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WORLD WAR II BEGINS

Invasion of Poland �(Sept. 1, 1939) •  The German invasion was called the

“Blitzkrieg” or Lightning War •  Struck with tanks called Panzers, air

force called Luftwaffe, and infantry -- quick and highly coordinated

•  Significant because it marked a new change in warfare.

•  Britain and France declared war on Germany 2 days later -- didn’t have time to send troops to save Poland

•  Poland becomes the sight of many of WW2’s most gruesome atrocities.

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•  Waged between USSR and Finland •  USSR forced Baltic Republics to allow

Soviet military bases to protect own border

•  Finland held out against USSR and fought for 6 months.

The Winter War

THE FIGHTING FINS!!! WIN THIS

ONE FOR HELSINKI BOYS!!!

Baltic Countries (in green)

Finland fought hard and lost very little land to the much

larger USSR

“Phony War” �(Sept. 1939 – May 1940) •  Called “sitzkreig” or “sit-down

war” •  For 6 months no major battles

nor troop movement. World hoped end of war.

•  Britain mined Norwegian waters to protect Norway and stop trade with Germany

Kitty thinks the war is boring.

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Scandinavia Falls •  April 1940, Germany took

Norway and Denmark using the Blitzkrieg strategy.

•  Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain steps down.

•  Winston Churchill became new Prime Minister

You’ll never look at Mercedes-Benz the same way ever again

Thinking Geography:

Why do you think the British mined the Norwegian waters?

Great Britain’s new prime minister…�Winston Churchill

History will be kind to me for I intend to write it. -Sir Winston Churchill

The British Bulldog

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PLAYA!

The Fall of France •  May 1940, Blitzkrieg

overwhelmed French and British forces in Luxembourg, Holland, Belgium and finally France.

•  British and French soldiers forced to evacuate at Dunkirk when trapped while retreating. (330,000 total men evacuated using fishing boats, rafts, etc.)

Act normal guys, we don’t want to look like tourists!

• Why do the French line their streets with trees?

So the Germans

can march in the

shade!

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French Armistice •  An agreement to stop fighting

(“armistice”) was signed by France and Germany after Paris fell June 1, 1940.

•  Germany sat up a puppet government in the city of Vichy in S. France to control the unoccupied parts of southern and eastern France.

•  The remaining sections of France were occupied and controlled by Germany.

Sad day for the French!

Battle of Britain •  After France fell, Germany

focused on Britain. •  Germany needed air supremacy

over English Channel and to destroy British air fields and industry.

•  German Luftwaffe bombed London every day and then night from Aug. thru Nov. of 1940.

•  Dropped 70,000 bombs in one night alone.

•  Germany never gained air supremacy.

•  This period of time was called the “Blitz”

Airplanes of Legend�If you’re British�Or a Huge Nerd

Spitfire

Hurricane Rader might of helped as well

DH.98 Mosquito

In 1940 I could at least fly as far as Glasgow in most of my aircraft, but not now! It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy.�The British, who can afford aluminum better than we can, knock together a beautiful wooden aircraft that every piano factory over there is building, and they give it a speed which they have now increased yet again. What do you make of that?

-Hermann Goring, 1943

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United States Limited Involvement •  Passed Neutrality Acts:

prohibiting selling arms, or extending credit to nations”

•  Americans began to fear Germany and soon became sympathetic to Britain.

•  After Dunkirk, Churchill asked for help.

•  U.S. provided old destroyers and received military bases in return.

One of Hitler’s major mistakes was letting the evacuation of Dunkirk

take place.

Cont’d •  Started cash-and-carry

policy for food. •  When Britain ran out of

money, U.S. started lend-lease policy allowing President to lend war equipment to anybody considered vital to our national security.

•  By 1941, the U.S. was firmly on the side of GB and France, just not in the war…yet.