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European Theater

European Theater. Europe at War. Blitzkrieg – Lightening War Used against Poland Used panzer divisions supported by airplanes Each panzer division was a strike force of about 300 tanks After the tanks came through infantry units would move into the area

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European Theater

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  1. European Theater

  2. Europe at War • Blitzkrieg – Lightening War • Used against Poland • Used panzer divisions supported by airplanes • Each panzer division was a strike force of about 300 tanks • After the tanks came through infantry units would move into the area • Germany and the Soviet Union divided Poland

  3. Hitler’s Early Victories • April 1940 • Hitler made another attack against Denmark and Norway • May 1940 • Hitler attacked the Netherlands, Belgium and France • France and Great Britain were taken by complete surprise

  4. Hitler’s Early Victories • Maginot Line • France put up a defense system along the border of Germany – concrete and steel fortifications with heavy artillery • Germans decided not to go across the line but go through Belgium • This allowed Allied troops to be split and the entire British army were trapped on a beach in Belgium • Private civilians helped rescue the troops • France signed an armistice on June 22, 1940 • Germany now occupied 3/5 of France

  5. US Involvement??????? • Franklin Roosevelt • Denounced the aggressors but the US followed a policy ofisolationism • Neutrality acts were passed to prevent the US from taking sides • US supplied food, ships, planes and weapons to the British

  6. The Battle of Britain • Hitler believed the only way to beat Britain was by air • Luftwaffe (German Air Force) • Bombed British air and naval bases, harbors, communication centers and war industries • British fought back using a new invention: Radar • Hitler Changed the Game Plan • Ordered the Luftwaffe to bomb British cities hoping to break morale – had the opposite affect

  7. Attack on the Soviet Union • Hitler believed Britain was still in the war because they were waiting on the Soviet Union • June 22, 1941 • 1,800 mile long front • German troops made it to within 25 miles of Moscow but an early winter came • Germans had no winter uniforms and a counterattack in December ending the German advancement

  8. The Tide Turns • British Forces are able to stop Germany’s troops in North Africa • Stalingrad • Turning point in the European Theater • Industrial Center that Hitler wanted • November 1942 – February 1943 • Soviets launched a counterattack and circled the German troops • Supply lines were cut and the German’s were forced to surrender • The entire German sixth Army was lost

  9. Last Years of the War • June 6, 1944 • Dwight D Eisenhower commanded allied forces • Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy, France • Fought through underwater mines, barbed wire, machine gun fire • Germans thought it was a diversion so they were slow to respond • Allies landed 2 million men and 500,000 vehicles • Successfully liberated France and pushed into Germany

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