World War II: European World War II: European Theater Theater

Mr. Langford’s ClassMr. Langford’s Class

A brief look at the war.A brief look at the war.

OverviewOverview

Beginnings of the warBeginnings of the war Where are the battlesWhere are the battles Who wonWho won What did that battle set upWhat did that battle set up

Treaty of Versailles Treaty of Versailles

The treaty that ended WW IThe treaty that ended WW I Called for Germany to repay Called for Germany to repay

countries for their losescountries for their loses Required Germany to give up landRequired Germany to give up land Said that Germany was the blameSaid that Germany was the blame Basically, it humiliated GermanyBasically, it humiliated Germany

Hitler begins his moveHitler begins his move

Hitler helps to organize the Nazi partyHitler helps to organize the Nazi party Begins his political careerBegins his political career He realizes his potential and seeks further He realizes his potential and seeks further

advancementadvancement Power takes over--his speaking ability Power takes over--his speaking ability

allowed him to appeal to the masses allowed him to appeal to the masses Began to assassinate people for more Began to assassinate people for more

powerpower 1933-- chancellor of Germany1933-- chancellor of Germany

Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini

Takes full power in 1922Takes full power in 1922 Vowed to keep the trains on time Vowed to keep the trains on time

and received the people’s trustand received the people’s trust Leader of the Fascist partyLeader of the Fascist party Denounced the parliament and Denounced the parliament and

other government positionsother government positions Declared himself ruler of ItalyDeclared himself ruler of Italy

Germany rebuildsGermany rebuilds

According to Versailles, Germany According to Versailles, Germany was not allowed to build a militarywas not allowed to build a military

Hitler rebuilt any way and help build Hitler rebuilt any way and help build morale in Germanymorale in Germany

Also, the factories and businesses Also, the factories and businesses thrived off of the new industrythrived off of the new industry

The rest of the world tries The rest of the world tries “Appeasement” toward Germany“Appeasement” toward Germany

The move of GermanyThe move of Germany

March 1936March 1936 Germany invades the RhinelandsGermany invades the Rhinelands Rhinelands are a vital agricultural Rhinelands are a vital agricultural

area where both the French and area where both the French and German people liveGerman people live

Used to belong to the Germans Used to belong to the Germans

Germans move againGermans move again

March 1938March 1938 Germany takes Austria and Germany takes Austria and

CzechlosovkiaCzechlosovkia Claimed that they were Germanic Claimed that they were Germanic

people and belonged to Germanypeople and belonged to Germany Rebuilds faith and trust among the Rebuilds faith and trust among the

people of Germanypeople of Germany

A Deal?A Deal?

Germans offer a pact with RussiaGermans offer a pact with Russia Claims that they will not fight each Claims that they will not fight each

other other Signed in August of 1939Signed in August of 1939 Hitler and StalinHitler and Stalin Was this a precursor of what was Was this a precursor of what was

to come?to come?

The Start of WW IIThe Start of WW II

Germany invades Poland in Sept. of Germany invades Poland in Sept. of 19391939

The France and England are The France and England are outraged by this attack--declare outraged by this attack--declare warwar

Soviets join the invasion of PolandSoviets join the invasion of Poland The Athenia sunk by U-boat starts The Athenia sunk by U-boat starts

the battle of the Atlanticthe battle of the Atlantic

The U.S. Role?The U.S. Role?

The U.S. claim neutralityThe U.S. claim neutrality Still follows the isolation policyStill follows the isolation policy U.S. does lend a hand to the British U.S. does lend a hand to the British

and French forcesand French forces The Lend Lease Act-- sent The Lend Lease Act-- sent

provisions to the Ally powersprovisions to the Ally powers

BlitzkriegBlitzkrieg

A German fighting styleA German fighting style Starts with planes and bombersStarts with planes and bombers Then artillery and tanksThen artillery and tanks Then the troops are sent to “clean Then the troops are sent to “clean

up” the situationup” the situation Extremely fast and furious assaultExtremely fast and furious assault

The Axis powerThe Axis power

1940- 19411940- 1941 Axis powers invade France, Belgium, Axis powers invade France, Belgium,

Denmark and other European countriesDenmark and other European countries Also, the Axis begins their world Also, the Axis begins their world

domination by taking North Africadomination by taking North Africa What countries are involved in North What countries are involved in North

AfricaAfrica Was this a smart move?Was this a smart move?

A Truly World WarA Truly World War

Japan bombs U.S.Japan bombs U.S. U.S. declares war on JapanU.S. declares war on Japan Germany and Italy declare war on Germany and Italy declare war on

U.S.U.S. U.S. declares war on Germany and U.S. declares war on Germany and

ItalyItaly Allied powers declare war on JapanAllied powers declare war on Japan Japan declares war on AlliesJapan declares war on Allies

North AfricaNorth Africa

Germany and Italy take most of North Germany and Italy take most of North AfricaAfrica

U.S. and Britain ally and fight after U.S. and Britain ally and fight after U.S. joins the fightU.S. joins the fight

First allied invasion in Morocco and First allied invasion in Morocco and AlgeriaAlgeria

Two front war in the desertTwo front war in the desert Fight for Africa ends in June of 1943Fight for Africa ends in June of 1943

European areaEuropean area

Germany invades France and other Germany invades France and other western European countrieswestern European countries

Russia takes FinlandRussia takes Finland Germany also moves into NorwayGermany also moves into Norway Few countries stay neutral: Few countries stay neutral:

Sweden and SwitzerlandSweden and Switzerland Who’s next?Who’s next?

EnglandEngland

England safe because of English England safe because of English Channel?Channel?

Hitler wants EnglandHitler wants England Begins to bomb London to break Begins to bomb London to break

moralemorale Uses incendiary bombsUses incendiary bombs Then uses V-1 rockets Then uses V-1 rockets Never tries to invade by troopsNever tries to invade by troops

Russia?Russia?

Germany becomes frustrated with Germany becomes frustrated with EnglandEngland

Puts focus on RussiaPuts focus on Russia Begins to invade RussiaBegins to invade Russia Pact is brokenPact is broken Russia fights Germans but loses Russia fights Germans but loses

many; Russia burns fields and kills many; Russia burns fields and kills animals as they retreat--Why?animals as they retreat--Why?

Aftermath of a battle in Aftermath of a battle in RussiaRussia

Time to MoveTime to Move

Troops move from North Africa to Troops move from North Africa to Sicily and ItalySicily and Italy

Allies begin to fight and liberateAllies begin to fight and liberate Montgomery and Patton Montgomery and Patton Sicily was first then the troops Sicily was first then the troops

moved to Southern Italy and began moved to Southern Italy and began to move north to move north

Italy is liberated 1944Italy is liberated 1944

D-DayD-Day

Led by EisenhowerLed by Eisenhower Allied invasion to begin liberation of Allied invasion to begin liberation of

EuropeEurope Five invasion points to land on beaches Five invasion points to land on beaches

and beat back German resistanceand beat back German resistance Landed on French beaches code Landed on French beaches code

named: Omaha Utah Gold Juno Swordnamed: Omaha Utah Gold Juno Sword Watch clip from “Saving Private Ryan”Watch clip from “Saving Private Ryan”

Allies on the moveAllies on the move

After D-Day, Allies begin to move After D-Day, Allies begin to move back the German forcesback the German forces

Russia joins the fight after Russia joins the fight after defeating the Germans at defeating the Germans at StalingradStalingrad

Begins a two front warBegins a two front war Forces begin to take Italy, France Forces begin to take Italy, France

and Russiaand Russia

Battle of the BulgeBattle of the Bulge

Dec. 1944 through Jan. of 1945Dec. 1944 through Jan. of 1945 Some considered it the breaking Some considered it the breaking

point of the Germanspoint of the Germans A severe battle that caused heavy A severe battle that caused heavy

casualties to both sidescasualties to both sides Known more for its tank battlesKnown more for its tank battles After battle, more heavy fighting After battle, more heavy fighting

occurred occurred

Air AttackAir Attack

The air attack proved crucial to the The air attack proved crucial to the fighting over Europefighting over Europe

English and American bombers English and American bombers destroyed vital areas of the destroyed vital areas of the Germans to stop reproductionGermans to stop reproduction

Note: The bombings however did Note: The bombings however did not break the morale of either side not break the morale of either side like anticipatedlike anticipated

Tuskegee AirmenTuskegee Airmen

Naval AttacksNaval Attacks

The U-boat was the best weapon for the The U-boat was the best weapon for the GermansGermans

Destroyed more cargo than bombers and Destroyed more cargo than bombers and severely hampered the assistanceseverely hampered the assistance

Note: Proved fatal to thousands of Note: Proved fatal to thousands of Germans as American and British ships Germans as American and British ships were able to locate and destroy U-boats--were able to locate and destroy U-boats--

Watch clip from movie “U-571” if possibleWatch clip from movie “U-571” if possible

Fall of BerlinFall of Berlin

Berlin fell in May of 1945Berlin fell in May of 1945 All allies met in Berlin All allies met in Berlin Hitler had committed suicide in Hitler had committed suicide in

April but no body was foundApril but no body was found Many commanders were put on Many commanders were put on

trial at Nuremberg after the war for trial at Nuremberg after the war for war crimeswar crimes

HolocaustHolocaust

Many troops liberated these camps Many troops liberated these camps Often found people severely underweightOften found people severely underweight Most of the camps turned into death Most of the camps turned into death

camps after 1943camps after 1943 GenocideGenocide As mentioned, some were work camps, As mentioned, some were work camps,

some became experimental campssome became experimental camps Watch a clip from “Schindler’s List”Watch a clip from “Schindler’s List”

A Concentration CampA Concentration Camp