WWII – Chapter 35WWII – Chapter 35

Total War in Total War in EuropeEurope

Blitzkreig: Blitzkreig: Germany Conquers Germany Conquers

Europe Europe

The Fall of Poland The Fall of Poland Nazi forces took over Poland in one Nazi forces took over Poland in one

month, unannounced (September 1, month, unannounced (September 1, 1939) 1939)

– September 3, 1939 - Britain and France September 3, 1939 - Britain and France declared war on Germanydeclared war on Germany

Soviets took east sections of Poland in Soviets took east sections of Poland in accordance with Nazi-Soviet Pact accordance with Nazi-Soviet Pact

Germans stunned the world with their Germans stunned the world with their blitzkriegblitzkrieg victory victory

– blitzkrieg – lightning warblitzkrieg – lightning war large number of tanks break through and rapidly large number of tanks break through and rapidly

encircle the enemy and aircraft supported them encircle the enemy and aircraft supported them with bombs and paratrooperswith bombs and paratroopers

The Fall of France The Fall of France Nazis conquered Denmark, Norway, Nazis conquered Denmark, Norway,

Belgium, Netherlands, and France Belgium, Netherlands, and France – Britain and France waited in France for Britain and France waited in France for

Germany to attack Germany to attack – Hitler moved toward France but wanted to Hitler moved toward France but wanted to

go around the Maginot Linego around the Maginot Line a line of concrete bunkers and fortifications built a line of concrete bunkers and fortifications built

after WWI along the French-German borderafter WWI along the French-German border– Thinking Hitler would invade through Thinking Hitler would invade through

Belgium, the French and British raced to Belgium, the French and British raced to protect this borderprotect this border

The Fall of France (cont.)The Fall of France (cont.)– Hitler invaded instead through the Hitler invaded instead through the

Ardennes Mountains of LuxembourgArdennes Mountains of Luxembourg– Germans easily invaded France and raced Germans easily invaded France and raced

toward the English Channel trapping the toward the English Channel trapping the British and French in BelgiumBritish and French in Belgium Miracle at DunkirkMiracle at Dunkirk

French signed an armistice in June 1940 French signed an armistice in June 1940 – Italy entered the war on Nazis’ side (saw Italy entered the war on Nazis’ side (saw

that Germany was winning)that Germany was winning)

Invasion of FranceInvasion of France

The Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain Winston Churchill – the Winston Churchill – the

Prime Minister of BritainPrime Minister of Britain– Surrender to Germany Surrender to Germany

was not an optionwas not an option Germany was not Germany was not

equipped to invade by equipped to invade by sea so they had to sea so they had to defeat the British Royal defeat the British Royal Air ForceAir Force

The Battle of Britain (cont.)The Battle of Britain (cont.) Battle of Britain – began in June 1940Battle of Britain – began in June 1940

– German air force (Luftwaffe) attacked British German air force (Luftwaffe) attacked British shipping boats and the British Royal Air Forceshipping boats and the British Royal Air Force

– August 23, 1940, German bombers accidentally August 23, 1940, German bombers accidentally bombed Londonbombed London the British then bombed Berlin the next nightthe British then bombed Berlin the next night

– Hitler ordered the Luftwaffe to focus on LondonHitler ordered the Luftwaffe to focus on London– London citizens hid from German bombs in the city’s London citizens hid from German bombs in the city’s

subway tunnelssubway tunnels– The British advantageThe British advantage

radar (British could detect incoming German aircraft and radar (British could detect incoming German aircraft and direct British fighters to intercept them)direct British fighters to intercept them)

– October 12, 1940 – Hitler cancelled the invasion of October 12, 1940 – Hitler cancelled the invasion of BritainBritain "The Blitz" killed 40,000 British civilians"The Blitz" killed 40,000 British civilians

Hitler's conquests extended to Balkans and Hitler's conquests extended to Balkans and North Africa by summer of 1941 North Africa by summer of 1941

The Decisive Entry of the The Decisive Entry of the Soviet Union and the Soviet Union and the

United States United States

Germany was in control of Germany was in control of most of Europe by spring most of Europe by spring

19411941 looked to the Soviet Union as a way looked to the Soviet Union as a way

to create more to create more LebensraumLebensraum “living “living space”space”

– believed Soviet Union would be easily believed Soviet Union would be easily defeateddefeated

Russians dig anti-tank Russians dig anti-tank defenses as Germans approach defenses as Germans approach

MoscowMoscow

Operation Barbarossa began Operation Barbarossa began on June 22, 1941on June 22, 1941

By December, gained huge territories and By December, gained huge territories and captured millions of Soviet soldiers captured millions of Soviet soldiers

– Red Army weak because of a lack of strong leaders Red Army weak because of a lack of strong leaders (Stalin’s purges)(Stalin’s purges)

– Leningrad (St. Petersburg) came under siegeLeningrad (St. Petersburg) came under siege Soviets then gained two new allies--U.S. and Soviets then gained two new allies--U.S. and

"General Winter""General Winter"– Germans, so sure of swift victory, had not supplied Germans, so sure of swift victory, had not supplied

troops with winter clothing and bootstroops with winter clothing and boots– Stalin had moved industry away from the front Stalin had moved industry away from the front

(supplies uninterrupted)(supplies uninterrupted) Battle of Stalingrad (February 1943) marked Battle of Stalingrad (February 1943) marked

first large-scale victory for Soviets first large-scale victory for Soviets – Turning point in European warTurning point in European war

The Russians trapped the The Russians trapped the German Sixth Army at German Sixth Army at

Stalingrad Stalingrad

German troops are defeated at German troops are defeated at Stalingrad Stalingrad

The US The US enters enters

the Warthe War

December 1941 – US pulled into the war by December 1941 – US pulled into the war by JapanJapan

– Germany declared war because they saw Japan Germany declared war because they saw Japan as a strong ally as a strong ally

– US built “Liberty Ships” (riveted not welded) US built “Liberty Ships” (riveted not welded) faster that the German U Boats could sink themfaster that the German U Boats could sink them

Allied Victory in EuropeAllied Victory in Europe

Striking at the Soft Underbelly Striking at the Soft Underbelly (the Invasion of Sicily) – July (the Invasion of Sicily) – July

10, 194310, 1943 General Dwight D. Eisenhower was placed in General Dwight D. Eisenhower was placed in

overall command of the invasion overall command of the invasion General George Patton was put in charge of troops General George Patton was put in charge of troops

on the ground on the ground Troops made it ashore with few casualtiesTroops made it ashore with few casualties

– used DUKW (an amphibious truck) to bring supplies to used DUKW (an amphibious truck) to bring supplies to soldiers on the beachsoldiers on the beach

– By August 18, 1943, the Allies had taken SicilyBy August 18, 1943, the Allies had taken Sicily July 25, 1943 – Mussolini was placed under arrestJuly 25, 1943 – Mussolini was placed under arrest September 8, 1943 – the Italian government September 8, 1943 – the Italian government

surrendered to the Alliessurrendered to the Allies Germany was not willing to give up ItalyGermany was not willing to give up Italy

– it took 5 months for Allies to break through German lines in it took 5 months for Allies to break through German lines in ItalyItaly

Planning Operation OverlordPlanning Operation Overlord the planned invasion of Francethe planned invasion of France to convince the Germans they were to convince the Germans they were

landing in Pas-de-Calais, the Allies landing in Pas-de-Calais, the Allies placed decoys there placed decoys there

– Allies would actually invade at Allies would actually invade at NormandyNormandy

Eisenhower referred to the day of Eisenhower referred to the day of the invasion as D-Daythe invasion as D-Day

Allied invasion plans and Allied invasion plans and german positions in the german positions in the

Normandy. Normandy.

1944 D-Day Landing June 6 1944 D-Day Landing June 6

D-Day – June 6, 1944 D-Day – June 6, 1944 fighter-bombers and paratroopers hit fighter-bombers and paratroopers hit

the beaches at Normandy firstthe beaches at Normandy first Allied troops landed at 5 beaches Allied troops landed at 5 beaches

– Omaha BeachOmaha Beach German defenses were strongGerman defenses were strong General Omar Bradley commanded US forces General Omar Bradley commanded US forces 2,500 Allied casualties2,500 Allied casualties

Paris was liberated on August 25, Paris was liberated on August 25, 19441944

Liberation of ParisLiberation of Paris

The Third Reich CollapsesThe Third Reich Collapses The Battle of the BulgeThe Battle of the Bulge

– December 16, 1944 – Germans try one December 16, 1944 – Germans try one last time to defeat the Allieslast time to defeat the Allies

– Allies were surroundedAllies were surrounded Eisenhower sent General Patton to help Eisenhower sent General Patton to help General Patton arrived and broke through General Patton arrived and broke through

German linesGerman lines Germany suffered heavy lossesGermany suffered heavy losses

This left Germany open for invasionThis left Germany open for invasion

The Battle of the BulgeThe Battle of the Bulge

                                                                               

                 

The Malmedy massacre The Malmedy massacre (at the Battle of the Bulge) (at the Battle of the Bulge)

The Third Reich CollapsesThe Third Reich Collapses V-E Day: The War Ends in EuropeV-E Day: The War Ends in Europe

– While British and American forces fought to liberate While British and American forces fought to liberate France, the Soviet Union launched a massive attack to France, the Soviet Union launched a massive attack to drive German troops from Russiadrive German troops from Russia By February 1945, Soviet troops had driven the Germans By February 1945, Soviet troops had driven the Germans

across Poland to within 35 miles of Berlinacross Poland to within 35 miles of Berlin– Soviets attacked Germany from the east as the Soviets attacked Germany from the east as the

Americans attacked from the westAmericans attacked from the west German defenses crumbledGerman defenses crumbled

– Adolf Hitler knew the end was nearAdolf Hitler knew the end was near April 30, 1945 – Hitler shot himself April 30, 1945 – Hitler shot himself

– May 7, 1945 – Germany surrendered May 7, 1945 – Germany surrendered unconditionally unconditionally May 8, 1945 was named V-E Day (“Victory in May 8, 1945 was named V-E Day (“Victory in

Europe”)Europe”)

1945 Soviets reach Berlin1945 Soviets reach Berlin

1945 April Mussolini is hung by the 1945 April Mussolini is hung by the Italians, Hitler commits suicide in his Italians, Hitler commits suicide in his

bunkerbunker

On April 29, 1945, the On April 29, 1945, the bodies of Mussolini and bodies of Mussolini and his mistress were taken his mistress were taken to the Piazzale Loreto (in to the Piazzale Loreto (in Milan) and hung upside Milan) and hung upside

down on meathooks down on meathooks from the roof of a gas from the roof of a gas

station, then stoned by station, then stoned by civilians from below. This civilians from below. This

was done both to was done both to discourage any fascists discourage any fascists

from continuing the fight from continuing the fight and as an act of revenge and as an act of revenge for the hanging of many for the hanging of many

partisans in the same partisans in the same place by Axis authorities. place by Axis authorities.

The corpse of the The corpse of the deposed leader became deposed leader became subject to ridicule and subject to ridicule and

abuse abuse

Stars and Stars and Stripes, the Stripes, the official US official US

Army Army magazine.magazine.

Churchill waves to crowds in Whitehall on Churchill waves to crowds in Whitehall on the day he broadcast to the nation that the the day he broadcast to the nation that the

war with Germany had been wonwar with Germany had been won