Main Idea

1. 32.1 – Hitler’s Lightning War • Main Idea • Essential Question What impact does bad economic conditions have on a population?

2. Objectives

3. Setting the Stage • During 1930s, Hitler played on hopes and fears of Western Democracies. Each time the Nazi dictator grabbed new territory, he would declare an end to his demands. • These were false hopes as time and time again the German army was on the move. • After his moves into Rhineland, Austria and Czechoslovakia, Hitler turned his eyes to Poland • After WWI, the Allied Powers had cut out the Polish Corridor from German territory to give Poland access to the Baltic Sea • In 1939, Hitler demanded that the Polish Corridor be returned to Germany

4. Germany’s Lightning Attack • Stalin and Hitler signed a 10 year non-aggressive pact on Aug. 23 1939. • Hitler secretly promised Stalin that they would split Poland • USSR given Finland and Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia) • Though Hitler had been vocally anti-communist and had express desire to provide Germans more living space at the expense of Russians, he also wanted to avoid a two-front war • Hitler attacks Poland Sept. 1, 1939. Germany’s quick assault allowed them to overtake Poland before France and Britain could mobilize • Polish army still had cavalry, no match for German tanks • Blitzkrieg – • France and Britain declared war on Germany on Sept. 3, 1939, triggering the start of WWII

5. Soviets Make Their Move • Stalin aimed to expand the Soviet Union’s territory and power, while keeping his country out of the war • Sept 17, 1939, Russia occupies Eastern Poland. Stalin then moved to annex countries to the North • Annexes Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia fell without a struggle, but Finland resisted • In November, Stalin sent nearly 1 million Soviet troops into Finland. The Soviets expected to win a quick and decisive victory, but were not prepared for winter fighting. • Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Finns fiercely defended their country. Soldiers on skis flanked the Soviets. By contrast, Soviets struggled to make progress through deep snow. • Despite heavy casualties, the Soviets finally won through sheer force of numbers, forcing the Finns to accept his terms of surrender

6. Rescue at Dunkirk • Germany invades Denmark and Norway, conquering both. Proceeded to build bases to launch attacks on Britain and France • May 1940 - Germany takes Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Keeping his enemies attention focused on this front, Hitler secretly moved an even larger force of tanks to take France through the Ardennes Forest • May 1940 – Germans trapped Allied forces at French port Dunkirk on English channel • Evacuation of Dunkirk -

7. The Fall of France • On June 10 Italy’s Benito Mussolini declared war on France and Britain and attacked France from the south • June 14 1940 Paris had fallen to the Germans. France surrenders on June, 22. • Philippe Petain – • Germans take Paris, leave South to Petain, called Vichy France (after the new capital) • Most French initially supported the new government despite its pro-Nazi policies, seeing it as necessary to maintain a degree of French autonomy and territorial integrity. • Charles de Gaulle -

8. What was Vichy France?

9. The Battle of Britain • Winston Churchill- • Churchill had been warning about the danger of a rearmed Germany under Hitler, and was ignored. For his foresight, he was chosen to replace Chamberlin • Summer of 1940 Germany bombed Britain air force then cities including London • Battle of Britain - • Luftwaffe targeted ground infrastructure, areas of political significance by using terror bombing strategy • Stunned by British resistance Hitler stopped the attacks and turned his focus on Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean

10. The Eastern Front • Having been turned away in Britain, Germany shifted its focus to aiding Italy in theirNorth Africa offensive • Sept. 1940 Mussolini ordered seizure of British-controlled Egypt. Egypt was important due to Suez Canal access to oil reserves in the Middle East • British moved in to take back North Africa. Hitler sends in General Rommel to combat the British, forcing the British back to Libya • Erwin Rommel – • Germany entered Balkans, conquering British allies Yugoslavia and Greece, persuaded Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary to join Axis • Summer of 1940 Hitler began planning to attack Stalin. Hitler planned to take countries in Southeastern Balkan region and set up bases there to attack USSR • Generalplan Ost -

11. Operation Barbarossa • Operation Barbarossa – • June 1941 Germany entered Russia. Soviet army largest (5 million) but poorly equipped • German invasion of USSR caused a high rate of fatalities: 95% of all German Army casualties that occurred from 1941 to 1944, and 65% of all Allied military casualties from the entire war • Germans pushed 500 miles into Russia. September 1941 Germans surrounded Leningrad isolating the city. Nearly 1 million people died during the winter but the city refused to fall. • By December the harsh winter took its toll on the German soldiers. Hitler sent the message of no retreat. Cost of battle 500,000 German lives

12. How did USSR withstand Operation Barbarossa?

13. US Aids Its Allies • 1935-1937 US Congress passes a series of Neutrality Acts. This meant no sending of arms or lending money to countries at war • This action was taken to assure American citizens that the US would stay out of the escalating conflict in Europe • US President Franklin Roosevelt understood that if the allies fell, the US would be drawn into the war out of necessity, pushed Congress to pass Lend-Lease Act • Lend-Lease Act – • Passed in March 1941. US Navy escorted British ships to protect them from German submarines • Atlantic Charter – • German U-Boat fired on an American destroyer during escort. FDR ordered navy commanders to shoot German submarines on sight • US now in undeclared naval warfare with Germany

14. What victories did the Allies win despite the Nazi offensive?