Blitzkrieg In The West and The East Blitzkrieg

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

Poland 1939 n n n 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

Poland 1939

The Phony War 1939 -1940 n n 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

How many gun turrets are visible in this picture?

Denmark and Norway 1940 n n n 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

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

To France and To A Return Of Honor n n n 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

To France and To A Return Of Honor

The Battle Of Britain 1940 n n n 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

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

The Invasion Of Russia 1941 n n 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

The Invasion Of Russia 1941 n n “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

Stalingrad 1942 -1943 n n Battle of Stalingrad, 19421943 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

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

Kursk 1943 n n n 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

The Invasion Of Russia 1941

Why Did Hitler Pursue War With Russia n n 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