Blitzkrieg It means It means Lightning War! Lightning War! The Germans are determined to not fall The Germans are determined to not fall

into the same type of stalemate that into the same type of stalemate that occurred in WWIoccurred in WWI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyF1z1hajOc

The BlitzkriegThe Blitzkrieg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrFij0h4EOY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIQy_Pfxb6M&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ha0qKquG2E

Blitz tactics Blitz tactics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUjrnlMAtQ4&feature=related

Poland September 1939Poland September 1939

Destroyed in 4 weeksDestroyed in 4 weeks

Phony WarPhony War

April 1940April 1940

Luxembourg May 1940Luxembourg May 1940

Belgium May 1940Belgium May 1940

Netherlands May 1940Netherlands May 1940

Blitzkrieg in France in FranceJune 1940June 1940

The SurrenderThe Surrender

German troops captured France in a German troops captured France in a matter of weeksmatter of weeks

British troops retreated to the British troops retreated to the coastal beaches on the English coastal beaches on the English Channel at DunkirkChannel at Dunkirk

The Miracle at The Miracle at Dunkirk

300 000 soldiers were trapped on the 300 000 soldiers were trapped on the beaches. Easy targets for the beaches. Easy targets for the Germans.Germans.

Hitler failed to send ground troops Hitler failed to send ground troops into Dunkirk instead relying on the into Dunkirk instead relying on the Luftwaffe to destroy the British. This Luftwaffe to destroy the British. This was a major blunder. was a major blunder.

Operation DynamoOperation Dynamo was an attempt to was an attempt to rescue the stranded troops. This rescue the stranded troops. This military operation could only save a military operation could only save a tenth of the troops. tenth of the troops.

A variety of motor boats, fishing A variety of motor boats, fishing smacks, trawlers, lifeboats, paddle smacks, trawlers, lifeboats, paddle steamers and many other types of steamers and many other types of craft came over the channel to assist craft came over the channel to assist in the escape. This made the retreat in the escape. This made the retreat seem like a victory. seem like a victory.

It became known as the Miracle at It became known as the Miracle at DunkirkDunkirk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtttSlvUzUQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkhkq6AUkGQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTxbSnAuDtc&feature=related

Battle of BritainBattle of Britain

The Battle of Britain The The Battle of Britain The Battle of Battle of BritainBritain is the name given to the air is the name given to the air campaign waged by the German Air campaign waged by the German Air Force (Force (LuftwaffeLuftwaffe) against the United ) against the United Kingdom during the summer and Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940. autumn of 1940.

The objective of the campaign was to The objective of the campaign was to gain air superiority over the Royal gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF). Air Force (RAF).

The Battle of Britain was the first The Battle of Britain was the first major campaign to be fought entirely major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces, and was the largest by air forces, and was the largest and most sustained aerial bombing and most sustained aerial bombing campaign up until that date.campaign up until that date.

By battles end, the Germans had lost By battles end, the Germans had lost 1,100 planes1,100 planes. The RAF lost . The RAF lost 650650 planes. The German attack was planes. The German attack was called off.called off.

The failure of Germany to achieve its The failure of Germany to achieve its objectives of destroying Britain's air objectives of destroying Britain's air defences, or forcing Britain to defences, or forcing Britain to surrender is considered both its first surrender is considered both its first major defeat and one of the crucial major defeat and one of the crucial turning points in the war.turning points in the war.

If Germany had gained air superiority If Germany had gained air superiority they would have launched Operation they would have launched Operation Sealion.Sealion.

An amphibious and airborne An amphibious and airborne invasion of Britain.invasion of Britain.

Eventually the Eventually the LuftwaffeLuftwaffe resorted to resorted to attacking areas of political attacking areas of political significance and using terror significance and using terror bombing tactics.bombing tactics.