Blitzkrieg In The West and The East

1. Blitzkrieg In The West and The East Blitzkrieg in West The Battle of Britain “Operation Barbarossa”

2. Poland 1939 • Germany attacks Poland, Sept. 1939 because it desires Lebensraum between Russia • Poland has a defensive alliance signed with Britian and France but it does not deter Hitler • Poland falls in four weeks against blitzkrieg

3. Poland 1939

4. The Phony War 1939-1940 • After Poland’s fall, Britian races to reinforce the French along the Maginot Line • War exists but no one is fighting?! • Germany is mobilizing its forces and bad weather delay fighting • Britian and France panic as time passes

5. How many gun turrets are visible in this picture?

6. Denmark and Norway 1940 • Germany moves quickly through the Scandinavian countries • Desiring access to the North Sea, deep harbors and iron from Sweden • Hitler’s general staff did not feel seizing these countries was a necessity but a risk

7. To France and To A Return Of Honor • May 1940, Germany blitzkrieg tactics plow through Belgium and the Netherlands • Germany troops swing past the famed Maginot Line and surprise the French • French forces outnumber German forces in terms of armor and aircraft • French believed in “élan” against German Blitzkrieg

8. To France and To A Return Of Honor • Battle of Dunkirk 1940 saw British forces escape destruction by German forces due to naval evacuation • June 22, 1940 Frances surrenders • Hitler had pushed for this attack against generals advice again

9. To France and To A Return Of Honor

10. The Battle Of Britain 1940 • Winston Churchill is Britain's Prime Minster • A man of many qualities and oratory skill • Hitler seeks to invade Britain, but he must control her skies • British RAF and German Luftwaffe fight for air dominance • Germany cannot break Britain causing Hitler to look elsewhere for victory

11. The Battle Of Britain 1940 • Germany loses for many reasons • Radar introduced • Air-ground communications used • Germany lacks correct aircraft for this action • Spitfire

12. The Invasion Of Russia 1941 • Russia and Germany had signed a Non-aggression Pact • Joseph Stalin felt complacent that Germany would not attack • Stalin in 1936 had purged his military of its leadership because of distrust • Military leadership after the purge was incompetent

13. The Invasion Of Russia 1941 • “Operation Barbarossa” 1941, German invasion of Russia • Hitler attacks Russia even though it violates Non-Aggression pact • German army pushes to outskirts of Moscow and Stalingard by 1942 • German forces are tried, ill equipped for winter and overstretched from supply lines

14. Stalingrad 1942-1943 • Battle of Stalingrad, 1942-1943 is best described as a battle of wills • Brutal room to room fighting for a city, both sides used everything in arsenals • Fought for 195 days • Germany will losses will be irreplaceable

16. The Invasion Of Russia 1941 • Russian army launches counter offensive smashing and pushing Germans back by late 1942 • Hitler refuses to retreat and orders generals to stand and fight • German army loses 740,000 men due to weather, fighting and disease

17. Kursk 1943 • Kursk, 1943, largest tank battle in history • Russian offensive showed that they could in fact defeat German panzers • T-34 tank introduced and changes outcome of war for Russia

19. The Invasion Of Russia 1941

20. Why Did Hitler Pursue War With Russia • There had been a history of animosity between the two regions • Hitler desired a “greater Germany” one with “lebensraum” • Hitler believed that he was invincible, did he not command most of Europe by 1940?! • Hitler underestimated the Russian military and the Russian will to fight