World Wars: World War II

1. World Wars: World War II England Alone

2. England Alone • Immediately after the defeat of France, Adolf Hitler ordered his generals to organize the invasion of Britain. The invasion plan was given the code name Sea Lion. • The objective was to land 160,000 German soldiers alonga forty-mile coastal stretch of south-east England.

3. England Alone • “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….” These words expressed the resolve of the British people to stand up to the onslaught of the German 3rd Reich.

4. England Alone • Within a few weeks the Germans had assembled a large armada of vessels, including 2,000 barges in German, Belgian and French harbors. • Hitler's generals were very worriedabout the damage that the Royal Air Forcecould inflict on the German Army during the invasion.

5. England Alone • Hitler therefore agreed to their request that the invasion should be postponed until the British air force had been destroyed.

6. Battle of Britain • By the start of what became known as the Battle of Britain the Luftwaffe had 2,800 aircraft stationed in France, Belgium, Holland and Norway. • This force outnumbered the RAF four to one.

7. Battle of Britain • The British had the advantage of being closer to their airfields. • German fighters could only stay over England for about half an hour before flying back to their home bases.

8. Battle of Britain • The RAF also had the benefits of an effective early warning radar system and the intelligence information provided by Ultra…a civilian observation corps.

9. Battle of Britain • The German pilots had more combat experience than the British and probably had the best fighter plane in the Messerschmitt Bf109. • They also had the impressive Messerschmitt 110 and Junkers Stuka.

10. Battle of Britain • The commander of the RAF Fighter Command, Hugh Dowding, relied on the Hawker Hurricane and the Supermarine Spitfire.

11. Battle of Britain • On the 12th August, 1940, the German air force began its mass bomber attacks on British radar stations, aircraft factories and fighter airfields. • During these raids radar stations and airfields were badly damaged and twenty-twoRAF planes were destroyed. • This attack was followed by daily raids on Britain.

12. Battle of Britain • As a result of the effective range of the Luftwaffe, the battle was mainly fought over southern England. • This area was protected by Fighter Command No. 11 under Keith Park and Fighter Command No. 12 led by Trafford Leigh-Mallory.

13. Battle of Britain • Between 1st and 18th August the RAF lost 208 fighters and 106 pilots. • The second half of the month saw even heavier losses and wastage now outstripped the production of new aircraft and the training of pilots to fly them.

14. Battle of Britain • Although greatly outnumbered the British were fighting for their homeland. • Most pilots were between the ages of 18 and 22.

15. Battle of Britain • The fate of the world rested in the hands of these young pilots. • For the first two months both sides suffered heavy losses • German losses were too severe for daylight bombing to continue.

16. Battle of Britain • Luftwaffe commander Herman Goering orders nighttime raids to begin. • September 7, 1940, Germans begin a brutal nightly assault on London—The Blitz.

17. Battle of Britain • The Blitz was designed to destroy the will of the British people to fight. • It backfired—Britain is enflamed with the will to defeat the Germans. • By the end of September the Germans had lost 2,700 planes.

18. Battle of Britain • On September 17, 1940, Hitler postpones Operation Sea Lion. • Although sporadic attacks continued, it’s clear Germany has lost the Battle of Britain.

19. Battle of Britain • “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” These 17 words spoken by Winston Churchill, summed up the gallant efforts of the RAF.

20. Italy in Greece • October 28, 1940—The Italians attack Greece and are humiliatingly defeated. • Mussolini is tremendously angry as Italian soldiers are beaten back to Albania.

21. Hitler in Yugoslavia and Greece • April 16, 1941—Hitler orders the invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece. • Germany rolls through both countries like they are on maneuvers. • Yugoslavia and Greece capitulate on April 17, 1941.

22. Hitler and Germany Invade Crete • May, 20, 1941—The Germans move into Crete and after a bloody battle—take over. • However, the hold up causes delay in the German invasion of Russia. Hitler’s insistence on conquering Greece and Crete would cost him Russia.

23. Terms, Names, Places • Operation Sea Lion Winston Churchill • Royal Air Force Battle of Britain • Radar System Ultra • Messerschmitt Bf 109 Messerschmitt 110 • Junker Stuka Hugh Dowding • Luftwaffe Hawker Hurricane • Supermarine Spitfire Keith Park • Trafford Leigh-Mallory Hermann Goering • The Blitz