THE WAR IN EUROPE

The Main Campaigns of WWII (Part 1)

BLITZKRIEG (“LIGHTENING WAR”)

BLITZKRIEG: ALLIES VS. THE AXIS POWERS

When war was declared in Sep. 1939, Allies hurried to get their forces organized

Allied troops positioned themselves on France’s border with Germany

Nothing happened for 7 months…people started to think war was never going to happen (“Phony War”)

April 1940 Germany renewed its blitzkrieg (“lightening war”), attacking Denmark and Norway

Blitzkrieg extremely successful-it used the elements of surprise, speed and massive power

Using these techniques, Germany quickly conquered Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium

EVACUATION AT DUNKIRK

• Within days, German forces surrounded the French port of Dunkirk

• If Allied troops surrendered, British troops would lose majority of its army

• Allied forces had to escape before Germans captured the town

• British Navy rounded up as many boats as possible and headed across the Channel for Dunkirk

Dunkirk

EVACUATION AT DUNKIRK CONT’D Evacuation began on May 26, 1940 Two days later, German air force bombed

the port of Dunkirk. Evacuation was completed on June 4th

More than 340,000 Allied soldiers were rescued

After the evacuation, German forces swept through France and France eventually surrendered

Britain and the Commonwealth now stood alone against Germany

THE BLITZ

THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN Once France surrendered, Hitler set his

sights on Britain “Operation Sea Lion” July 1940, German air force started a

massive bombing campaign which focused on destroying harbours and shipping facilities in southern England

August 24th German forces bombed several areas of London and other British cities

These raids became known as “the Blitz” and took place over many weeks

BATTLE OF BRITAIN CONT’D

Germans had more air craft than Britain but were unable to defeat them

British had a very advanced radar system

British also used Spitfires and Hurricanes, two very effective fighter planes

RAF was equipped with pilots, planes and supplies from Canada

Hitler finally gave up on his plans to invade Britain

THE EFFECTS OF THE BLITZ

EFFECTS OF THE BLITZ CONT’D

OPERATION BARBAROSSA (“RED BEARD”)A German soldier walks toward the body of a killed Soviet soldier and a burning BT-7 light tank in the southern Soviet Union in in 1941, during the early days of Operation Barbarossa.

HITLER BREAKS THE NON-AGGRESSION PACT Hitler launched this

tremendous attack on the Soviet Union and broke the pact that he had made with Stalin in 1939

Soviets were unprepared for the attack German army able to get deep into Russian territory

By the fall, Germans had reached outskirts of Moscow and Leningrad (Now St. Petersburg)

OPERATION BARBAROSSA CONT’D

Germans were not prepared for the long and excruciatingly cold Russian winter and soon lost their advantage

Germans got as far as Stalingrad but could not withstand the severe winter

Germans could not turn back and suffered 300,000 casualties

Germany surrendered in early 1943 After this attack, Soviet Union took back

much of their territory and joined the war on the Allies’ side

STALINGRAD

Stand Firm.Die but do

not Retreat.

Joseph Stalin on

The Siege of Stalingrad1942-1943

BATTLE OF STALINGRAD

BEFORE THE BATTLE AFTER THE BATTLE

PRISONERS OF WAR: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SOVIET SOLDIERS WERE CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS

Three German soldiers covered in snow and ice during winter on the Eastern front