WORLD WAR II ORIGINS:

WORLD WAR II ORIGINS:GERMANY & THE RISE OF NAZISM, 1919-39CRITICAL TERMSADOLF HITLERERNST ROHMRUDOLF HESSPAUL von HINDENBURG

STURMABTEILUNG (SA)FREIKORPSSCHUTZSTAFFEL (SS)THE BEER HALL PUTSCHMEIN KAMPFLEBENSRAUMGROWTH OF NAZI PARTY TIMELINE 1919: TREATY OF VERSAILLES IMPOSES HARSH TERMS ON GERMANYADOLF HITLER SETTLES IN MUNICH JOINS NSDAP(i.e. The Nazi Party)1920: NAZI PARTY GROWS TO 3000 MEMBERSHITLER BECOMES LEADER OF PARTY1923: HITLER LEADS THE BEER HALL PUTSCHHITLER SENTENCED TO PRISON1925: MEIN KAMPF PUBLISHEDMEMBERSHIP RISES TO 27,0001929: NAZI MEMBERSHIP REACHES 108,000GREAT DEPRESSION DEVESTATES GERMAN ECONOMY1932: HITLER RUNS FOR PRESIDENT, LOSES, BUT WINS 37% OF VOTE1933: JANUARY: HITLER NAMED CHANCELLOR OF GERMANYFEBRUARY: THE REICHSTAG FIRETHE REISCHSTAG FIRE DECREE PASSED CIVIL LIBERTIES SUSPENDED IN GERMANYTHE ENABLING ACT PASSED HITLER NOW HAS RIGHT TO RULE BY DECREE1934: PRESIDENT HINDENBURG DIES HITLER BECOMES DER FUHRERNIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES1936: GERMANY REOCCUPIES THE RHINELAND

NAZI ORIGINS1918-19: NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKERS PARTY (NSDAP) NAZI PARTY - FORMEDWHERE? BAVARIA (S. GERMANY), CITY OF MUNICH IS FOCUSWHO? DISPLACED / DISGRUNTLED WAR VETERANS FRONTKAMPFER FORMER FREIKORPS (Define Freikorps) MENPOOR, DISPLACED, UNEMPLOYED WORKERSTRAITS:MILITARY STYLE ORGANIZATION (UNIFORMS {KHAKI SHIRTS, BOOTS, etc.}, PARADES, ETC.)ABSOLUTE LOYALTY TO THE PARTY AND NATION WAS SUPREMEHIGHLY RACIST, esp. ANTI-SEMITICRACIAL IDEOLOGY EMPHASIZED SUPREMACY OF THE ARYAN RACEPOLITICAL IDEAS:GERMANY HAD BEEN BETRAYED BY A CONSPIRACY OF JEWS & COMMUNISTS @ END OF WWI (STABBED IN THE BACK THEORY)GERMANY HAD TO REGAIN ITS HONOR THAT COULD ONLY BE DONE BY:ERADICATING / IGONORING THE TREATY OF VERSAILLESTERRITORIAL EXPANSION INTO NATIONS / LANDS WHERE GERMANY COULD FIND THE RESOURCES IT NEEDED TO BECOME GREAT AGAINELIMINATING / ENSLAVING THOSE RACES INFERIOR TO THE GERMANS NAZI ORIGINS (contd.)KEY NAZI FIGURES:ADOLF HITLER: FUHRER of NAZI PARTY & GERMANY (after 1934)PRESIDENT & CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY (after Hindenburgs death in 1934)BASICALLY, SUPREME DICTATOR OF THE STATERULES BY DECREE (his word / his decisions are final in all, political, military, & cultural affairs)ERNST ROHM: LEADER OF THE S.A.2ND MOST POWERFUL MAN IN NAZI PARTY UNTIL NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVESHEINRICH HIMMLER:LEADER OF THE S.S.PLACED IN CHARGE OF CARRYING OUT NAZI RACIAL POLICIES, ESPECIALLY OPERATION OFCONCENTRATION CAMPS FOR POLITICAL & RACIAL CRIMINALS (JEWS, COMMUNISTS, GYPSIES, DISABLED, etc.)IDENTIFICATION & ELIMINATION OF ALL UNTERMENSCHEN IN OCCUPIED TERRITIORESRESPONSIBLE FOR ALL SS COMBAT UNITS WAFFEN SSHERMANN GOERING:COMMANDER OF THE GERMAN AIR FORCE LUFTWAFFEFORMER WWI COMBAT AIR ACE, AND MEMBER OF THE RED BARONs SQUADRON, KNOWN AS THE FLYING CIRCUSJOSEPH GOEBBELS:NAZI MINISTER OF PROPAGANDARESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING ALL PRESS, RADIO & PUBLIC (RALLIES, SPEECHES, PUBLIC PROCESSIONS) PROPAGANDA JOACHIM von RIBBENTROP:NAZI MINISTER OF STATE (BASICALLY SAME ROLE AS MODERN SECRETARY OF STATE)RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL FOREIGN AFFAIRS / DIPLOMATIC ISSUESORCHESTRATES MOST OF HITLERS EARLY TREATIES, NON-AGGRESSION PACTS, ETC.EXAMPLE: HITLERS 1938 NON-AGGRESSION PACT W/POLAND

POWER STRUCTURE, NAZI GERMANY ADOLF HITLER

NAZI ORIGINS (contd.)RUDOLF HESS: HITLERS DEPUTY OF THE NAZI PARTYREPSONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING, PURSUING, AND PROSECUTING ANY CRIMINALS IN GERMANY (meaning those who were not supportive of Naziism)ALBERT SPEER:MINISTER OF WAR ARMAMENTS & PRODUCTIONRESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCTION, TRANSPORT, FUNCTIONING OF ALL MILITARY MATERIALGEN. WILHELM KEITEL:GERMAN MINISTER OF WARCOMMANDER OF THE GERMAN WERMACHT (ALL GERMAN MILITARY FORCES)ANSWERED DIRECTLY TO HITLER (DID NOT HAVE POWER TO MAKE FINAL DECISIONS ON MILITARY MATTERS ONLY HITLER DID)GEN. ALFRED JODL:DEPUTY WAR MINISTER OF THE WERMACHTDEPUTY COMMANDER OF ALL GERMAN MILITARY FORCES ANSWERED TO HILTER, HOWEVERHEINRICH HIMMLER,REICHSFUHRER, SS,(HEAD OF THE SS)

HERMANN GOERINGHEAD OF THE LUFTWAFFE

RUDOLF HESS,NAZI PARTY SECRETARY

JOSPEH GOEBBELS,NAZI MINISTER OFPROPAGANDA

JOACHIM VON RIBBENTROP,NAZI FOREIGN MINISTER

THE GERMAN MILITARY STRUCTUREGERMAN MILITARY: THE WERMACHTCOMPONENTS:HEER: GERMAN ARMY (INFANTRY, ARMOR, ARTILLERY, etc.)LUFTWAFFE: GERMAN AIR FORCE (including airborne /paratrooper units)WAFFEN SS: SS COMBAT UNITS (infantry, armor, military police) SERVED IN COMBAT ALONG W/ ARMYKRIEGSMARINE: GERMAN NAVYPOINTS OF NOTE: THERE IS NO MARINE CORPS or AMPHIBIOUS NAVAL INFANTRY FORCES /ORGANIZATION IN THE GERMAN MILITARY STRUCTURE, UNLIKE THE U.S. (USMC) OR THE U.K. (ROYAL MARINES)ALL AIRBORNE (PARATROOPER) UNITS IN THE WERMACHT WERE PART OF THE LUFTWAFFE, NOT THE GERMAN ARMY. THIS IS DISTINCTIVE FROM MANY NATIONS (U.S., U.K., RUSSIA, etc.) WHERE AIRBORNE UNITS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS A DIVISION WITHIN THE ARMY WWII GERMAN WERMACHT STRUCTUREChainofCommand

UNIQUE GERMAN MILITARY TERMS SCHWERPUNKT:CONCENTRATION OF AN ARMYS FORCES AGAINST A TARGETED WEAK POINT TO ACHIEVE A RAPID BREAKTHROUGH INTO AN ENEMYs REAR-ECHELON AREASREFERRED TO BY WESTERN NATIONS ASBLITZKRIEG - TRANSLATION = LIGHTNING WAR BATTLEFIELD STRATEGY DEVELOPED BY GERMANY IN THE LATE 1930sA COMBINED-ARMS METHOD OF WARFARE EMPLOYING A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:ARMORAIR POWERAIRBORNE UNITSINFANTRY MOBILITY & ASSAULTARTILLERYBASED ON THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVESNEUTRALIZING ENEMY AIR POWER AT THE OUTSET OF ANY CAMPAIGNUSE OF AIRBORNE ELEMENTS TO DISRUPT ENEMY COMMUNICATIONS & RESERVE SUPPORTSIMULTANEOUS USE OF INFANTRY ASSAULT, TANK (PANZER) ASSAULT & ARTILLERY SUPPORT TO NEUTRALIZE ENEMYS MOBILITYARMORED THRUST (PUNCH)THROUGH ENEMY LINES TO PENETRATE INTO ENEMY RESERVE AREAS ULITMATE GOAL: ENCIRCLEMENT OF ENEMY UNITS, DESTRUCTION OF UNITS, AND BREAKOUT INTO OPEN COUNTRYSIDEARMOR, INFANTRY MOBILITY CAN THEN BE USED TO DISRUPT ENEMYS ABILITY TO RECOVER

Basic BlitzkriegBattle Sequence

THE INVASION OF POLANDWhen? September 1, 1939Causes:German-Soviet Non-Aggression Treaty (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) allowed Germans to invade from the WestSoviets invade from East on Sept. 17th Hitlers belief in need for German LebensraumHitlers racial theory: Poles were Slavic people, therefore they were target for enslavement or exterminationPoland had large Jewish population they would be targeted for exterminationThe Polish Corridor issue (See map in Keegan) Polish Corridor problem tied to Hitlers belief in unification of all German people (like the Sudetenland)Long-range goal: Poland would provide preparation area for eventual invasion of RussiaNon-aggression treaty would lull Stalin into believing Soviet borders were secure INVASION OF POLAND (contd.)DATES: Sept. 1, 1939 Oct. 1, 1939TRIATS:Germans use Blitzkrieg tactics to overwhelm the PolesPolish forces are obsolete and planning on a defensive strategyPoles do not anticipate fighting a two-front war (never anticipated Russian invasion from East)WHY ARE GERMANS SUCCESSFUL?Poles have no adequate forces in the following areas:Aircraft (WWI-style planes)Armor German Panzer units are more advanced / modernInexperience: Poles are less battle-tested than German troopsGeography: Polish terrain is ideal for Blitzkrieg tactics (flat land, few major cities) Russian invasion ruins Polish defense plansPoles trust alliance guarantees from French and British-Expect Western allies will attack Germans and force Germany into two-front warRESULTS:Poland ceases to exist as sovereign nationPoland divided between Germany and Soviet UnionGerman military gains valuable combat experience Blitzkrieg continues to improve Germans learn lessonsGermans are better prepared for 1940 attack on FranceSurviving Polish forces flee to Britain Polish Government-in-Exile is formedPolish military / air units formed as part of British military OTHER ISSUES: The Holocaust begins in full-force GERMAN ARMY INFANTRY, 1939

German Infantry In Poland, 1939

VICTORY PARADE, WARSAW, 1939

VICTORY PARADE, WARSAW, 1939

The Holocaust Begins, Poland, 1939

Messerschmidt Me-109 Fighter(top) Heinkel He-111 Bomber (below)

GERMAN Me / Bf-109 Fighter

German He-111 Heinkel Bomber

STUKA DIVE BOMBER

GERMAN STUKA DIVE BOMBER

STUKA DIVE BOMBERS

GermanPanzerTypes

GERMAN TIGER TANK

German Armored Personnel Carrier

German APCs, Poland, 1939

Waffen-SSPanzergrenadierwith standardcombat equipment

Waffen-SS Grenadiers, Russia, 1944

WAFFEN-SS, Hitler Youth Division(Hitlerjugend)TROOPER WITHFOLIAGE HELMETCAMOUFLAGE

WAFFEN-SS PANZERGRENADIERS

PANZERGRENADIERS, FRANCE 1940

WAFFEN SS GRENADIERS

THE PHONY WAR, 1939-40When? October, 1939 May, 1940Where? Western Europe, specifically France-Germany border areasWhat ?Period of little, or no, military activity / action between Germans and Western allies (French, British, Dutch, etc.)Sporadic military probing maneuvers on the border while Germans transfer forces from the East to WestGerman build-up of forces in West is rapidSome limited air action Symbol of the period: Frances MAGINOT LINE (define)Result?Germans have time to adequately plan for invasion of FranceFrench led to believe that the Maginot Line will deter Germans from an invasionCalled the Maginot Mentality Misguided belief that fixed fortifications could discourage, and prevent, a successful invasionBritish grow less confident in French military competence

Underground RailSystem inside theMaginot Line

MAGINOT LINE CUTAWAY

German Invasion of France and The Low Countries

THE INVASION OF FRANCEWHEN? May - June, 1940WHERE? FRANCE, BELGIUM, HOLLAND (The Netherlands)WHO?AXIS: GERMANY, ITALYALLIES: FRANCE, U.K, CANADA, BELGIUM, HOLLAND, etc.OPPOSING FORCES:AXIS: 141 WERMACHT DIVISIONS 3,350,000 TROOPS 2,445 TANKS5,638 AIRCRAFT7,378 ARTILLERYALLIES: 144 DIVISIONS3,300,000 TROOPS3,384 TANKS2,935 AIRCRAFT13,974 GUNSCASUALTIES:AXIS: 49,000 KIA, 110,034 WIAALLIES: 360,000 KIA & WIA; 1.9 MILLION CAPTURED

RESULTSREMAINDER OF FRENCH & BRIT. ARMIES ARE SURROUNDED & EVACUATED FROM DUNKIRKFRANCE & LOW COUNTRIES NOW PART OF NAZI EMPIREFRANCE DIVIDED INTO TWO PRIMARY OCCUPATION ZONES:NORTHERN FRANCE: GERMAN ZONESOUTHERN FRANCE: VICHY FRANCE w/ PUPPET GOVT. SET IN VICHY FRANCEGERMANS NOW HAVE GOOD STAGING GROUND FOR POSSIBLE INVASION OF BRITAINBRITAIN IS ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF EUROPE HITLER CAN NOW CONCENTRATE HIS FORCES TO THE EAST FOR PLANNED RUSSIAN INVASION GERMAN INFANTRY WITH FRENCH PRISONERS

Plan of Fort Eben Emael,Belgium(top view)

EBEN EMAEL FROM EAST BANK OF ALBERT CANAL

GERMAN LUFTWAFFE RECRUITING POSTERS

GERMAN FALLSCHIRMJAGER GLIDER

JUNKERS Ju-52 TRANSPORT PLANE

JUNKERS Ju-52 TRANSPORT

GERMAN PARATROOPERS CELEBRATE THE FALL OF EBEN EMAEL, 1940

HITLER CONGRATULATES FALLSCHIRMJAGR AT EBEN EMAEL

EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK

ALLIED TROOPSBEING EVACUATEDFROM DUNKIRK

DUNKIRKEVACUATION