WWII February 5 2013 September 1939 Hitler invaded

WWII February 5, 2013

• September 1939, Hitler invaded Poland= official start of WWII • Nazi’s used Blitzkrieg (Lightning war) tactics to take over many European countries • When Hitler invaded France he went through the Ardennes Forest (Border of France/Belgium)

• Hitler then turned his fury on Britain (Battle of Britain) Blitz of London – Hitler tried to break the British by bombing civilian areas (Winston Churchill helped inspire his people to fight) • R. A. F. = Royal Air Force used newly developed radar to shoot down Luftwaffe. • U. S. sent billions of dollars in aid = Lend. Lease Act to help the British and others against Nazi attacks

• Hitler’s biggest mistake = invading the Soviet Union 6/22/1941 • The Soviets took huge losses but successfully fought against Nazis • Hitler used 3 million men and 3400 tanks in invasion

WWII Continued 2/13/13 • Soviets initially were unprepared for the attack because they had signed the nonaggression pact with Hitler • America took an Isolationist stance ends when Japan attacks at Pearl Harbor 12/7/41 • The Battle for the Atlantic=clearing the Ocean of German Uboats, was the first key to victory in Europe

WWII continued 2/14/13 -2/21/13 • Siege of Leningrad – killed 1 million Russian civilians • Battle of Stalingrad – Hitler declares that “Surrender is forbidden” – Led to the capture of 90, 000 Axis survivors and led to a crushing defeat for Hitler – For the Soviets (and Allies) this was the turning point of the war in Europe