Chapter 24Chapter 24

Section 2: Europe Goes to WarSection 2: Europe Goes to War

Invasion of PolandInvasion of Poland

►After Hitler invaded After Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia, GB & France Czechoslovakia, GB & France abandoned appeasement & abandoned appeasement & prepared for warprepared for war

►Warned that further expansion Warned that further expansion meant warmeant war

►March 31, 1939 GB & France March 31, 1939 GB & France formally pledged to support formally pledged to support PolandPoland

Hitler’s Pact with StalinHitler’s Pact with Stalin

►Both realized they had much Both realized they had much to gain by working togetherto gain by working togetherAug- signed a ten year Aug- signed a ten year nonaggression pact, which nonaggression pact, which eliminated an attack from eliminated an attack from the eastthe east

►Secret document attached to Secret document attached to the pact was that Germany & the pact was that Germany & the Soviet Union would divide up the Soviet Union would divide up the countries of eastern Europethe countries of eastern Europe

►Sept 1- Hitler invaded PolandSept 1- Hitler invaded Poland►Sept 3- Britain & France Sept 3- Britain & France

declared war on Germanydeclared war on Germany

Lightning WarLightning War►GB, France, & Poland GB, France, & Poland

together had more soldiers & together had more soldiers & infantry units than Germanyinfantry units than GermanyEach German division had Each German division had superior firepower & superior firepower & organized its tanks into organized its tanks into separate armored divisionsseparate armored divisions

►Germans used the blitzkrieg that Germans used the blitzkrieg that included a fast, concentrated air included a fast, concentrated air & land attack that took the & land attack that took the enemy’s army by surpriseenemy’s army by surpriseUsing this tactic, they overran Using this tactic, they overran Poland in less than 1 monthPoland in less than 1 month

SU joined this attack mid-Sept.SU joined this attack mid-Sept.

War in the WestWar in the West

►After Poland fell, the war After Poland fell, the war entered a quiet period entered a quiet period dubbed “phony war”dubbed “phony war”

►Germans labeled it Germans labeled it “sitzkrieg” (sit down war)“sitzkrieg” (sit down war)

►German troops waited while German troops waited while the French forces held their the French forces held their defenses at the Maginot Line defenses at the Maginot Line (massive string of (massive string of fortifications along France’s fortifications along France’s border with Germanyborder with Germany

►2 problems2 problemsProtected only the part of Protected only the part of France that bordered France that bordered GermanyGermany

All guns pointed east All guns pointed east towards Germanytowards Germany

Germany attacksGermany attacks

►April 9, 1940- Hitler began an April 9, 1940- Hitler began an attack on Denmark & Norwayattack on Denmark & Norway

►May 16- launched a blitzkrieg May 16- launched a blitzkrieg on the Netherlands, Belgium, & on the Netherlands, Belgium, & LuxembourgLuxembourgBritain & France were too late Britain & France were too late to defend Belgiumto defend Belgium

►Mid May- invaded northern Mid May- invaded northern France via Belgium & raced France via Belgium & raced up the English Channel, up the English Channel, splitting the main French splitting the main French armies to the south from the armies to the south from the British & French troops in British & French troops in northern France & Belgiumnorthern France & Belgium

DunkirkDunkirk►Allied forces in the north retreated Allied forces in the north retreated

to the coastal city of Dunkirkto the coastal city of Dunkirk►1 of the greatest rescues took place 1 of the greatest rescues took place

They assembled a makeshift fleet They assembled a makeshift fleet consisting of tugboats, yachts, & consisting of tugboats, yachts, & private crafts (900 total carrying private crafts (900 total carrying 340,000 soldiers across the English 340,000 soldiers across the English Channel to GB) while being Channel to GB) while being bombed by the Luftwaffebombed by the Luftwaffe

The Fall of FranceThe Fall of France

►June 10- French government June 10- French government abandoned Parisabandoned Paris Italy declared war of GB & Italy declared war of GB & FranceFrance

►June 22- France officially June 22- France officially surrenderedsurrendered

►TermsTermsGermany occupied the northern Germany occupied the northern 3/5 of France & the Atlantic 3/5 of France & the Atlantic coast south to Spaincoast south to Spain

The French government The French government supervised the south from supervised the south from VichyVichy►Adopted a policy of Adopted a policy of collaboration with Germanycollaboration with Germany

►Free France (government in exile Free France (government in exile in London) struggled against in London) struggled against German invaders in central & German invaders in central & west Africawest AfricaLed by Charles de Gaulle- Led by Charles de Gaulle- backed the underground backed the underground resistance movement in Franceresistance movement in France

The Battle of BritainThe Battle of Britain

►Relentless AttackRelentless AttackTo neutralize the British To neutralize the British navy, Germany turned to navy, Germany turned to the airthe air

Aug. 1940- launched the Aug. 1940- launched the greatest air assault yetgreatest air assault yet

►Battle of BritainBattle of BritainFirst Germany only targeted First Germany only targeted British ports, airfields, & radar British ports, airfields, & radar installations, later attacked installations, later attacked aircraft factories & oil storage aircraft factories & oil storage tankstanks

Group of German bombers strayed Group of German bombers strayed off course & bombed Londonoff course & bombed London►2 days later GB bombed Berlin2 days later GB bombed Berlin

►Hitler ordered massive Hitler ordered massive bombing raids on GB cities bombing raids on GB cities to break people’s will to to break people’s will to resistresist

Courageous DefenseCourageous Defense

►British RAF defended the British RAF defended the homelandhomeland Inflicted heavy damage on Inflicted heavy damage on the attackersthe attackers

►By the end of 1941, By the end of 1941, German air raids endedGerman air raids ended

►AdvantageAdvantageFeb. 1940- scientists cracked Feb. 1940- scientists cracked the code Germany used for the code Germany used for top secret communicationstop secret communications►British could get a general British could get a general idea of Hitler’s battle plansidea of Hitler’s battle plans