1. World War II Begins

2. The Last Straw
August 1939: Hitler made a nonaggression pact with Stalin
Promised to divide Poland between themselves & promised not to fight each other
(They feared war with each other)
Hitler broke that pact on September 1, when he invaded Poland
Britain & France had promised to defend Poland, and declared war on Germany

3. Alliances: Allied Powers: Great Britain France Soviet Union
United States (later)
Axis Powers:
Germany
Italy
Japan

4. Early Axis GAINS German army used a new tactic: blitzkrieg
“Lightning war”  planes, tanks, and ground troops
For the next few months, there was sitzkrieg (“phony war”) – no action
By Spring 1940, Germany started to invade Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, and France…

6. Advances in technology
Airplanes had a prominent role in WW2 and technology like tanks and submarines improved
Radar was developed to detect airplanes and sonar could detect submarines
The German airforce – Luftwaffe – bombed civilian and military targets

7. Two failed invasions The London Blitz Invasion of Soviet Union
Bombed London 57 nights in a row
Failed to break the morale of the British
Invasion of Soviet Union
Hitler was interested in Soviet land and resources
Russians implemented a “scorched earth” policy
German army was no match for the Russian winter…

8. “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be
“We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender” – Winston Churchill