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The Battle of Britain and the Nazi March into North Africa. Hitler’s plan starts to show cracks. Britain/Africa. With the fall of France in June 1940, Hitler turns his attention to the invasion of England. “ Operation Sea Lion ” He plans to attack in two phases:
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The Battle of Britain and the Nazi March into North Africa Hitler’s plan starts to show cracks
Britain/Africa • With the fall of France in June 1940, Hitler turns his attention to the invasion of England. “Operation Sea Lion” • He plans to attack in two phases: • 1. Strategic aerial bombing • 2. Amphibious landing of troops across the Channel • He assumes the Brits will be crushed quickly like the rest of Europe
Britain/Africa • Enter Winston Churchill • “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing-grounds, we shall fight in the fields, and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender.”
Britain/Africa • The Battle of Britain:An all air battle between Germany and England over the skies of Great Britain in 1940-1941 • Both air forces would be tested • RAF: Royal Air Force (England) • Luftwaffe: German Air Force
Britain/Africa • Germany must destroy the RAF before they can invade across the Channel • At the beginning of the battle, the Luftwaffe was made up of 2,600 bombers (Stukas) and other fighters • The RAF was made up of only 640 fighters. (Spitfires and Hurricanes)
Britain/Africa German ME-109 German Stuka British Hurricane British Spitfire
Britain/Africa • August 13, 1940 the Battle of Britain begins -”Britain’s Finest Hour” • The British have 4 advantages in this battle: • 1. They are fighting over their own territory • 2. They are closer to home so they can stay in the air longer • 3. If they’re shot down, they’re safe And most importantly….
Britain/Africa • The British have a new technology the Nazis do not • Radar: A device that determines the presence and location of incoming objects (Biggest Advantage) • The British knew when Luftwaffe planes were coming in so they could scramble their planes up for a fight • This also gives the citizens time to prepare for bombings
Britain/Africa • As the air battle begins, both sides inflict terrible losses on each other. • Hitler is trying to bomb airfields, bases, factories, railroads, ships, ports (Strategic bombing) • When that is not working because of the RAF, Hitler changes tactics and starts to target major cities like London and Liverpool. (Carpet Bombing) He wants to bomb the civilians into submission
Britain/Africa • Starting in September of 1940, Hitler begins bombing London on a daily basis. The bombs don’t stop falling for 9 months! • People took to hiding in subway tunnels to avoid the falling bombs • “After an explosion of a nearby bomb, you could actually feel your eyeballs being sucked out. I was holding my eyes to try to stop them from going. And the suction was so vast, it ripped my shirt away, and ripped my trousers. Then I couldn’t get my breath, the smoke was like acid and everything around me was black and yellow.” -18 year old Len Jones.
Britain/Africa • Hitler also believed that the bombing would ruin their morale, the citizens would put pressure on Churchill to surrender, and if he didn’t they would overthrow the gov’t • The RAF fought brilliantly and unleashed deadly air strikes on the Luftwaffe • By May 1941, Hitler calls off his planned invasion of England. This becomes Hitler’s 1st defeat of the war. • “Never has so much been owed, by so many to so few.” –Winston Churchill about the RAF in the Battle of Britain
Britain/Africa • With the Germans suffering their first loss, Hitler needs a quick victory to reassure his supporters • At the same time the Battle of Britain was ending, Italy was starting their invasion of Greece and Egypt. Mussolini finds it more difficult than he anticipates and asks for Hitler’s help • This gives Hitler the opportunity to conquer South East Europe. (The Balkans) • He takes over Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Albania, and Greece
Britain/Africa • Even with all of Europe conquered, Hitler still desires more living space for his master race • At this point in the war he has two choices: • 1. Invade the Soviet Union • 2. Invade North Africa • Focuses on North Africa first because the Italians are trying to take over the British colonies
Britain/Africa • Libya is a colony of Italy. Egypt is a colony of England and troops from both sides are in both countries • They battle back and forth through the end of 1941 until Hitler sends troops to help in January 1942 • Erwin Rommel: Commander of Hitler’s “AfrikaKorps,” sent to help the Italians • The “Desert Fox”
Britain/Africa • Rommel pushes the Brits to the eastern edge of Egypt in July 1942 and is after the Suez Canal. • The British must protect this and prevent the Germans from gaining access to the Middle East and the vast oil supplies • Battle of El Alamein: Germans and Italians fight the British in Egypt in the largest battle of WWII in North Africa
Britain/Africa • Bernard Montgomery: New general of the British troops in North Africa • He knew he couldn’t beat Rommel is a regular fight so he had to be creative • Dressing up supply vehicles as tanks, he fakes an attack in one area and Rommel takes the bait. He then attacks with artillery, tanks, and troops in a surprise to the Axis eventually winning the Battle of El Alamein • Rommel is forced to retreat back to Libya
Britain/Africa • Hitler is furious! • With the war in Africa at a stalemate, Hitler eyes the Soviet Union as his next target • It would be his biggest mistake of the war!
