WWII Lightning War 1939 1945 WWII Begins September

WWII Lightning War 1939 -1945

WWII Begins • September 1, 1939, Germany Invaded Poland • France & Great Britain declare war on Germany but are too weak to stop them

Poland Divided • Hitler & Stalin signed nonagression pact (they would not attack each other) • Hitler agreed to give half of Poland to Russia

“Blitzkrieg” Lightning War • Hitler used new tactic called “Blitzkrieg” • Planes, tanks, artillery, and troops used to quickly overwhelm enemy

“Sitzkrieg” • France stationed troops along the Maginot Line and waited for attack for 3 months • German troops and French troops grew bored sitting around

Discussion Question So far how is WWII different from WWI? How is it the same?

France Falls • May 1940 - Germany sent troops around Maginot Line • Italy invaded from south • Paris fell on June 10, 1940

Battle of Dunkirk • German troops trapped last allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk • Britain sent 850 ships to rescue 338, 000 soldiers

Battle of Britain • Germany planned to invade Britain and started bombing in 1940. • Battle took place only in the air between Luftwaffe and British Air Force. • British cities were burned and many people killedpeople lived in subways! • Germany finally gave upthey could be stopped!

Winston Churchill • British Prime Minister during WWII • Fearless leader and great speaker who was able to keep the Germans from invading

“History will be kind to me for I intend to write it. ”

Germany on the Move • After Poland France, Germany invaded other countries: – – – Denmark Norway Egypt Algeria Tunisia

Hitler Invades Russia • Hitler ignored the agreement with Russia and attacked on June 22, 1941 • Russia had 5 million men in army but it was weak and not well equipped • Germans pushed 500 miles into Russia and Russia burned everything in the German path (sound familiar? )

Siege of Leningrad • German troops surrounded city of 2. 5 million and bombed food warehouses for 900 days • Russians starved and resorted to eating horse feed, cats, dogs, crows, & rats • 1 million people died but city never surrendered

Hitler is Finally Stopped • Hitler sent troops towards Moscow after Leningrad did not fall • Winter set in and German fuel and oil froze along with troops in summer uniforms • 500, 000 Germans died during the winter and the Russians began pushing them back

What’s America Doing? • Although neutral in the war, Pres. Roosevelt knew that they might be drawn into war. • Gave Allies weapons in the Lend-Lease Act and Cash and Carry policy. • Hitler ordered the sinking of any ship aiding the Allies. • Roosevelt and Churchill write the Atlantic Charterpeace agreement. • America thought Germany would be the reason they entered the war…