European TheaterEuropean Theater

Nazi Occupied most of the European Nazi Occupied most of the European continent for almost 4 years May of continent for almost 4 years May of 1940- summer of 1944.1940- summer of 1944.

Hitler goal was gain territory to create Hitler goal was gain territory to create Lebensraum or “living space” for the Lebensraum or “living space” for the Third Reich.Third Reich.

Policies of AppeasementPolicies of Appeasement 1933 Hitler became 1933 Hitler became

Chancellor of Germany and Chancellor of Germany and began to rearm German. began to rearm German. Created an airforce, Created an airforce, enacted conscription, enacted conscription, Defying Treaty of Versailles. Defying Treaty of Versailles.

1935 Germany/Hitler 1935 Germany/Hitler withdraws from the League withdraws from the League of Nations. of Nations.

1936 Occupation of the 1936 Occupation of the Rhineland, territories lost Rhineland, territories lost during WWI and the Treaty during WWI and the Treaty of Versailles.of Versailles.

Annexation of Austria, Annexation of Austria, March of 1938March of 1938

Munich Pact 1938Munich Pact 1938 Czechoslovakia crisis, Czechoslovakia crisis,

September 1938 Hitler September 1938 Hitler take the Sudetenland.take the Sudetenland.

Nazi/Soviet Non Nazi/Soviet Non aggression Pact aggression Pact between Hitler and between Hitler and Stalin. Pact would Stalin. Pact would give parts of Poland to give parts of Poland to USSR for the soviets USSR for the soviets not protecting Poland.not protecting Poland.

German Invasion of Poland German Invasion of Poland (September 1, 1939)(September 1, 1939)

With USSR now at With USSR now at Germany’s side Hitler Germany’s side Hitler felt he could do as he felt he could do as he pleased.pleased.

Poland was captured in Poland was captured in two weekstwo weeks

France, GB declared France, GB declared war on Germany and war on Germany and vice versa.vice versa.

U.S. remained neutralU.S. remained neutral

To the chancellor of the German Reich, Herr A. Hitler. I thank you for your letter. I hope that the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact will mark a decisive turn for the better in the political relations between our two countries. . . . J. Stalin*

German Invasion German Invasion of Franceof France

Phony War- After France, Great Phony War- After France, Great Britain and Germany declared Britain and Germany declared war on each other no fighting war on each other no fighting took place for 10 months. took place for 10 months.

Both sides prepared for war. Both sides prepared for war. Fortified troops along the Maginot Fortified troops along the Maginot line.line.

May 10, 1940 after 10 months of May 10, 1940 after 10 months of readying Germany attacked readying Germany attacked France and the Low countries.France and the Low countries.

France only able to hold out for 2 France only able to hold out for 2 weeks before partial surrender. weeks before partial surrender. Vichy government Hitler’s puppet Vichy government Hitler’s puppet government, and Free French government, and Free French government.government.

Germany 130 infantry and 10 Germany 130 infantry and 10 tank divisions France only 40 tank divisions France only 40 infantry divisions.infantry divisions.

Battle of BritainBattle of BritainSummer of 1940Summer of 1940

Rescue from DunkirkRescue from Dunkirk Followed Battle of the Followed Battle of the

Atlantic.Atlantic. Complete Air war-August Complete Air war-August

1940 - May 1941. 1940 - May 1941. Radar was key to British Radar was key to British

success.success. Germany failed to knock out Germany failed to knock out

GB. Arguably the biggest GB. Arguably the biggest mistake by Hitler of WWII, mistake by Hitler of WWII, Great Britain became Great Britain became staging ground for allied staging ground for allied invasion of Nazi occupied invasion of Nazi occupied Europe. Europe.

Churchill vowed “never to Churchill vowed “never to surrender” & “finest hour” surrender” & “finest hour” speech.speech.

German Invasion German Invasion of USSRof USSR(June, 22 1941)(June, 22 1941)

Hitler believed he had Hitler believed he had crippled the Allied powers crippled the Allied powers enough in the West, he now enough in the West, he now turned his troops toward the turned his troops toward the East and attacked USSR.East and attacked USSR.

Cold Winter, would not Cold Winter, would not retreat costly for Germany.retreat costly for Germany.

Stalingrad (August 1942) --> Stalingrad (August 1942) --> Germany had taken over city Germany had taken over city with house to house battles.with house to house battles.

Russian counter-attack Russian counter-attack became the turning point in became the turning point in war, with Soviets taking back war, with Soviets taking back Stalingrad.Stalingrad.

Allied invasion of Allied invasion of North Africa North Africa (August 1942-April 1943)(August 1942-April 1943)

Africa/Mid East a Africa/Mid East a stronghold for oil.stronghold for oil.

British troops under British troops under General Montgomery General Montgomery won decisive battle at El won decisive battle at El Alamein and pushed Alamein and pushed Germany (Erwin Germany (Erwin Rommel “Desert Fox”) Rommel “Desert Fox”) toward U.S. troops under toward U.S. troops under General Patton “caught General Patton “caught in the pinchers:in the pinchers:

250,000 German POWs 250,000 German POWs taken.taken.

Allied invasion of Sicily and ItalyAllied invasion of Sicily and Italy(July of 1943)(July of 1943) Goal to take back Nazi Goal to take back Nazi

occupied Europe was to occupied Europe was to catch the German and catch the German and remaining Italian troops remaining Italian troops in the pinchers. Up in the pinchers. Up through Italy and down through Italy and down from Northern Europe.from Northern Europe.

Allied troops led by Allied troops led by Patton and Montgomery Patton and Montgomery forced Axis powers out forced Axis powers out of Italy. Not many troops of Italy. Not many troops captured, most captured, most retreated.retreated.

D-Day (Invasion of D-Day (Invasion of Normandy France) Normandy France)

June 6th 1944June 6th 1944 Originally scheduled for Originally scheduled for

June 5th, yet weather June 5th, yet weather conditions too bad on 5th. conditions too bad on 5th. Conditions on 6th were Conditions on 6th were marginal, many were sick.marginal, many were sick.

Largest amphibious assault Largest amphibious assault ever attempted, 60 miles of ever attempted, 60 miles of beachhead, 4000 ships beachhead, 4000 ships would land, man made would land, man made harbors paved the way for harbors paved the way for millions of allied troops to millions of allied troops to come ashore, 1,000,000 in come ashore, 1,000,000 in first 2 weeksfirst 2 weeks

4000 Allied casualties.4000 Allied casualties.

General Eisenhower Supreme Commander of General Eisenhower Supreme Commander of Allied Forces. He planned and executed D-day Allied Forces. He planned and executed D-day assault.assault.

Liberation of France/ParisLiberation of France/ParisAugust 25th, 1944August 25th, 1944

After D-day , allied After D-day , allied troops moved quickly to troops moved quickly to push back Nazi occupied push back Nazi occupied Europe.Europe.

By August 1944, much By August 1944, much of France had been of France had been taken back.taken back.

By the end of August By the end of August U.S. and Free French U.S. and Free French troops led by Charles de troops led by Charles de Gaulle liberated Paris.Gaulle liberated Paris.

Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Bulge (Fall 1944-Dec 1944)(Fall 1944-Dec 1944)

Beginning of the end Beginning of the end for Hitler and Germany.for Hitler and Germany.

Hitler’s last major Hitler’s last major offensive, trying to get offensive, trying to get to port of Antwerp to port of Antwerp through Ardennes through Ardennes Forest, this created a Forest, this created a bulge in the Allied lines.bulge in the Allied lines.

General Patton’s Army General Patton’s Army pushed back Germany pushed back Germany in the dead of winter of in the dead of winter of 1944.1944.

Allies take Allies take Berlin: VEBerlin: VE DayDay (May 8th 1945)(May 8th 1945)

Soviet and U.S. surround Soviet and U.S. surround Germany. Germany.

Question was which Question was which country would take Berlin. country would take Berlin. Soviets took Berlin in Soviets took Berlin in April 1945. April 1945.

April 30th 1945 Hitler April 30th 1945 Hitler commits suicidecommits suicide

May 7th 1945 Germany May 7th 1945 Germany surrendered.surrendered.

May 8th VE day.May 8th VE day.

European Theater Aftermath/ Yalta European Theater Aftermath/ Yalta Conferences --> Cold WarConferences --> Cold War

FDR, Churchill, & Stalin met FDR, Churchill, & Stalin met starting in 1943 and again in starting in 1943 and again in 1945 to decide the fate of 1945 to decide the fate of Europe --> Which countries Europe --> Which countries would be communist and which would be communist and which would be free.would be free.

Cold War arguably started the Cold War arguably started the last 6 months maybe even earlier last 6 months maybe even earlier during WW II.during WW II.

5 Items: Create UN,re-establish 5 Items: Create UN,re-establish peace, divide Germany, extend peace, divide Germany, extend Soviet territory, Germany give Soviet territory, Germany give equipment and resources to equipment and resources to

Soviets.Soviets.