3. BLITZKRIEG: ALLIES VS. THE AXIS POWERS
When war was declared April 1940 Germany
in Sep. 1939, Allies renewed its blitzkrieg
hurried to get their forces (“lightening war”), attacking
organized Denmark and Norway
Allied troops positioned Blitzkrieg extremely
themselves on France’s successful-it used the
border with Germany elements of
Nothing happened for 7 surprise, speed and
months…people started massive power
to think war was never Using these
going to happen (“Phony techniques, Germany
War”) quickly conquered
Norway, Denmark, Luxemb
ourg, the Netherlands and
4. • Within days, German
forces surrounded the
French port of Dunkirk
• If Allied troops
surrendered, British troops
would lose majority of its
army
• Allied forces had to
escape before Germans
captured the town
• British Navy rounded up
as many boats as possible
and headed across the
Channel for Dunkirk
EVACUATION AT DUNKIRK
6. EVACUATION AT DUNKIRK CONT’D
Evacuation began on May 26, 1940
Two days later, German air force bombed the
port of Dunkirk.
Evacuation was completed on June 4th
More than 340,000 Allied soldiers were
rescued
After the evacuation, German forces swept
through France and France eventually
surrendered
Britain and the Commonwealth now stood
alone against Germany
8. THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
Once France surrendered, Hitler set his sights
on Britain
“Operation Sea Lion”
July 1940, German air force started a massive
bombing campaign which focused on
destroying harbours and shipping facilities in
southern England
August 24th German forces bombed several
areas of London and other British cities
These raids became known as “the Blitz” and
took place over many weeks
9. Germans had more air craft
than Britain but were unable
to defeat them
British had a very advanced
radar system
British also used Spitfires
and Hurricanes, two very
effective fighter planes
RAF was equipped with
pilots, planes and supplies
from Canada
Hitler finally gave up on his
plans to invade Britain
BATTLE OF BRITAIN CONT’D
12. OPERATION BARBAROSSA (“RED BEARD”)
A German soldier walks toward the body of a killed Soviet
soldier and a burning BT-7 light tank in the southern Soviet
Union in in 1941, during the early days of Operation
Barbarossa.
13. HITLER BREAKS THE NON-AGGRESSION
PACT
Hitler launched this
tremendous attack on
the Soviet Union and
broke the pact that he
had made with Stalin in
1939
Soviets were
unprepared for the
attack German army
able to get deep into
Russian territory
By the fall, Germans
had reached outskirts of
14. OPERATION BARBAROSSA CONT’D
Germans were not prepared for the long and
excruciatingly cold Russian winter and soon
lost their advantage
Germans got as far as Stalingrad but could
not withstand the severe winter
Germans could not turn back and suffered
300,000 casualties
Germany surrendered in early 1943
After this attack, Soviet Union took back much
of their territory and joined the war on the
Allies’ side
15. Stand Firm.
Die but do not
Retreat.
Joseph Stalin on
The Siege of
Stalingrad
1942-1943
STALINGRAD
This map shows where Germany launched their attacks on Norway
Allies:Britain, France and common wealth countries including Canada, Australia and New ZealandAxis Powers: Germany, Italy and JapanAllied troops positioned themselves at France’s border with Germany waiting for Germany’s next move but nothing happenedFrom October 1939-April 1940, nothing happened and these years are known as the “phony war”Blitzkrieg: War planes would lead the attack, attacking enemy positions and supply lines. With lightning speed, German tanks would crash through enemy lines, driving forward as far as they could. Soldiers would parachute into enemy territory, destroying vital communication and transportation links. The attack left the defending army confused and surroundedASK: WHY DO YOU THINK THE BLITZKRIEG ATTACKS USED BY THE GERMANS WERE SO SUCCESSFUL?
Image: British Navy evacuating its troops from Dunkirk
Think about: What if the British navy were unable to rescue the Allied soldiers? This was a huge rescue and if the bulk of the Allied army had been captured, would the outcome of the war have been different?
Image: Bombing of a building on No 23, Queen Victoria Street in London Ask: What types of feelings or thoughts does this picture evoke? Could you imagine living in a city that was being blown to pieces? What do you think it was like for the people living in London at this time?
Operation Sea Lion: Attempt to defeat Royal Air Force (RAF) in order for German forces to cross English Channel“the Blitz” destroyed buildings and terrified and killed civilians Be sure to make the distinction between Blitzkrieg and the Blitz
British had advanced radar system that warned them of German air raidsSep 1940 RAF shot down more and more German bombersDuring Battle of Britain more than 23,000 people, mostly civilians, were killedImage: A cathedral in Coventry, England after a blitz bombing
Image: A man carrying milk through the rubble on a London street; firefighters in the background
Image: A London library reduced to rubble ASK:If Hitler had been successful in conquering Britain, would the outcome of the war have been different? Why or why not?
After Germany was defeated in the Battle of Britain, Hitler launched “Operation Barbarossa” on June 22nd 1941
Who remembers what the Non-Aggression Pact is?Hitler saw the Soviet Union as a source of raw materials, agricultural land and labour for the German armyCapturing the Soviet Union was a part of Hitler’s long term plans for the new German EmpireImage: A man, his wife, and child are seen after they had left Minsk on August 9, 1941, when the German army swarmed in. The original wartime caption reads, in part: "Hatred for the Nazis burns in the man's eyes as he holds his little child, while his wife, completely exhausted, lies on the pavement." Germany was able to get deep into russian territory, something no other invader was ever able to do, including Napolean
1942: Germans launched another offensive in the Soviet Union, this time focusing on rich oil fields German troops got as far as Stalingrad but were stopped once again by the severe winterMENTION: There’s a picture in your textbook of a map on p. 135 that shows the Germans’ advances into eastern Europe
Joseph Stalin’s message to his army. It has been said that Stalin issued a proclamation that anyone who surrendered or retreated would be shotASK: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS MESSAGE? German’s got as far as StalingradImage: Entire German sixth army was killed by the Soviets in StalingradThe battle for Stalingradstarted at 6 p.m. on August 23, 1942. Within hours Stalingrad became an inferno,as 1,000 German planes carpet-bombed an industrial city filled with wooden houses and oil tanks. Sleeping children were hurled from their beds while hundreds of families were buried alive in the rubble of fallen buildings
IMAGE: After the battle, Stalingrad was reduced to rubble and many people were actually buried beneath this rubble
Tens of thousands of Soviet Unions at Birkenau. Nearly six million Soviet soldiers would be captured during the Second World War. Only about four of every nine would return to Russia.
ASK: If mother-nature was on the Germans’ side, would Hitler have been able to conquer the Soviet Union? Had he been able to conquer the Soviet Union, the outcome of the war? Why or why not?
