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Download The European Theatre Battles of WWII
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The European Theatre Battles of WWII • In your notebook discuss the origin, value, purpose and limitation of the picture. 1940 Germany • Invasion of Poland • The Fall of France • North Africa Battles • Stalingrad • Battle of the Bulge • D-Day • Hitler demanded the Baltic Sea port which was in Polish control • Alleged allies such as Britain & France were going to back Poland’s refusal for the sea port Danzig • Germany turned to the USSR for support in invasion of Poland • Germany attacked from the west and the USSR from the east as agreed in the Nazi-Soviet Pact • The warfare became known as blitzkrieg – “lightening war” using tanks & aircraft(Luftwaffe) • Poland Fell to German forces on October 5th 1939 • The Maginot line were bunkers built in protection against Germany • Hitler simply went around the Maginot line and invaded through the Netherlands,Belgium & Luxembourg • France was caught by surprise leaving the French & British forces trapped in Belgium • A miracle occurred at a port called Dunkirk when German forces halted giving time for evacuation & saved the country from complete defeat by Hitler • France surrendered in June 1940 The Battle of Britain • Hitler expected Britain to make peace, however, Britain, led by a new Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, refused to surrender. • Hitler proceeded with invasion plans. The Luftwaffe began massive attacks on Britain to destroy its air defenses. • Britain held firm during the Blitz despite devastating destruction to English cities. • The British resistance convinced Hitler to postpone the invasion but he continued the bombing attacks. The Eastern Front • Hitler had strategic and ideological reasons for invading Russia – Strategically he knew that the Soviet Union and the US were critical to Britain’s willingness to keep fighting – He also felt he needed the agricultural and raw material resources of Eastern Russia – Ideologically he viewed the Soviet Union as an amalgamation of his greatest enemies, the Jews and the Slavs Operation Barbarossa • Hitler based his plan on the assumption he could destroy the Soviet Union within one year • Critical to his success would be to catch and destroy the Soviet Army at the border areas • If that did not occur, the Russians could use their vast territory to trade space for time and cause the Germans huge logistical problems Operation Barbarossa • On June 22, 1941, Hitler invaded Russia in Operation Barbarossa • The operation encompassed a total troop strength of about 4 million men, making it the biggest single land operation ever • Benefiting from initial surprise, by the end of July Hitler had occupied a portion of Russia twice the size of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Moscow • With the Germans’ successes in the north and south, Hitler assumed that Stalin’s regime was on the verge of collapse • He authorized an advance on Moscow before the onset of winter • Already however the Germans were suffering from serious supply shortages • Because of the cold tempratures they had to retreat.. Operation Barbarossa : Battle of Moscow • As the Russians pushed forward, Hitler refused to allow a retreat and relieved or court-martialed generals who did so • Hitler named himself commander-in-chief of the army – Each military service began to operate increasingly independently and Germany suffered from a lack of an overall strategy Why Soviet Defeated Germans • Germans not prepared for long campaignsupplies and inadequate equipment • Hitler took control of army • Germans were brutal to civilians which inflamed Russian resistance • Heavy German losses Strategic Situation • On Dec 7, 1941, Japan attacked the US at Pearl Harbor • In spite of his troubles in Russia, Hitler decided to support Japan and also declare war on the US • Now the US would join with Britain to adopt a “Europe First” strategy that would destroy Hitler • US president Roosevelt invaded Morocco & Algeria to aid Britain in the fight against Germany in Egypt. • During The Battle of El Alamein General Erwin Rommel who lead the German forces planned to trap US and British forces in between Tunisia and Libya • US forces did not fare well up against German force causing 7,000 casualties and losing 200 tanks • Luckily Both American and British Forces forced Germany to surrender in North Africa • One last desperate attempt by Hitler involved blocking supplies coming through Belgium • Germany caught Americans surrounding them • General Patton and troops saved the Americans by attacking German forces • Germany lost the battle with 100,000 casualties • President Roosevelt and Churchill planned the invasion of France which was lead by General Eisenhower • The US forces were going to surprise Germany using rubber tanks,and dummy landing craft. This completely fooled Germany while they attacked through Normandy • 100,000 soldiers by boat • 23,000 paratroopers • Soviet troops began a massive attack on German Troops sending German forces back to Poland • The Soviets had Germany by the Eastern border and America had attacked German forces by the Western border • This crushed the German forces causing the suicide of Hitler • The Surrender of Germany was on May 8th 1945 Key Battles • In what ways, and with what results for twentieth century wars, did tactics change?