Europe Goes to War

Europe Goes to War

Germany RearmsGermany dug itself out of depression by rearming and expanding their armed forces (both of which violated the Versailles Treaty that ended WWI)Unemployment fell to zero, Germany boomed and was ready to put Hitlers expansion plans to workGermany Invades the RhinelandThe German military entered the Rhineland (an area in Western Germany they were supposed to be banned from) Great Britain and France had not forgotten about the large cost of WWI and did not do anything to stop the Germans1936- Hitler and Mussolini sign an alliance and create Axis powers (Later joined by Japan)Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan)

Germany ExpandsGermany occupied Austria in 1938 Germany takes the Sudetenland (an industrial region of Czechoslovakia) in 1938 British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin and French President Edouard Daladier offered Hitler a policy of appeasement (giving in to a competitors demands in order to keep the peace) at the Munich Conference in 1938They thought that giving Hitler the Sudetenland would stop his conquest of EuropeHitler promised the Sudetenland was all he wanted but six months later he invaded the rest of the country and divided it up among his alliesEnd of AppeasementAfter Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia, France and Great Britain prepared for war, knowing Hitler did not plan on ending his conquest for more territoryFrance and GB pledged their support for Poland if Germany invaded them

Hitler and Stalin AlignNot wanting to fight a two front war, Hitler agreed to a ten year non- agression pact with the Soviet Union A secret document of the Pact divided up the independent Eastern European countries between Germany and the USSRUSSR and Germany hated each other but had much to gain by not fighting one anotherInvasion of PolandOn September 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland On September 3, 1939 Great Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany

Invasion of Poland

The BlitzkriegWhile invading Poland the Germans used their new method of attack known as the Blitzkrieg (Lightning War) Fast, concentrated air and land attack that took the enemys army by surpriseGerman army was more prepared and had better weapons than the Polish, French, and British ArmiesPoland was under German control in less than a monthImposed German laws and persecuted Polish Jews

Maginot LineFortified line of defense built by the French protecting them from the Germans along the German borderWeaknesses: Guns only faced Germany, wall did not protect against Belgium

Germany AttacksOn April 9, 1940 Germany launched a blitzkrieg against the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg and controlled all of them within 3 weeksGermany then invaded France through Belgium so they avoided the Maginot Line

Invasion of France

Dunkirk (Dunkerque)German forces split the French and British forces in half and trapped many troops in the northern town of Dunkirk, FranceFacing heavy artillery from the Luftwaffe (German Air Force), 340,000 troops escaped capture by boarding 900 naval vessels and fleeing to GB

Fall of France After Dunkirk, Germany moved south to Paris which was abandoned by the Government On June 22 the French surrendered to Germany

The ResistanceGeneral Charles de Gaulle led the Free France revolution against Germany Free France would sabotage German operations in France and distribute anti German leaflets

Battle of Britain After the Fall of France, Hitler planned his next invasion: Great BritainIn August 1940 the Luftwaffe unleashed the greatest air attack ever seen upon GBDay after day as many as 1,000 planes rained bombs on Britain

Taking the War to CiviliansAt first the Luftwaffe bombed aircraft factories, oil storage tanks, ports, radio installations, and airfields In late August German planes started to bomb London and civilians The bombing of London would target civilian population centers to break their will to resist and would continue until May 1941Both sides targeted civilians and caused a total warDefense of Great Britain Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF), greatly outnumbered, defended its homeland against the LuftwaffeBy the end of the air raids 20,000 people in London were killed and 70,000 injured