{World War II

1939 to 1945

In a secret part of the pact, Germany & the USSR agreed to invade Poland together.

To sweeten the deal, Stalin would take over Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, & Estonia

Secrets Hidden in the Nonaggression Pact

On September 1st, 1939 Germany invaded Poland with both land and air attacks on Warsaw.

Invading Poland

This was the first time Hitler used his new military strategy called Blitzkrieg. It meant “Lightening War” & was known for fast air and land attacks to quickly surprise and overwhelm the enemy.

On September 3rd, Britain & France declare war on Germany.

Blitzkrieg works well and defeats Poland before Britain or France could respond.

In April of 1940, Hitler takes over Norway and Denmark. Why?

Invading Poland

Just a month later, Hitler swept through the Netherlands, Belgium, & Luxembourg. Why?

Meanwhile he sends a large force of tanks and soldiers through the Ardennes or woods of N.France. He was able to reach the coast in just 10 days.

Invading France

After German forces reached the coast, Allied Forces were cornered in Northern France.

Britain set out to rescue the Allied Forces by sending 850 ships across the English Channel to Dunkirk. This became known as

one of the most heroic acts of the war!

Rescue at Dunkirk

Civilians joined the effort and from May 26 – June 4th they sailed back and forth carrying Allied soldiers to safety.338,000 were rescued!

Rescue at Dunkirk

By June 14th, German forces made it to France. French leaders decided to surrender on June 22nd, 1940.

Fall of France

Great Britain now stood alone.

Winston Churchill knew he had to inspire his people. https

://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfSqp-755KE

Battle of Britain

Hitler wanted to take out the Royal Air Force (RAF) and then hit Great Britain on land.They did this by targeting airfields & aircraft factories first. Then the Germans targeted cities.

Battle of Britain

Even though Britain was outnumbered, the RAF struck back and proved the Battle of Britain would be a turning point in the war.This is mostly because of 2 pieces of technology...1. RADAR – detected the number,

speed, & direction of incoming planes

2. Enigma – German code-making machine used to decode secret messages

Battle of Britain

Battle of Britain

Germany responded by launching night-bombings.British civilians retreated to subway tunnels at night for safety from the raids.

This continued until May 10th, 1941 when Hitler called off the attacks on Britain!

Battle of Britain

With Britain resisting, Hitler focused on other areas.1st would be Northern Africa because Italy had attacked Egypt while Hitler was dealing with the Battle of Britain and failed! Hitler’s forces had to save the Italians with the Afrika Korps or German tank force sent into Africa, led by General Rommel

Hitler’s New Strategy (Africa)

The Afrika Korps were successful in pushing the British to the East in Libya.

By June 1942, Rommel was able to seize Libya and defeat the British.

Hitler’s New Strategy (Africa)

This was a HUGE loss for the British

Rommel earned

the name “Desert Fox” for his leadership

Hitler was planning on invading the USSR by the Summer. To prepare

Hitler persuaded Bulgaria, Romania, & Hungary to join the Axis Powers.

Hitler’s New Strategy (Balkans)

In April of 1941, Germany invaded Yugoslavia & Greece. Yugoslavia

fell in just 11 days & Greece surrendered in 17 days.

Hitler’s New Strategy (Balkans)

Germany had set itself up to easily invade the USSR and on June 22nd, 1941 Hitler launches Operation Barbarossa or the German Invasion of the Soviet Union. Hitler wanted to

starve the country by bombing food warehouses & isolating big cities.

Operation Barbarossa

Almost 1 million died of starvation but the Soviets did not back down!

German forces entered the USSR in their Summer uniforms, however as Operation Barbarossa continued they were forced to deal with the harsh Winter.

Operation Barbarossa

While the American people remained isolationist, President Roosevelt knew that if the Allied Powers fell, the US would be drawn into war.

In September of 1939, FDR asked Congress to allow the Allies to pay cash for supplies from the US, and use their own ships to transport them. This became known as the Lend-Lease Act

U.S. aids the Allied Powers