1. Axis Gains SWBAT: explain the significance of the Battle of Britain. Homework: None Do Now: Begin reading about the Maginot Line and answer the questions that follow.

2. The Allies Prep for War  As Poland surrendered to Hitler, France and Great Britain began making preparations for war.  France moved its forces towards the Maginot Line.  The British move into northern France and blockaded German ports.  In response, Germany moved troops towards the Siegfried Line, a system of fortifications they had built along the Rhineland.  Because the troops were in position, but no fighting actually happened, this is called the phony war.

3. Do Now Review

4. End of the Phony War  In April, 1940 the Phony War ended when Germany invaded Denmark and Norway.  They depended on collaborators, people willing to help their country’s enemies, for help.  Taking these 2 countries gave Hitler an outlet to the Atlantic Ocean.  The Scandinavian coastline and landscape in particular provided good submarine bases and airfields.  This put shipping in France and GB in great danger.

5. Invasion of the Low Countries  In May 1940, Hitler invaded the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.  This put the Germans in position to:  A. go around the Maginot Line.  B. surround thousands of Allied troops at Dunkerque.  Between May 27-June 4 338,000 troops were evacuated from the coast leaving all of their equipment behind.

6. The Fall of France  At this point, the Maginot Line was useless.  The French were expecting to fight a stationary fight similar to that of WWI with trenches, but that wasn’t how the Germans fought.  Meanwhile, Mussolini attacked southern France.  By June 14, the German army reached Paris.

7. The Vichy Regime  Some French leaders were willing to surrender to the Germans.  Philippe Petain signed a peace agreement with Hitler and his gov’t was moved to Vichy, France.  Not all were willing to surrender and the French resistance forces continued to fight for the Free French gov’t under Charles de Gaulle.  Resistance worked underground, or in secret.  Resistance began in other countries as well.  Responsible for acts of sabotage including blowing up bridges, wrecking trains, and cutting telephone/telegraph wires.

8. The Battle of Britain begins  After the fall of France, many predicted GB would be even weaker.  Hitler began bombing England, gradually building up their intensity and generally hit industrial areas.  Hitler sent warnings to Winston Churchill, GB’s leader, asking him to surrender, but he refused.  Hitler ordered the Luftwaffe, the German air force to begin preparing for an invasion.

9. WWII in Color Questions  As we watch the clip, answer the questions that follow.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euRlmTHpSCI

11. Civilians

12. Casualties  More than 1700 Luftwaffe planes were destroyed.  The 2662 German casualties included many experienced aircrew, and the Luftwaffe never fully recovered.  The Royal Air Force (RAF) lost 1250 aircraft, including 1017 fighters.  In all, 520 men were killed serving with Fighter Command under the RAF.  50,000 civilians died as well.

13. Significance  The Battle of Britain was the first serious setback experienced by the Germans during WW2.  It gave hope to conquered Europeans who until this point believed German military forces to be unstoppable.  Britain was preserved as a base for offensive action against Germany.  Bombers operating from its bases would devastate German industry and infrastructure later in the war.  As a springboard for the deployment of American power, it was vital to the eventual liberation of Western Europe.  The failure to achieve air superiority over Britain, or later to terrorize the British into submission, encouraged Hitler’s desire to move east.  Decided to attack the Soviet Union at an earlier date.