1. Chapter 16 Section 2 Pages 536-541
War in Europe
Chapter 16
Section 2
Pages

2. Objectives:
Explain Hitler’s motives for expansion and how Britain and France responded
Describe the blitzkrieg tactics that Germany used against Poland and later Western Europe
Summarize the first European battles of WWII

3. Axis Aggression
In 1936 Hitler marched troops into the Rhineland a demilitarized area of W. Germany
Early in 1938 Hitler annexed Austria (The Anschluss)
In 1938 Hitler demanded the Sudetenland, a section of Czechoslovakia inhabited by ethnic Germans
Great Britain and France appease Hitler
1938 Munich Pact – Neville Chamberlain signs an agreement with Hitler giving up the Sudetenland
1938 Hitler takes all of Czechoslovakia
1939 Hitler signs a Non Aggression Pact with Stalin and the USSR

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11. War in Europe
Sept 1st, 1939 Germany invades Poland, “Blitzkrieg” or lightening war is used
Great Britain and France declare war
The USSR was neutral, Stalin and Hitler had already agreed to divide up Poland
British and French troops waited along the Maginot Line for an attack, the “Phony War” ensued
Stalin annexes the Baltic states and defeats Finland

16. Hitler Invades Western Europe
April 1940, Hitler invades Demark and Norway
May 1940, Hitler invades Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg
German tanks move through the Ardennes Forrest bypassing the Maginot Line
400,000 British troops escape at Dunkirk
June France is attacked by the Germans in the North and the Italians in the South, Paris Falls
French General Charles de Gaulle flees to England to govern in exile

23. The Battle of Britain
During the summer of 1940 the Luftwaffe began to bomb Britain
In order to launch Operation Sea Lion Hitler had to destroy the RAF fighters and gain control of the air
With the help of radar the British fought back and bombed Germany
The British were motivated by their new Prime Minister Winston Churchill

29. The Tripartite Pact
In Sept the three nations of Germany, Italy and Japan sign a mutual defense treaty known as the Tripartite Pact
The Axis Powers are united
The goal was to keep the US out of war, and if we declared war on any member of the pact the US would have to fight a two-ocean war

30. Invasion of the USSR
Frustrated that England will not fall, in June 1941, Hitler launches Operation Babarrosa an all out attack on the USSR
German troops push deep into the interior of the USSR, Leningrad was under siege, Stalingrad was rubble, and German guns boomed only miles outside Moscow
Stalin took the brunt of the German offensive, millions of Soviets perished