last standing country in Western Europe
Hitler is faced with Churchill’s defiance, and orders his generals to make plans for Operation Sea Lion.
Battle of Britain-Germans bomb England for 3 months, British don’t give up
British planes defeat German planes over the skies of Britain.
Hitler changes his tactics, turning attention away from military targets, onto other cities.

10. London Blitz
Started in late September, all through the night, relays of aircraft showered high explosives and fire bombs on the sprawling capital.
The bombing continued for 57 nights. Much of the city was destroyed and 15,000 people lost their lives.
London did not break under the blitz.
Parliament continued, and citizens went on their daily lives.
The British King and Queen supported Londoners rather than fleeing to the country side.

11. Failure of the Blitz
Contrary to Hitler's hopes, British morale was not destroyed. In fact, the bombing only made the British more determined to turn back on the enemy. ,

12. Stalingrad (August 1942- February 1943)
Stalingrad (Invasion of Soviet Union) -Germans and Russians fight, Russia holds off Germany with help of winter
German invasion had already cost Russia over six million soldiers, half killed and half captured by the Germans, and a large part of its vast territory and resources.
With the help of its arctic winter, it stopped the exhausted Germans just before Moscow and pushed them back a bit.
Hitler stopped listening to his Generals, and decided to take on Stalingrad
Hitler wanted to reach Stalingrad itself, and at least cover it with heavy artillery, so that it will no longer be an industrial or transportation center.

13. The battle of Stalingrad was one of the costliest of the war
The battle of Stalingrad was one of the costliest of the war. Hitler was determined to capture Stalin’s namesake city, and Stalin was equally determined to save it.
The Soviets then circled their attackers.
As winter closed in, soldiers fought for two weeks straight without a single building to live in, or without food and ammunition, with no hope of rescue.
German commander officially surrendered early in 1943.
Approximately 300,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured.

14. D-Day June 6, 1944
Invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord)-Allies invade Northern Coast of France, defeat Germans
160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.”

15. More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end on June 6, the Allies gained a foot- hold in Normandy.
The D-Day cost was high -more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded -- but more than 100,000 Soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat the Germans

16. The last major action in Europe was the battle for Berlin.
The Allies were marching from the west, but German fears focused on the Red Army to the east, which came to avenge the years of havoc wreaked by Nazi forces in the Soviet Union.
After bitter fighting Soviet troops entered the city on 21 April Germany was facing defeat.
The Nazis Defeated

17. Battle of the Bulge-Last hold of the Germans outside of Belgium, Allies win
After freeing France, the Allies advanced toward Germany
In December 1944, when the Allies entered Belgium, Hitler launched once last offensive.
The Battle of the Bulge was a bloody battle resulting in terrible loss for both sides.
The battle slowed the Allied advance, but it was Hitler’s last success.

22. The Air War
For two year, the Allies bombed the Germans round-the-clock.
By 1945, Germany could no longer defend itself in the air

23. On to Berlin By March, the Allies entered western Germany.
In Italy, Mussolini was captured and executed.
Hitler knew that he would be captured and committed suicide in his underground bunker.
On May 7, Germany surrendered.
The end of the war in Europe was called V-E Day (Victory in Europe)

24. War Tactics- Focus is on securing cities
Allies
British Royal Air Force-Air raids and bombings of German factories
Paratroopers-Army soldiers dropped inside enemy lines
Axis
Blitzkrieg-fast moving tanks followed by soldiers
Luftwaffe-Air Force raids and bombings

25. Paratroopers and Bombers
                               

26. Weapons of the Axis Powers
                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                                                     
Weapons of the Axis Powers
German anti-tank
German armored vehicles were common

27. Weapons of the Allies Flame throwers became popular during the WWII
Mortars were easily carried and packed a punch