L1: Introduction to World War Two & World War Two Begins

AgendaObjectives:1. To understand the

“narrative” of the early battles of World War Two.

Schedule: 1. The War Begins: The

Nazis Invade Poland2. The Nazi Conquest of

Europe3. The Fall of France4. The Battle of Britain

Homework:1. “Causes of the

War in the Pacific” Reading Due Thurs 5/1

Introduction to World War Two Unit

• Go over unit schedule & Major Assignments

Brief Summary of Hitler’s Early Foreign Actions: Review

• Explain Hitler’s actions in Austria and then Czechoslovakia– What is Britain and France’s response?

World War Two Begins

• September 1, 1939• Britain and France declare war on

Germany following Germany’s invasion of Poland.

The Nazi Blitzkrieg• Germany struck with speed and power and

engaged in blitzkrieg warfare. – Blitzkrieg = lightning war– Columns of tanks supported by planes and infantry

• Blitzkrieg video– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ha0qKquG2E

• The German air force, Luftwaffe, destroyed Polish planes on the ground, attacked tanks, bombed Warsaw, and terrorized the population.

• In less than one month, on September 27, 1939, Poland surrendered.

Nazis Now Begin Western Expansion• Hitler had launched a successful eastern conquest of Austria,

Czechoslovakia, and Poland--the beginning of his dream for a German empire.

• Now it was time to look west.• Invasion and Occupation of Denmark and Norway (April 1940)

– Denmark surrenders in 2 hours– Norway falls in a matter of days

• Invasion and Occupation of Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg (May 1940)

Hitler Plans to Invade France

• Hitler next looked to France.

• Following WWI, France adopted a defensive military policy to protect themselves from being invaded in the event of another war with Germany.

The Maginot Line• Series of concrete and

steel fortifications armed with heavy artillery along the French and German border.

• Bordered to the North by the dense Ardennes Forest which the French believed could not be penetrated by German forces.

Germany Invades France• Germany invades France

through the Ardennes which end up being no obstacle for German tanks.

• When they invade through the Ardennes the Germans:– Catch the French of guard

and they are late to send troops to the region.

– Cut the French and British forces defending France in half.

Dunkirk• Trapped with no

reinforcements the British try to flee to France by sea and head for the coastal town of Dunkirk.

• Amidst bombing by the Luftwaffe, the British desperately evacuated their soldiers on anything that would float.– They lost most of their

equipment and supplies however.

The Fall of France• Nazi begin to drive toward Paris,

the capital city.• Italy invades France in support of

Germany.• Millions of French citizens begin to

run from the invading Nazis, fleeing to the south of France in cars, bicycles, and carts.

• With troops in retreat, the French government flees Paris and is forced to surrender.

• The Nazis now occupy France and establish a puppet government called the Vichy government.

The Fall of France: Significance• In only a few months since the start of the

war France has fallen to Germany--this was something Germany had previously been unable to do during the entirety of WWI.

• Germany now occupies most of continental Europe.

• The only power opposed to Hitler is Great Britain--it now has to fight Germany alone.

Fall of France DiscussionSome historians argue that WWI and WWII can be seen as phases of one larger 20th

century world war rather than distinct conflicts. How might the battle for France provide evidence for this? Do you agree?

How was the Fall of France a psychological victory for the Nazis / psychological defeat

for the French?

Germany Plans to Invade Britain

• Hitler expected that after his stunning victories in the west, Britain would make peace.

• The British reject Hitler’s peace offers.• Hitler then plans an invasion of England (Operation Sea Lion)

The Battle of Britain• In August 1940, the Luftwaffe

begin massive attacks on British air and naval installations.– The goal is to destroy British

military operations so that Britain cannot defend itself or launch a counterattack.

– Ultimately Hitler hoped to destroy Britain’s air defense and eventually force Britain out of the war.

• Both Britain and Germany suffer heavy sustained losses in the first month of fighting.

The Battle of Britain• In September, Hitler orders the

Luftwaffe to not only attack military sites, but also civilian targets.– He attacks in retaliation for British

attacks against German cities, which themselves were retaliation for Hitler’s accidental bombing of London.

• He believes that this will break the morale of the British people and lead to a Nazi victory.

• The Luftwaffe start attacking major British cities including London.– Factories, homes, churches, stores, are

all repeatedly bombed.– People have to find shelter in subway

stations.

The Battle of Britain• Hitler’s plan backfires--the attacks actually strengthen the

morale of the British people.• Because military targets were not being hit, the British were able

to rebuild their air strength quickly.• Soon the British Royal Air Force is inflicting major losses on the

Nazis.• By the end of the Battle of Britain, German loses in the air

outnumbered British losses 3 to 1.

Visual Summary

• Video!

The Battle of Britain: Significance

• First major Nazi defeat of the war.• Nazis shift strategy away from

defeating Britain in the West and instead turn attention to the Soviet Union.

• This begins a two-front war:– Britain in the West– U.S.S.R. in the East