480 likes | 497 Views
Explore the onset of World War II in Europe, including Mussolini's promises to restore the glory of Ancient Rome to Italy and Hitler's theory of Lebensraum. Learn about key battles and events such as the invasion of Poland, the Winter War, the Phony War, the Miracle of Dunkirk, and the Battle of Britain. Discover Hitler's new plan and the battles in North Africa, the Balkans, Operation Barbarossa, Leningrad, and Stalingrad.
E N D
World War II The War in Europe
Mussolini Promises to Restore Glory of Ancient Rome to Italy
Lebensraum ("living space"): Hitler's theory that Germans must conquer and colonize territory to the east
Chamberlain holds note after Munich Conference, stating peace has been secured
Invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 marks the onset of War
The Invasion of Poland • 1.5 million soldiers • Massive aerial attacks • Merciless bombing of the city of Warsaw • France and Britain declare war on Germany on September 3rd • Hitler annexes half of Poland
Poland fell in a few days due to its inferior weapons and army, who could not keep up with Hitler’s war machine
USSR moves on Eastern Europe • Sept. 17, 1939, Stalin orders Soviet troops into Poland to claim his half of Nazi-Soviet Pact • Stalin begins to annex Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia • WINTER WAR: Soviets find resistance in Finland – Stalin send 1 million troops • March 1940 – Finland Surrenders to Stalin
The Phony War • 7 months of war have gone by, but no battles between France and Germany • French stationed along a system of fortifications called the Maginot line
More Blitzkriegs • Phony War ends on April 9, 1940 • Germany launches blitzkriegs on Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg • Hitler uses France’s northern neighbors as a distraction • Launches an invasion through the Ardennes on France’s western border
Evacuation of Dunkirk • Allies surrounded in France • Allies forced to retreat from Dunkirk, a French city on the English Channel. • 338,000 soldiers were retreated under heavy German bombings. • British used 850 ships, fishing boats, civilian boats, yachts, etc. • On June 22, France surrendered
Germans set up a puppet government based in the city of Vichy and headed by Henri PétainGeneral Charles de Gaulle sets up exile government in Britain and vows to reconquer France
Operation Sea Lion After fall of France – Hitler plans Operation Sea Lion – the invasion of Britain Winston Churchill rallies British saying he will never surrender to Hitler
Battle of Britain • Hitler sends his Luftwaffe – air force- to destroy the Royal Air Force • British planes outnumbered 2,900 to 4,500 • September 7, 1940 – city bombing begins • Relentless bombing of British cities • By May 10 1941 – Hitler calls off Battle for time being
A British Victory • Britain had three key tools in winning the Battle of Britain • 1st- British Morale • 2nd – New secret weapon – the RADAR • 3rd – Had a German code-making machine called the enigma • Became a turning point – Hitler can be stopped
Hitler’s new plan • Read pages 444-445 and give me details about the following battles or battle sites: • North Africa • The Balkans • Operation Barbarossa • Leningrad • Stalingrad