1. Objective: Identify and locate the Allied and Axis powers and key strategic decisi0n I. The Axis Attacks A. 1939 Nazi forces storm Poland 1. show power of Hitler’s “Blitzkrieg or Lightening War” 2. next tanks and troop transports were sent in

2.  B. Germany attacked Poland from the west  C. Russia (USSR) attacked Poland from the east  D. The Miracle of Dunkirk  1. British forces trapped between the German’s and the English Channel  2. British sent all naval ships, merchant whips, fishing and pleasure boats across the channel  3. 300,00o troops were rescued.

3.  E. France Falls in 1940  F. Operation Sea Lion = the invasion of Britain  1. Germany bombed England‘s south coast for a month   G. Germany Launches the Blitz 1940  1. bombed London all night for 57 nights in a row

6.  1. much of London was destroyed, thousands lost their lives. H. Hitler Fails to Take Britain 1.Germany could not gain air superiority over Britain 2.Operation Sea Lion was a failure I. Africa and the Balkans 1. Hitler sent his most brilliant commander, General Erwin Rommel

7.  2. Rommel had a number of successes in 1941 – 1942.  3. Italian forces invaded Greece in 1940  4. Yugoslavia was added to the Axis empire  5. Bulgaria and Hungary joined the Axis power in 1941  6. by 1941 Axis powers and their allies controlled most of Europe.

8.  1. How did Germany use the technology available to it to strike at the Allies?  2. How did the Axis power achieve victories in 1939 and 1940?  3. Which side d you think was winning the war by the end of 1941?  4. Why do you think the air strikes were important to Germany’s plan to invade Britain?