lesson 4: the war in europe – part 1

World War Two 1939-1945

Lesson 4: The War in Europe – Part 1

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Blitzkrieg• The success of German attacks on Poland was a result of a

new strategy.• Blitzkrieg, (lightening war) consisted of coordinated aerial

attack, mechanized armor (tanks) and infantry.• They were well supplied, allowing them to move great

distances.• Germany moved swiftly through Poland




From Phony War to France• Allied troops gathered on the French border, …waiting.• Sept ’39 – April ‘40 was called the “Phony War”.• Then Germany moved north, occupying Denmark in 2 hours,

and conquering Norway in 1 month.• France built strong fortifications on the German border• This concrete chain of artillery was called The Maginot Line




Invasion of France (10 May 1949)• Within days the Allies were beaten

back to the English Channel, and were surrounded at Dunkirk.

• A massive evacuation was started on May 26 using fishing boats, small craft, merchant and naval ships.

• May 28, Germans began bombing Dunkirk

• June 4 the evacuation ended, ~340,000 men escaped to Br.




The Fall of France• June 22, 1940, France

surrendered, leaving Britain and the Commonwealth to stand alone against Germany.

• Charles DeGaulle fled to Britain to lead the resistance (Free French)




The Battle of Britain (Operation Sea Lion)• In May, Winston Churchill replaced Chamberlain as British P.M.• July 10, 1940: the German Air Force (Luftwaffe), began bombing

harbours and shipping facilities in England• August: they began bombing airfields & airplane factories• September: they began to bomb civilian targets.• For 55 consecutive nights, London was bombed (“The Blitz”)

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Allied Defenses• RAF fighters flew well against German bombers & fighters• The Br. had RADAR, giving them advance warning of raids.• The Br. planes were also better (Spitfire & Hurricane).• About 80 Canadian pilots flew in the Blitz.• By May of 1941, Hitler gave up on his planned invasion of Br.• About 23,000 people died, mostly civilians.




Video: The Razors Edge





Operation Barbarosa (Red Beard)• June of 1941, German Armies

invaded the Soviet Union• The Germans moved swiftly, and with

great success.• The Russians retreated, burning

anything of use (Scorched Earth).• Working against the Germans was

the harsh winter of 1941-42.• The Russians made a stand at

Stalingrad & defeated the Nazis.• Early ’43, the Soviets went on the

offensive & pushed west, to Berlin.





Dieppe• Allied command was planning a second front, but felt that a

small-scale attack on the continent would prove valuable.• It would test equipment, techniques and German defences.• The Second Canadian Division was chosen as the main

attack force for an assault on the French port town of Dieppe.





• The main attack at Dieppe would be before dawn, supported by air cover and assisted by tanks landed on the beach.

• August 19, 1942, the attack on Dieppe began.




Reasons for Failure• The ships were delayed, causing the

troops to land in daylight.• German machine guns, alerted to

their arrival, prevented soldiers from getting off the beach.

• Bad communications meant reinforcements were sent too soon

• Tanks were nearly immobilized by the pebbled beach.

• 907 Canadians died in a 9 hour battle, with 586 were wounded and 1874 were taken prisoner.





Lessons learned• The attack was a failure, but

was not a complete loss.• The Allies learned much

about the German defenses and also learned how they might make a more successful attack.

• It is argued that these lessons made D-Day a success.




Video: Dieppe





Invasion of Italy• The Nazis had expanded their

territory as far as North Africa.• US, British and Commonwealth

forces (including Canadians), drove the Nazis from N. Africa between 1942 & 1943.

• The Allies then began to advance toward the continent.

• The most vulnerable part of Europe was the “Soft Underbelly”





Sicily• July 10, 1943, Canadians were

part of the invasion of Sicily which moved quickly to mainland Italy.

• The advance was slow against bad weather & tough Germans.

• The largest battle involving Canadians was for the town Ortona.





Ortona• Canadians fought at Ortona for about a

month, but the final assault started on Dec. 20, 1943

• Fighting was from house to house, through walls, (urban warfare).

• Canadians took Ortona Dec. 28th, after suffering such heavy losses that it was called the “Western Stalingrad”

• By June 4, 1944, Rome fell to the Allies, but events in Normandy soon overshadowed gains in Italy.




Video: On the Attack


lesson 4: the war in europe – part 1

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