1. World War II in Europe
Chapter 32

2. World War II
September 1, 1939: World War II begins in Europe with the German invasion of Poland.

3. BLITZKRIEG
“Lightning War” – coordinated and rapid attacks of planes, tanks, artillery
Soviets simultaneously took eastern half of Poland
Stalin then took the Baltic countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia)

4. The Winter War (Nov. 1939-March 1940)
When Finland would not give the Soviets military bases on their territory, USSR invaded
USSR failed to occupy Finland, but gained territory
Finnish ski troops in Northern Finland Jan. 12, 1940.

5. Fighting in Early 1940
After invasion of Poland, Germany was idle for 7 months – “Phony War” or “Sitzkrieg”
April 9, 1940: Germany invades Denmark and Norway
May 10: German Army invades France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; Winston Churchill appointed British Prime Minister
French troops mass along Maginot Line

6. Nazi Invasion of France, Netherlands, & Belgium

7. Evacuation of Dunkirk (May-June 1940)
Britain rushed every ship (military or otherwise) to Dunkirk
Saved approx. 338,000 troops, including “Free French”

8. June 22, 1940: France Surrenders
Germany occupied Northern France
Set up puppet government known as Vichy France
Britain now left to fight in Europe alone

10. Winston Churchill and the Battle of Britain

11. Winston Churchill and the Battle of Britain
Hitler’s 1st Fatal Mistake
British RAF (Royal Air Force) pilots defeated the Germans – British had radar
Battle fought over Great Britain from July 10, 1940 to October 31, 1940
“The Blitz” begins on Sept. 7, 1940
Germany never able to invade Great Britain

12. Battle of Britain Cartoon

13. Axis Power Expansion through Sept. 1942
Sept. 27: Tripartite alliance formed between Germany, Italy and Japan – become Axis Powers
By 1940, Axis powers control all of W. Europe except neutral Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland
Spain technically neutral, but really pro-Axis
Axis Power Expansion through Sept. 1942
Hungary and Romania join Axis
1941: Bulgaria joins Axis
Resistance movements set up in all occupied countries

14. German Attack on USSR “Operation Barbarossa” Wanted oil and farmland
Hitler’s 2nd fatal mistake
Generals advised against it
Opened up two-front war
Soviet (“Red”) army not effective or prepared
Stalin had purged (removed) many officers in 1937
Soviet’s “scorched earth” policy
Supply lines back to Germany too long
Winter came and decimated both sides

16. Siege of Leningrad
The siege lasted for a total of 900 days, from September until January
The city's almost 3 million civilians (including about 400,000 children) refused to surrender and endured rapidly increasing hardships in the encircled city. Food and fuel stocks were limited to a mere 1-2 month supply, and by the winter of there was no heating, no water supply, almost no electricity and very little food.
In January 1942 in the depths of an unusually cold winter, the city's food rations reached an all time low of only ¼ lb.of bread per person per day.
In just two months, January and February of 1942, 200,000 people died in Leningrad of cold and starvation. 2,000,000 people total died in the siege.

18. Allies Turn the Tide
U.S. joins the war after Pearl Harbor attacked (Dec. 7, 1941)
1st place they attack was in North Africa
In Spring of 1942, Allies gained victory in North Africa over Erwin Rommel, the “Desert Fox”, at the Battle of El Alamein – turning point
Winston Churchill: "Before Alamein we never had a victory, after Alamein we never had a defeat.”

19. Allies Turn the Tide (cont.)
Fall of 1942, Germans defeated by Soviets at Stalingrad
May of 1943, Germans in North Africa Surrender
Key British figure was Bernard Montgomery
First fighting by Americans on the European Front (Dwight D. Eisenhower)
The Invasion of Italy
U.S. General George S. Patton takes Sicily
Mussolini overthrown
“Bloody Anzio”
Italy officailly joins the Allies
Mussolini sets-up a quasi-government in Northern Italy
German soldiers continue to fight in Italy (hold up in the Alps)

20. Attack on Stalingrad (1942-3)

21. More about Stalingrad
Hitler ordered the taking of Stalingrad, and the Battle was waged from July 17, 1942 to Feb. 2, 1943.
Stalingrad was a major industrial city and was on the Volga River, a vital transportation route in Russia that could be cut off if captured.
Also important for propaganda purposes
One of the bloodiest battles/campaigns in history with about 2 million casualties
Urban warfare – fighting took place in streets, from buildings, etc.; snipers used
Battle ended with German 6th Army either killed or captured
Turning point in the War in the East
Vassili Zaitsev

22. Soviet Counter-Attack

24. Operation Overlord: D-Day, June 6 1944

26. D-Day Preparation for Invasion D-Day (June 6, 1944)
Buildup troops in England
Germany prepares the coast of France for invasion
D-Day (June 6, 1944)
Largest landing force in history invade Normandy
24,000 para-troopers sent the night of June 5th
175,000 troops land on the beaches
5,000 ships involved
Invasion successful, though costly
Within weeks all of France was under Allied control

27. Normandy Beaches Assaulted

29. Cost of the Battle

30. Paris liberated on August 25, 1944
Hitler made one, last desperate counterattack in what became the Battle of the Bulge from Dec. 16, 1944 – Jan. 28, 1945

31. Battle of the Bulge

33. End of the War in Europe
April 28th, 1945: Mussolini and his mistress executed by members of the Italian resistance
Hitler was terrified by Mussolini’s fate and wanted to avoid a similar fate at all costs.

34. End of the War in Europe
By April of 1945, American units were approaching Berlin from the West, while Soviet troops were approaching from the East
Hitler realized it was the end, and committed suicide on April 30th after marrying his long-time mistress, Eva Braun
Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945 (V-E Day)
Hitler’s Bunker